Hi All,
It's been kind of a rough day with us (Elizabeth and Mommy). Elizabeth went to sleep early last night, but I still had to wake her up to get ready for school this morning. Then she was moody and contrary...not totally unusual. However, on the way to school she randomly said, "God is not here. He only is here at night." We
talked about it, and I'm still not sure why she said that. But she said she sees Him at night, but He's not around during the day. Then she was asking questions about where God lives and such, so I kind of let it go.
On the way home from shopping this evening, we were singing, "We are the children of God." Suddenly, adamently, she said she does not like God. When I asked her the reason she said that she wants to be a big sister and she wants her brother home NOW. Then she started sobbing and telling me over and over again that she wants her brother home with us and that she doesn't like God. I tried to talk with her about
how God is in control and we can't always understand why or when things happen, but we know that God knows the best way. And even though Joshua isn't home with us yet, God is still taking care of him and loves Joshua and her. She did say, "and God loves you and Joshua's foster mom," and so on. Then she moved on to a whole other
subject.
I thinking we did TOO well preparing her to have a little brother. I am very grateful that she understands that God is in control in our adoption. Maybe this is part of the reason she's been more emotional lately, too. Any thoughts or suggestions for helping a preschooler to understand His timing?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
More info about Jose's adoption
We learned some additional information about Jose's case. IF his birth mother's birth record is found, all the changed needed for her documents and his could easily take up to a year. THEN we could move forward with the actual adoption process.
If this is the timeframe it takes, we will have to redo pretty much all of our documents. And I'm wondering if it takes so long, if Guatemala might require us to follow whatever new system might be in place by then.
If the birth mother's record is not found, it is questionable if we'll be able to proceed at all.
We are blessed to have a social worker and agency who really cares. Our social worker said, "I can guarantee you that Bethany will be in this for the long haul with you and will do everything we can to the best of our ability."
We are even more blessed to know we serve a God who is in control, and is bigger than any obstacle that might be placed before us. He has brought us to this place, and will bring about His purpose.
If this is the timeframe it takes, we will have to redo pretty much all of our documents. And I'm wondering if it takes so long, if Guatemala might require us to follow whatever new system might be in place by then.
If the birth mother's record is not found, it is questionable if we'll be able to proceed at all.
We are blessed to have a social worker and agency who really cares. Our social worker said, "I can guarantee you that Bethany will be in this for the long haul with you and will do everything we can to the best of our ability."
We are even more blessed to know we serve a God who is in control, and is bigger than any obstacle that might be placed before us. He has brought us to this place, and will bring about His purpose.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Update on our conference call
An update about our conference call:
We were able to speak with our social worker, the program coodinator for Bethany, and the contact actually in Guatemala.
Apparently when Jose's birthmother was born, her documents were recorded with an error that was passed on to Jose's documents now. This needs to be corrected, but can't until specific paperwork is found and sent to a certain government agency within Guatemala. We can't begin most of the adoption steps until the changes are made. So, we will have some definite delays with the process. We are praying that this will all be resolved as quickly as possible.
We did get some hopefully good news, though. Our power of attorney is in the process of being protocolized with the central registry in Guatemala and should be complete sometime this week. This means that if the amendment is passed to allow grandfathering of in-process adoptions, we should be able to continue with Jose's adoption! We're disappointed about the delay, but much more hopeful that our process will continue.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!
We were able to speak with our social worker, the program coodinator for Bethany, and the contact actually in Guatemala.
Apparently when Jose's birthmother was born, her documents were recorded with an error that was passed on to Jose's documents now. This needs to be corrected, but can't until specific paperwork is found and sent to a certain government agency within Guatemala. We can't begin most of the adoption steps until the changes are made. So, we will have some definite delays with the process. We are praying that this will all be resolved as quickly as possible.
