What will tomorrow bring???

Yesterday, was an awesome day. Matt once again had to work late and we didn't get to church, but we did go out on a date for the first time in a long time. We went to Applebees and then to Babies R Us to do some shopping off the clearance racks for next winter and I bought on outfit for this summer. After shopping, we went to see National Treasure:Book of Secrets and really liked it. Finally, before heading home, we stopped at Steak N Shake near the mall for something to drink and got really good service for the first time at a Steak N Shake since coming to St Louis. We had a great time shopping for Clay and spending time just the two of us and dreaming and planning all the things we want to do with Clay when he comes home.
Today, Anna tried calling the USE (U.S. Embassy) back and seeing about her pink appt. Well, all we know is her second 2nd DNA test was delivered to the USE and hopefully and prayerfully, will get her Visa appt for pick up tomorrow.
Anna, during all that was nice enough to call PGN for us. We found out we are out. BUT we don't know if that is for a Kick Out our third or out for good. Carol called later and said that Maria will check with PGN tomorrow and see what is up. Considering we have only been back in 2 weeks this is more than likely a kick out. At the same time God is still in the business of making miracle and we could really be signed out for good. Well, as you can imagine I am really on edge of my seat. I want to be out and believe Laura SOOOOOOOOO badly that we are but scared to death she has made a mistake and we are kicked out and it will be a long time before re-entered. Please, God, let this be our OUT!!!!!!!
Well, y'all we will know tomorrow and until then my mind and body and soul are going haywire and waiting is not easy!!!! Please let this roller coaster be nearing it's home base and be over. Well, that is all for tonight. Please be praying for us all.

A True Story

The other night, Matt and I were able to meet with another adoptive parent from our agency and a friend of hers. They were staying in town overnight to be at the airport the next morning to leave for a visit trip. We had a really good time. We went out to eat and just spent the time talking and getting to know each other. All went really well, that is until we got ready to leave. I got up and I have this really bad habit of having a glass of tea or something wherever I am and as we left I was drinking my Dr Pepper when we were leaving. Everything was going great and I went to get into the car when I realized I still had my drink. How embarassing. I had to go return it. I have started to do that before, but Matt always seemed to realize it before we left the restaurant, until now that is. Oh well. We had fun even laughing about that.

Fast forward to today and Anna has had the 2nd DNA test done. The test should be to Labcorp on Monday and Results ready and overnighted to the Embassy on Thursday or so and the Pink Slip 24 hours later if all goes smoothly.

Kristi is in Guatemala visiting with her daughter and is waiting on Pre-Approval from the US Embassy please be praying she receives it soon so she can enter PGN as she has been out of Family Court for awhile now.

For those following our journey and praying for us come Tuesday, December 11, is the vote for the new law. I do know it includes a grandfather clause, but we don't have any clue what that grandfather clause will mean to the over 4000 cases in progress. There are alot rumors running rampant over what that means and at this time we have no clue if any are true. I am not posting anything I have read until I know facts because rumors just cause distress and I dont want that I just want to know what we are all facing. PLEASE continue praying as the rumors are scary for a lot of people. Please be praying that our case and any one else in PGN gets out and that the people waiting for PA receives there's soon. REALLY soon. Mostly just please be praying for us adoptive parents, the Guatemalan Government and ours that oversees this process that decisions will be made for the good of us, them and the kids this effects. Thank you for your continual prayers. Now, if you look after this you will see a picture from the other night. It is Matt and I and Kristi. Left to Right.

Well...... Waiting for updates

The wait continues and this time for medical updates and pictures. The doctor won't be seeing Clay until next week as he has been on vacation. I have to admit I am glad this week is over and next Tuesday makes two weeks in PGN and just a few days until we get new pictures. The wait is hard and I am trying to stay busy. I am just praying that this time in PGN gets easier as it is a long hard wait.

I just have to figure out something to do that will keep me busy. That is all. I will and then the days will go by quicker and before we know it we will be out of PGN and waiting on the final steps to bringing our son home.

Well, that is all that is new for today. Next week will bring good news and Thanksgiving. I am so not ready for that. It is just the two of us for Thanksgiving and all up to me. We will see what happens. I am so looking for Sunday morning. Matt will be off work till Wednesday night and we can go to church Sunday morning. I just don't know what else we are going to do. Maybe on Thanksgiving we can go see "August Rush". I been wanting to see that and believe it will be a good movie. Well, I am going for now and will check back later. Please continue praying for some reason this week is really hard and I miss Clay so VERY much!!!!!!

