1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him

Levi

Levi

Our Adoption Story

Levi was born on April 21, 2007 in Chinautla, Guatemala, a small town known for pottery. He weighed 6.7 pounds and was 19.7 inches long. He was in private foster care in Guatemala City where he lived for 10 1/2 months with his foster mom, her son and daughter and Isaac, his foster brother. Throughout our difficult adoption journey, Isaac's mom, Nancy and I became very good friends. God placed our boys together and had the perfect plan in place long before we ever realized it. When I was undecided on an adoption agency, I joined an online forum where Nancy provided me with information about her agency and recommended them to us. We decided to sign with the same agency and I emailed Nancy back to let her know. Over a few months we emailed back and forth to learn we were both from TN and lived only 30 minutes apart... we thought wow, it's a small world. Little did we know a few months later we'd both get referrals, earlier than we expected, of 2 beautiful Guatemalan angels. When they turned 2 months old our agency called and decided it was time to tell us that they were in the same foster home together and had been since they were 1 day old. We were amazed they were together. Even more so, God amazed us once again when we learned shortly after that they were born on the same day and were from the same town... no longer a coincidence that was for sure. We were being told by the foster mom how attached they were and acted like brothers. But, Nancy and I got the chance in January '08 to go to visit them and see it for ourselves. It was an amazing time of bonding with our boys that we will never forget. After that trip it seemed when one of us would reach a roadblock in the crazy process of international adoption the other would be delayed with something else. We stayed right together until the very day we picked them both up. We had our US Embassy appts the same day and we flew home through Atlanta on the same flight on March 11, 2008 when they both entered the US as citizens! It was an awesome time for us in the Atlanta Airport when we rec'd the congrats they were official! We've made friends for life with Nancy, Eric, and with Isaac's extended families. We look forward to many years of watching them both grow up so close together. Over the past year, as we went through battle after battle to bring our boys home, Nancy and I both would never think of one without the other in our endless prayers to keep them safe, happy and healthy until they could be home with their forever families. We're finally parents and it's what we've both waited for, for so many years.. our families are finally complete!!!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Prayer needed now more than ever!!!!

