Sorry I haven't posted much lately, to be honest I have been very frustrated with this whole adoption process. Last year on Christmas Day we announced to our families we were adopting a little girl from Guatemala. When we started the process we thought for sure she would be home in time to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with us and that didn't happen. We are more than ready to have our little girl home. Her first Christmas has now come and gone and I am dreading missing her first birthday. This process is getting harder and harder each day.
Effective January 1, 2008 the new law goes in to effect.A central Authority still has to be created in the first 15 days of the new year then 3500+ cases have to be registered with them. This will be a huge task and I expect that this task and the new law will probably create some delay in our file. Techinically we are suppose to be grandfathered in under the old law however Guatemala has yet to establish what is considered "in process."
Now to update you on our file. As of December 27th we are still with the second reviewer and should be for another 2-3 weeks. Mike and I have different feelings about being with the second reviewer. Most cases get kicked out of PGN at least once if not twice and I would rather it be sooner rather than later. Mike looks at it as a blessing we haven't been kicked out and we may squeak through without a kickout (plus I don't like to worry about it either-MM). I ask that you please pray that God protects our file from a kickout in PGN. We really need your prayers as I am aware of one maybe two reasons they can kick our file out. When you enter PGN all dates must be current and no expirations of notary's or licenses. I tell you this because our social worker's license expired 15 days before we entered PGN. She has since renewed her license but even if it is a quick fix we go back to the beginning of the line in PGN and our 8 week wait starts over.
I have posted some pictures that reminded us of Ella this holiday even though she couldn't be with us.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
No news
As of Friday we are still on the second reviewer's desk. Tuesday will mark 3 weeks in PGN which is the average time before getting the first kickout. So please pray we can make it the next 5 weeks without a kickout.
There is a short slide show on the website with pictures from our visit trip
There is a short slide show on the website with pictures from our visit trip
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
New Adoption Law Approved
Below you can read the associate press article just released. This sounds like good news. However we are still 3-4 months from getting Ella home. PGN will be closed 12/20-1/2 so that just added 2 weeks to our wait. We are now praying Ella will be home before Mike's birthday April 2nd.
-----------------------------------------------------------
New Guatemala Adoption Law Approved
By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA – 27 minutes ago
GUATEMALA (AP) — Guatemalan legislators approved a new law Tuesday to tighten adoptions, while allowing pending adoptions — mostly to U.S. couples — to go through without meeting the stricter requirements.
The legislation had upset thousands of would-be parents who had invested their savings to adopt a child from Guatemala, which is second only to China in sending adoptive children to the United States. Many feared thousands of children would be left in limbo.
However, the law approved by Congress stipulates that pending adoptions, some 3,700 children already matched with prospective parents, will be allowed to move forward without being subject to the new rules.
The law, aimed at cleaning up an adoption process that critics say allows birth mothers to sell their babies, will take effect next year. It requires the signature of President Oscar Berger.
"Starting Dec. 31, the business of adoptions is over," said lawmaker Rolando Morales, one of the measure's biggest supporters.
Adoptions in Guatemala are now handled exclusively by notaries who work with birth mothers, determine if babies were surrendered willingly, hire foster mothers and handle all the paperwork.
Notaries charge an average of $30,000 for children delivered in about nine months — record time for international adoptions. The process is so quick that one in every 100 Guatemalan children now grow up as an adopted American; Guatemala sent 4,135 children to the U.S. last year.
-----------------------------------------------------------
New Guatemala Adoption Law Approved
By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA – 27 minutes ago
GUATEMALA (AP) — Guatemalan legislators approved a new law Tuesday to tighten adoptions, while allowing pending adoptions — mostly to U.S. couples — to go through without meeting the stricter requirements.
The legislation had upset thousands of would-be parents who had invested their savings to adopt a child from Guatemala, which is second only to China in sending adoptive children to the United States. Many feared thousands of children would be left in limbo.
However, the law approved by Congress stipulates that pending adoptions, some 3,700 children already matched with prospective parents, will be allowed to move forward without being subject to the new rules.
The law, aimed at cleaning up an adoption process that critics say allows birth mothers to sell their babies, will take effect next year. It requires the signature of President Oscar Berger.
"Starting Dec. 31, the business of adoptions is over," said lawmaker Rolando Morales, one of the measure's biggest supporters.
Adoptions in Guatemala are now handled exclusively by notaries who work with birth mothers, determine if babies were surrendered willingly, hire foster mothers and handle all the paperwork.
Notaries charge an average of $30,000 for children delivered in about nine months — record time for international adoptions. The process is so quick that one in every 100 Guatemalan children now grow up as an adopted American; Guatemala sent 4,135 children to the U.S. last year.
Friday, December 7, 2007
1 down 2 to go
I just called PGN and found out we made it past the first reviewer and are currently with the 2nd reviewer. We should be with the 2nd reviewer about 4-6 weeks. After the 2nd reviewer we go to the 3rd reviewer (Barrio's) who will have our file 1-2 weeks. Please continue to pray we have no errors and can move through PGN in a timely manner despite the holidays. Right now it looks like Ella will be home shortly after her 1st birthday (February 20th) hopefully before my 30th birthday (March 12th).
I also ask that you pray for Gabi's (Ella's foster sister's) file. They are still fixing their previous error so they can be resubmitted back to PGN. This is their 3rd kick out from PGN and no family should have to go through 3 separate kick outs.
Next Tuesday Guatemala is holding special sessions to vote on the amendments for the new adoption law. I will keep you posted.
I also ask that you pray for Gabi's (Ella's foster sister's) file. They are still fixing their previous error so they can be resubmitted back to PGN. This is their 3rd kick out from PGN and no family should have to go through 3 separate kick outs.
Next Tuesday Guatemala is holding special sessions to vote on the amendments for the new adoption law. I will keep you posted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)