We Are IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is right, everyone, we are in PGN!!! We have been in PGN since Friday, October 5, 2007.
We had received word that we were going to be going into PGN that Monday and for the first time since this whole process started we were getting impatient. I think we ended up calling Carol everyday to see if we were in and Friday when she called me back and said we were in it was great!!!!! I guess the part that made it so hard to wait is the fact that about the same time we needed to get into PGN the Ortega Law was passed stating that in process cases would not be "grandfathered" in. BUT LISTEN, Your prayers and support with the petitions and letters is paying off we are making a difference. As of this weekend, there has been an amendment added and passed two of three steps to being included and passed into law. In addition to that UNICEF has changed it's wording and our actions are being heard!!!!! This whole new update can be read under the www.jcics.org site and go to most recent news links for Guatemala 5000. Thank you all so much for helping us in this journey to bringing our son home. I will be updating the call to action with more information in a few days as the fight for these children isnt over yet.

Please, continue praying for this whole process. We are in PGN and noone knows whether they will get a kick out for any reason and we will not know it until it happens. With no kick outs we will be out of PGN within 8-10 weeks. Eight weeks will be Nov. 30th!!!!!! It could take that long also to know that we had a kick out. We are praying for no Kickouts, but trying to prepare in case we get kicked out. It is possible to be home by Christmas. Is it likely? NO. It would be a miracle to be home for Christmas!!!! After PGN, the birthmother signs over and terminates rights to this child for the 4th and final time, an amended birth certificate is issued with us listed as parents, Passport is obtained and the file goes to the US Embassy in Guatemala where they issue the second DNA authorization, DNA is taken and sent to Labcorp where it will be processed and overnighted to the US Embassy in Guatemala, and then the pink slip (Visa appt) will be sent to us. We will then book our planes and once we get there foster mother will bring us OUR son. The next day or whenever the appt is the three of us (unless my parents come with us for pick up) then the five of us would go for the appt and the next day pick up Clay's visa. Depending on the flight and airline we could be flying back home that night or the next day. This last and final step is taking about a month at this time. The end is in sight.

We have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do we have??? We have PA!!!!!!!!!!

Well, y'all, I have been checking for PA everyday this week and while we were at lunch, yes at lunch and nowhere near the computer we got it!! How did we know, you ask? Our agency gets the same email from the US Embassy in Guatemala as we and our attorney does and when I didnt respond right back to her email, Carol called. Matt was sitting next to me and needless to say we were ecstatic, cloud one million and started calling everyone we could think of. When we got home first thing we did was look for the email from the US Embassy that stated we had it and when we found it it was just a simple statement we had it. So simple for something so fantastic and exciting. Now what, you ask? When do you bring your baby home? Well, first we haven't heard we are out of Family Court(FC), yet. Usually you get out of FC before getting PA (well not all the time but sometime) and until we have that we cant enter into PGN. What is FC? FC is the birthmother's homestudy and the report that her social worker will send out and is one of the necessary documents necessary to enter PGN. Next, when will we bring our baby home? Well, we are ALOT closer. We have to go through and get signed out of PGN before we can give any idea of when we will bring our baby home. PGN is affectionately termed the "black hole" of PGN as we never know when we will get out once we get in. Depends on if there are any previos (kick outs or KO). So still the answer to when we dont know when. We are praying and hoping!!!

Please continue to pray that we will be out of PGN by December 31, 2008. We are praying for our miracle and this would be our miracle.

I told that to a co-worker of Matt's today and she said that we should be praying for a miracle of being out of PGN by December 1,2008. That would be so awesome!!!! I really wish that could be the case. Do I dare ask for that miracle? I dont know if I can. I would be heartbroken if God said not yet, or no to that date and then my mind takes over and says it isnt possible. Remember, all those delays in the beginning. Well, I am still not sure if I want to ask that, but when I can spend some time with HIM in that decision I will post here. It would take all of you praying with us for that to happen as alot of things are happening politically in and between Guatemala and the US Govt pertaining to adoptions now in process which includes us. So, please in the next week or less please be praying about the decision to help us bring our son home. Not just our son but everyone's child home that is now in the process and there are thousands.

For all my friends and family and everyone reading this site please be praying about helping us all and we need the prayers for strength to get through it all, the wait, the ups and downs of PGN and everything else.

We go to visit our son again on October 14-18th and in order to afford this we need to fly standby. Matt's benefits will allow us to fly standby and visit once again. Flying standby means that we get a ticket without an assigned seat and then after everyone else has boarded if there are seats available the agent will clear standby passengers in order of priority. Matt works for US Airways Express and we are flying US Airways so all US Airways employees and family will have priority ahead of us. I miss my son terribly and looking forward to it. Please pray that we will have a seat on the trip there as well as trip back as US Airways flies only on Sundays, Tues, and Thurs to Guatemala and if not on the first flight we wont be going. For the trip back we need to be on it as Matt needs to be at work the next night. God is in control and He knows best so please pray with us.

Today is a great day!!!! Now, to get out of FC and into PGN. Thank you all.