We did get some hopefully good news, though. Our power of attorney is in the process of being protocolized with the central registry in Guatemala and should be complete sometime this week. This means that if the amendment is passed to allow grandfathering of in-process adoptions, we should be able to continue with Jose's adoption! We're disappointed about the delay, but much more hopeful that our process will continue.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!
Friday, October 19, 2007
October Picture of Our Little Man
We were sent new pictures today! So here's the link if you want to see them!
http://picasaweb.google.com/dnbaber/JoseOctoberPictures?authkey=PFu8X...
Thank you to all who are praying and thinking about our family and the situation in Guatemala. There have been many groups advocating for the children and families. And there has been some positive feedback from the government in Guatemala. However, nothing is definite yet.
In addition to all this, we do have some concerns specific to Jose's case. When the previous family was in the process of adopting him, some issues with birth certificates (I'm not sure yet if it's only his or his birthmom's.) were found. The lawyer and agency have been working on resolving them the whole time, but it's more than they realized. We are having a conference call with our social worker and
the representative in Guatemala tomorrow at 4. We'll post more as we have more info.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dnbaber/JoseOctoberPictures?authkey=PFu8X...
Thank you to all who are praying and thinking about our family and the situation in Guatemala. There have been many groups advocating for the children and families. And there has been some positive feedback from the government in Guatemala. However, nothing is definite yet.
In addition to all this, we do have some concerns specific to Jose's case. When the previous family was in the process of adopting him, some issues with birth certificates (I'm not sure yet if it's only his or his birthmom's.) were found. The lawyer and agency have been working on resolving them the whole time, but it's more than they realized. We are having a conference call with our social worker and
the representative in Guatemala tomorrow at 4. We'll post more as we have more info.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Guatemala Update
Thank you to all who have been praying!
Here's some current information:
Guatemalan Congress approved a law on October 3. As it stands, the law pretty much ends international adoption as of Jan. 1. However, it appears as though congress will go through a detailed, point by point, reading of it where ammendments can be made. Some of the amendments that are being proposed are for a grandfather clause and for delayed impementation. It does not appear as though the amendments will be
voted on before the Nov 4th election. We are hearing it will be on Nov 14th. All parties in Guatemala seem to be agreeing that they must not allow the adoption law to become a campaign issue.
Joint Council on International Children's Services is reporting that the Hague permanent bureau is supporting allowing in-process to continue. This is excellent news for in-process families!
There are several petitions and campaigns happening now:
Focus On Adoption petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html
Families Without Borders: http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/
JCICS Guatemala 5000: http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm
Here's some current information:
Guatemalan Congress approved a law on October 3. As it stands, the law pretty much ends international adoption as of Jan. 1. However, it appears as though congress will go through a detailed, point by point, reading of it where ammendments can be made. Some of the amendments that are being proposed are for a grandfather clause and for delayed impementation. It does not appear as though the amendments will be
voted on before the Nov 4th election. We are hearing it will be on Nov 14th. All parties in Guatemala seem to be agreeing that they must not allow the adoption law to become a campaign issue.
Joint Council on International Children's Services is reporting that the Hague permanent bureau is supporting allowing in-process to continue. This is excellent news for in-process families!
There are several petitions and campaigns happening now:
Focus On Adoption petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html
Families Without Borders: http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/
JCICS Guatemala 5000: http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Please Please Pray!
For a long time, there has been rumor that the government of Guatemala was going to cease adoptions with the U.S. However, a few days ago the U.S. Department of State published a document saying that is exactly what is going to happen. Apparently, certain government
officials in Guatemala have made known that currently all adoptions with the U.S. are to cease by January 1, 2008. The way things are going right now, there is not even a chance to begin adoptions again possibly until April of 2008.
The U.S. DOS and some adoption organizations are trying to convince Guatemala to include "Grandfather clauses" in the legislation they are passing. This would allow families already in the adoption process in Guatemala to continue. There is also a chance that the Jan. 1 date could be pushed back.
