The Harris Family: Out of Family Court!!! Next up, PGN...

We found out today, July 21st, that our case was approved by the Family Court. We would have never guessed that when we woke up this morning that we would be so unexpectedly surprised. What next? Well our attorney must now prepare our file for presentation to the Guatemalan PGN which should take place in the next week or so. The PGN serves as the ultimate approver of all "grandfathered" adoption cases. The PGN is where the final birth mother interview takes place as well as a thorough review of our case file. The PGN has a reputation for being very strict with the case file and often kicks out the file for minor errors and omissions. So we wait again...this time on the PGN. In a crazy way we know that the waiting is making us grow more in our faith. Pretty cool.

Our Adoption Progress

• Early November 2007 – We receive an e-mail from Pat and Lee Anne Whitworth informing us they are in Guatemala and plan on adopting a child.

• Mid November 2007 – We visit the Whitworth’s after they return from Guatemala and hear their adoption story. We get to see photos and video of several children.

• Mid November 2007 – Nicole begins to express the calling in her heart to adopt. Todd has just finished reading Waking the Dead by John Eldridge and is inspired by his message to live our days in extraordinary fashion. God is stirring us.

• Late November 2007 – We begin to research Guatemalan adoptions but are concerned about the instability on the horizon. We continue to communicate with The Open Way Adoptions and the Whitworths.

• Mid December 2007 – US Department of State announces all Guatemala adoptions initiated before 12/31 will be processed. We begin to work on our home study and dossier. Nicole calls Todd at work on 12/17 and after a short discussion Todd purchases airline tickets for Guatemala.

• December 21, 2007 – We fly to Guatemala and accept referral of Jorge Mario Choc Tzib born on June 7, 2007. We eventually decide to name him Paulo David Mario Harris.

• January 19, 2008 – We complete the home study with Adoption and Beyond.

• January 22, 2008 – Our dossier is complete and mailed to the Guatemalan Consulate in Chicago.

• February 5, 2008 – We received the I-171H from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The legal process in Guatemala begins.

• February 7, 2008 – Our dossier is received by our attorney in Guatemala via The Open Way Adoptions.

• February 11, 2008 – We receive confirmation that our case has been registered with the newly created Guatemalan Central Authority.

• March 6-10, 2008 – We visit Paulo in Guatemala City.

• March 26, 2008 – The US Embassy authorizes the 1st of two DNA tests.

• May 30, 2008 – The 1st DNA test and Family Court appointment is complete.

• June 3-10, 2008 – We visit Paulo in Antigua Guatemala. Amber gets to meet her littler brother for the first time.

• June 7, 2008 – We celebrate Paulo’s first birthday party in Antigua Guatemala.

• June 11, 2008 – The DNA test results are received confirming a probable match (99.999%) with the birth mother.

• June 16, 2008 – We recieved the Pre-Approval of our case from the US Citezenship and Immigration Services located in the US Embassy, Guatemala.

• July 21, 2008 – We received news of the Guatemalan Family Court approval of our case.

• August 7, 2008 – Our case entered the PGN.

• August 29, 2008 – The final birth mother interview is complete.

• November 18, 2008 – Our file is approved by the PGN. The Decree has a typographical error and has to be corrected and signed by the PGN again. After a few weeks the Decree is corrected and re-issued.

• December 9, 2008 – Our file is submitted to RENAP to obtain a birth certificate.

• January 13, 2009 – We receive the birth certificate.

• January 22, 2009 – We receive the passport and complete the 2nd DNA test.

• January 29, 2009 – The results of the 2nd DNA are received at the US Embassy and the visa appointment is set for February 2nd.

• February 2, 2009 – Visa appointment complete. Pick up visa at US Embassy on February 3rd and come home.

We have a crucial role to play

Our deepest fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. –Nelson Mandela's 1994 Innaguration Speech from Author Marianne Williamson

The Harris Family

Out of Family Court!!! Next up, PGN...

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About Us

Paulo David Mario

Todd and Tyler (Big Bro')

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Other cool people we know who are adopting from Guatemala

Our Adoption Progress

We have a crucial role to play

Our deepest fear

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