Levi Douglas Bradley: 5 days and 4 hours!!!!

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!!!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

5 days and 4 hours!!!!

But, who's counting right? We are! It is now 5 days and 4 hours until we get Levi in our arms forever! Nancy's is even better... she will have Isaac in her arms forever in 4 days! She is going a day ahead of us and will hopefully be settled by the time we arrive. I think all of the arrangements are made for the trip except the last minute things we can't do until time to leave. We now have all of our reservations confirmed and set. We will be leaving early, early morning on Thursday, March 6 and returning way up in the morning on Wednesday, March 12. It has been 5 months and 18 days since Steve last held his son so, needless to say he's a little anxious to get there too! We will keep you all updated as we are there and things progress via this blog and our posts. We are taking our laptop so, one of us will do our best to let you know we're there safe and have Levi once we get him. Please pray that all goes well with the trip and that there are no delays on our way. Our appointment to get Levi processed out of the country is Friday, march 7 at 7:15am so, we have no time for delays on the way down there. I am not a morning person at all but, I guess that morning I will be up before the sun is to get myself and Levi ready for the appointment. Having to all be fed, dry and dressed by 6:45am will be my true initiation I think. Makes me sleepy just thinking about it. well, until I know more..... Blessings-Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

3 comments:

Nancy and Isaac McGee said...: Well it won't be long now until we are all in Guatemala together. I can't wait!!! I truly can't believe this has all come full circle. I know all things are possible through God but I never thought He would pick me to use like this, it is truly amazing. I hope our boys realize what a miracle they are.
Levi, your mom and dad have waited so long for you and you are just going to be their little shining light. You will bring such joy to their lives and all those who you will come in contact with. Your family has also waited a long time for you. your grand-parents, aunts, uncles and even little cousins. The same with Isaac, you all will have so much love around you. I hope you and Isaac always know how much you are loved and that if you ever need anything you just let aunt Nancy know about it and I will do what I can to see that you get it. I love you little buddy and I will see you real, real soon.
Maybe we can all go swimming at the hotel since it is going to be 80 there and only in the 50's here.; March 1, 2008 at 9:13:00 PM EST
Anonymous said...: God brings great things to those who believe~~~~ Hurry home baby boy we are all waiting to meet you.Love to you sweetbaby Aunt Naomi; March 2, 2008 at 1:11:00 PM EST
Unknown said...: We just found out the Rocky's cousin is adopting a little girl from guatemala. She has a pick up date for April. I gave her the address to your site so she can read up on your experience. Can't wait to meet Levi in August; March 3, 2008 at 3:21:00 AM EST