Rumblings?

I've started this post in my head at least a dozen times today. One year ago today we flew home from Guatemala after signing a power of attorney in the lobby of the Raddison, promising to do whatever it would take to bring our son home. We wondered how we would tell our family. How would we tell our friends. What would people think? Would our case be allowed to continue? Could we get a dossier together in time? So many questions. Yet, in the midst of it all, we had a deep-seated peace, knowing that God was in it and if God is for us, who can be against us?

If you had asked me then where we'd be today, I would have told you, with all confidence, that we would be preparing a Christmas for five beautiful children. Never would I have guessed that we'd still be stuck in the system.

Rumblings...preparations...pieces beginning to fall into place...

We learned last night that the investigations division (Minor's Court) has agreed to release our case back to PGN without going through a judge. Good news. Wonderful news. A beacon of hope as we pass this anniversary day without Geovanny at home. Not the first thing we've seen in the last few days that makes us wonder if our forever reunion with our sweet boy could be closer than we've dared to hope.

What's next? We really don't know. While they've agreed to send our dossier back to PGN, we don't know when that will actually happen. For all we know (our attorney is on vacation this week) it could have happened already. We pray that it has. There's still the issue of the document in question. Will we face a kick-out to get it fixed? Maybe. Or maybe, somewhere along the line, the problem has been solved and when PGN gets it back, they'll approve our case and release us. It's almost too much to ask for, but we ask anyways. Trusting that God knows what's best. Hoping for another miracle. Dreaming of a day we don't have to say good-bye to our son.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, the gift of God's Son to us, my thoughts turn to Mary, the mother of Jesus. I think of how conflicted her heart must have been as she prepared to give birth to the Messiah, knowing that He would not be hers forever. Knowing He would be scoffed and rejected. I'm challenged by her courage and her strength and her desire to serve God no matter what. May I be as willing as she was to say "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true."

Blessings,

In Whom Do I Trust?

Today started off as one of those mornings where I just wanted an answer to this adoption craziness. All we've heard is that there has been no movement. No movement back towards PGN. No movement towards judicial review. No movement.

As Christmas approaches, I picture our son sitting in an orphanage, no decorations, no tree, no visible symbols of a celebration. But then another picture comes to mind, the picture of little boys sitting on the floor in front of a teen-age girl who is reading them a Bible story from a simple Spanish children's storybook. God nudges my heart. Isn't THAT what Christmas is about? Geovany may not see any visible signs of Christmas. He most likely won't receive any gifts. But he is hearing about the reason for the season.

As I questioned God, and began my reading for the morning, I came across this verse...

Isa 2:22 -- Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. How can they be of help to anyone?

I was challenged, once again, to remember that as wonderful as our attorney is, he is not the one in which we place our trust. As much as we appreciate all our agency has done for us, they are not the ones in whom we should be trusting. Our trust is in God alone. He has not forgotten Geovany. He has not forgotten us.

Isn't God gracious to continually meet us where we're at? To gently remind us that He understands. He doesn't condemn me for asking, but takes my hand and leads me back to truth my heart needs to hear.

Blessings,

A Vicious Circle

Well, we received an "update" on our case today. It's not real encouraging and we're not exactly sure what the solution will be . It appears that PGN has admitted that they were wrong in sending our case to investigations. They have said that the document which needed correction could have been corrected through administrative channels and the case should not have been turned over to the investigation division. The investigation division says there is nothing for them to investigate, as they've looked at the document and concur that it should be fixed administratively. Here's where it gets crazy. Because it was sent for investigation, by law, it has to be investigated. PGN is apparently not allowed to just get the case back. But since there's nothing to investigate, the investigators won't do anything with it!!! The "solution" being offered by investigations (I think) is to send it to a judge for him to rule on it. Once the judge rules on it, it would then be sent back to PGN to start all over. The biggest challenge to that "solution" is that it takes 6-8 months for the judge to rule on it and then an unknown additional amount of time to clear PGN. I know this is probably very confusing to you, it certainly is to us.

At this point, we're praying for some kind of miracle. Our attorney is trying to get the case back to PGN without going through the judicial system. God is going to have to show up and show off to make that happen. Amazingly, as I type this, I don't feel panicked or concerned or even frustrated. There's truly a peace that passes all understanding that covers our lives when we surrender to God's plan. That doesn't mean I don't want him home, but I have to remember that God is in this and none of this is a surprise to Him.

We look forward to God resolving this and will continue to keep you posted. Thanks again for hanging in there with us!

Blessings,


Psalm 135:13-14 -- Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your fame, O LORD, is known to every generation. For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.