Hey, I promised I would post with any news I rec'd about the law changes so here goes. Yesterday there were updates about the amendments we've been waiting for now for months to allow in process cases to continue under the old laws in which we started this adoption. Last week, we got some promising news that the in process cases would be "grandfathered" in under the old laws. To fall under the old, our attorney would have 30 days from December 31st (original deadline to be complete or adoptions stopped or delayed) to register our case to show we're still in court process and requesting we continue under the original law. They would register us with what they are calling a Central Authority. This Central Authority was "made up" by the current corrupt President who allegedly stated he wanted to stop all adoptions to the US but, who turned around and made a public statement he never intended them to stop just be revamped to prevent corruption... go figure but, that is another debate in itself. He's being replaced because his term has ended as of January anyway. He's trying to make a grand exit and supposedly been offered personal funds if he can make that happen. Anyway, we felt good about that statement last week because we have faith in our attorney and agency that they would get whatever forms we need registered done in the allotted time frame.
HOWEVER, yesterday it was posted that there is a lot left unanswered by the Guatemalan government with this issue of Central Authority. ***note... I am trying to break this mess down and make it less confusing to those who don't follow this as religiously as we do to understand so.. bear with me here on the long post to do so*** First, they say it's unconstitutional for President Berger to even appoint a Central Authority in the first place. They say he does not have the legal power to form such group. Second, there is no up and running Central Authority as of today. Everyone knows that Guatemala can't get anything up and running in 28 days, no government as far as that goes. Therefore, the new concern is if there is no Central Authority, how can we register there within 30 days from December 31st? GOOD QUESTION!! The recent updates/posts suggest they have found away around the grandfathering of old cases by the Central Authority registering requirement knowing full well in advance it can't happen. Then it would be sorry you missed the cut off and your now under the new laws and following the new requirements.
What is so disappointing here is that the US (our very own voted in representatives) would sit back and not only allow this to happen to us, citizens of this "land of opportunity" as the US has recently been called. The US has added to the pressure by threats of not issuing visas, etc.. instead of supporting the prospective adoptive parents that live here! 98% of Guatemalan adopted babies come to the US. 98%! What makes it worse when you think it couldn't get any worse, is that Congress is finished with sessions (just like the US does) and have added additional sessions to convene the "first 2 weeks of December" to vote on this amendment/proposed new law. There has to be a vote of 1o5 for the Central Authority to be established and made up. 90 of the Congressman were not re-elected in November's election. therefore, the doubt they will show up for the added sessions (apparently, they aren't required to or don't care because they are out anyway) next week to even vote. So, basically the new law won't work in our favor unless they do something else.
All in all... what is boils down to is this.... no Central Authority exists.. no registration can take place... new laws stop adoptions until at least April when the Hague takes effect, as with the US as well or 4,000 babies (or what don't come home in the next 3 weeks of that 4,000) never have the opportunity for better lives with their already chosen families here in the US... adoptions stop, foster mom's can't keep the babies for free... new babies are killed by their own family because they can't feed them, they're left in public places, abandoned and die. In case you weren't aware already from previous posts, Guatemala has no welfare system for children so, they can't just sit home and get a check every month to provide food and shelter for them like the US does. They dig through a trash dump site bigger than Bristol to find what they can to eat and live amongst it under the rubble. Don't mean to be so graphic or sound harsh but, it's all fact and the way it is. I don't know of a thing that can be done except to call you all to please pray for this all to be resolved. I have faith that God has given Levi parents and us a son, He placed us together. All that was HIS will for our family and He won't fail us now. I just so need you all to believe that with me whole hearted. I have to do that to keep my sanity. I know my family supports me (whether they tell me or not) but, if it weren't for Nancy, Isaac's mom through all this I don't know what I would do.. I'd never make it; without being heavily medicated or without psychiatric treatment at least, she is just in this too and we HAVE to stick together on a daily basis to make it through all this. Keep them both in your prayers, Levi and Isaac. I wouldn't pray for one without the other at this point. Issac has a good chance at being through the court part by Dec 31st. Not home, but through PGN. I don't know where that would leave them being out and final but, not with a visa by the US yet but, it would be a good thing to say the least. Nancy is 5 weeks in as of this Wednesday and there is an average 8 week stay in PGN if she gets no more kickouts. I am believing they won't so.. pray for the good of it all. Will keep you posted as I hear anything else. We believe this is to finalize (if no further delays) in early January so, we need something major to happen with these law changes/voting next week. I know you all probably get tired of hearing about the debate and politics of this whole thing, me too but, I have a son waiting for me and I have to keep pressing on a keep jumping when they say jump. Been through so many hoops I'm just tired and worn out and need this to be over. While I am on it, what's a few more line to this huge post? ... for those who have and do regularly question (not being rude just no other way to put that) is this worth the risk of losing the money, or all worth it with the potential for such heartache, etc.. we've heard it all believe me. Yes, this won't even be a faint memory once Levi is home. And answer to your own questions... is there a $$$ amount you can place on your child? Nope, don't think so... same here. Many of my family and friends have never been without children. But, compare it to your own, it's the same thing. We've just had to watch ours grow up in someone else's arms, thousands of miles away for the first almost year of his life, that's the only difference. You'd fight til death for your kids, same here...no difference. Love and Blessings-
Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

3 comments:

Nancy and Isaac McGee said...

Hey girl you know I am with you til the end and I couldn't get through it without you either. You are my rock and I love ya. We just got to keep on keepin' on. God will deliver our children to us in His time. Praying this time next year we won't even remember how hard these days were. Nobody knows but me and you what we go through everyday. But that's ok because that gives you and I a bond that we will never have with anyone else. Praying our babies home. Plus I called the Billy Graham telethon tonight and had them pray for us.

Unknown said...

Well put, Tracy. There is no money limit we would put on our children, to have them safe and healthy, and in your arms. I can't believe anyone would even ask that. I will be thinking about you and praying extra hard.

PAPAW said...

I PRAY MY GRANDBABY WILL SOON BE HOME-SO WE CAN GROW CLOSER AS A FAMILY-JUST TO WATCH HIM GROW UP WILL BE ANOTHER TURNING STONE IN MY LIFE.GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US ALL.