I'm not sure that either of these changes will help us, as we have not begun any of the official processes in Guatemala yet. However, there are hundreds of families in the adoption process right now who may not be able to bring their children home. There are thousands of children
in Guatemala who will not have the chance to be part of a family, and there are no social services to be able to provide for them.
PLEASE PRAY
1. For the families and children who are in this process...they are going through tremendous stress and heartache right now. (We have several friends who are much further along in the process and have already been waiting so long to bring their little ones home.)
2. That the leaders in both countries will focus on the children who are involved, rather than their pocketbooks or reputations.
3. God will use one of these possible changes or one of His own miraculous design to allow these children to join the forever families who are waiting for them.
4. God will make it abundantly clear to us what His path is for us. Right now, until we are forced to change, we are planning to move ahead as much as possible.
officials in Guatemala have made known that currently all adoptions with the U.S. are to cease by January 1, 2008. The way things are going right now, there is not even a chance to begin adoptions again possibly until April of 2008.
The U.S. DOS and some adoption organizations are trying to convince Guatemala to include "Grandfather clauses" in the legislation they are passing. This would allow families already in the adoption process in Guatemala to continue. There is also a chance that the Jan. 1 date could be pushed back.
I'm not sure that either of these changes will help us, as we have not begun any of the official processes in Guatemala yet. However, there are hundreds of families in the adoption process right now who may not be able to bring their children home. There are thousands of children
in Guatemala who will not have the chance to be part of a family, and there are no social services to be able to provide for them.
PLEASE PRAY
1. For the families and children who are in this process...they are going through tremendous stress and heartache right now. (We have several friends who are much further along in the process and have already been waiting so long to bring their little ones home.)
2. That the leaders in both countries will focus on the children who are involved, rather than their pocketbooks or reputations.
3. God will use one of these possible changes or one of His own miraculous design to allow these children to join the forever families who are waiting for them.
4. God will make it abundantly clear to us what His path is for us. Right now, until we are forced to change, we are planning to move ahead as much as possible.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Long Wait!
We received notice that all of our paperwork has been sent to Guatemala! YEAH...the paper chase is done! Now comes the LONG wait.
Friday, September 14, 2007
New Photos
We got some new photos of Joshua Jose today, and posted some pictures of Elizabeth at Little Gym. We decided to start using online photo albums to share pictures rather than adding them to the pages on here. So, here are links to go to the photo albums.
Joshua
http://picasaweb.google.com/dnbaber/JoshuaJose?authkey=FOtB3gYACI0
Elizabeth
http://picasaweb.google.com/dnbaber/ElizabethAtLittleGym?authkey=TXSM...
Joshua
http://picasaweb.google.com/dnbaber/JoshuaJose?authkey=FOtB3gYACI0
Elizabeth
http://picasaweb.google.com/dnbaber/ElizabethAtLittleGym?authkey=TXSM...
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Immigration Clearance
Yeah! We got our I-171H in the mail today. That means U.S. Immigration has pre-approved us to adopt a child from Guatemala. It doesn't seem like much, but it's another necessary step in the process.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Next Step
FYI...
We received the official referral (child) acceptance documentation for Jose, so we begin the next phase of the adoption process. Bethany Christian Services has also placed our dossier in the mail, and sent it on its way to Guatamala. We are still waiting for our USCIS clearance, but it should be coming very soon...so they say. As soon as we finish the acceptance documentation, we'll be in full waiting mode on Guatamala and the U.S. Government to complete their processes.
With Love,
David, Demarie, & Elizabeth
We received the official referral (child) acceptance documentation for Jose, so we begin the next phase of the adoption process. Bethany Christian Services has also placed our dossier in the mail, and sent it on its way to Guatamala. We are still waiting for our USCIS clearance, but it should be coming very soon...so they say. As soon as we finish the acceptance documentation, we'll be in full waiting mode on Guatamala and the U.S. Government to complete their processes.
With Love,
David, Demarie, & Elizabeth
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