Good news and bad news

The good news...well we are all healthy and God has a plan for us....AND I finally managed to upload our Christmas pictures below!

The bad news...our case got kicked out from PGN.

On January 25th we were kicked out of PGN with 1 previo. Apparently the Barrios did not like our (standard issue) state police clearance letters. They stated that neither of us have any criminal history, were authenticated and all in order and based on fingerprinting we carried out last summer. But for no known reason they decided we need to get new letters. Lord give us patience and strength.

So that means two things - 1. I only have 2 days to sort this out before travelling to Guatemala on Saturday (and tomorrow I am in Minneapolis all day), and 2. we are out of PGN and waiting in limbo to see what will happen next. Despite the fact that the new Central Authority in Guatemala is registering cases, PGN is refusing to accept such cases back. So it is complete shut down and we, along with hundreds of other familes, have no idea when (or if) we will be back in PGN to try once more to complete our journey.

Please please please pray for us. Pray that we can sort out the State Police Clearance letter situation and get our adoption case back on track in PGN soon.

We really need your prayers and support and this time.

In PGN - praying for a smooth journey!

Apologies for taking so long to update the blog, I can offically confirm that our case was submitted to PGN on Dec 21st and registered on Dec 27th!

So now we are hpoing and praying that we are not kicked out of PGN for any previos and have a speedy and uneventful journey through.

Unfortunately due to the new laws that past at the beginning of this year, all new cases to PGN and any case that have to be resubmitted after a kick out, will now not be accepted by PGN until they are registered with the new body in Guat - the Central Authority ("CA"). The problem with that is that the CA is not just formed and there is no date for when it is likely to be formed. This has created delays and huge concerns for so many families and we pray for all of them now. We also of course pray that our case goes through and does not for any reason have to be resubmitted - if it does we join all those familes stuck in limbo.

On a lighter note I booked my flight today for my stay in Guatemala in February. From February 2nd I will be in Guatemala caring for Jessica until we can bring her home. Never again will I have to leave her there. That is such a blessing. I am renting a beautiful apartment and can not wait to have her with me!

Roll on February 2nd!

We got PA!!!!

Thank you God - we received the email notification this morning that we have received Pre-Approval from the US Embassy in Guatemala.

This is a good step forward. Now we need to hear that we are out of Family Court in Guatemala and have entered PGN. If we can speed through PGN we could potentially be out before year end. Let's all pray for that.

So dear Lord we pray for your help to work through all the people responsible for our case in Guatemala, so that they may handle all paperwork quickly and efficiently and do everything in their power to ensure our daughter is able to come home soon.

Praise the Lord for he is good!

Abuelita Cela - a great lady remembered

I just returned today from Lima, leaving Marco there with his family. On Monday Marco's beautiful mother and Jessica's long awaited abuelita passed away. We buried her on Tuesday afternoon, with the sun shining, a host of loving family members and friends paying tribute and with a full police escort - fitting for such a wonderful lady.

I am truly sad that Jessica did not get the chance to meet her abuelita - but she will certainly know all about her and be reminded often what a great person she was - not only through the man she made her son (Jessica's father), but through her impressions on Rebecca and Sammy and me.

TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE YOU LOVE, IS NOT TO DIE

God bless Marcela, and rest in peace.

Thank you for my dear husband, and all you raised him to be. For him I will always be thankful to you.