Best News We've Gotten In A Long Time!!!

We received an e-mail from Kristen Smith yesterday:

Dear Ms. Lane,

We are happy to inform you that last week CNA confirmed that your case is ready to move forward under the Acuerdo process. We hope to receive their referral very soon.

Please let us know if you have any questions/concerns.

Sincerely,

Adoption Unit

USCIS Guatemala Field Office

Guatemala City

 

I almost couldn't believe what I was reading!!  After years of waiting, she is actually going to get to come home!  We still have a good bit of wait ahead of us but our prayers have been answered!  Once the USCIS office in Guat City receives the referral letter, we will submit our new paper work and wait for an invitation to come down for the empathy study (one week of supervised visitation with Nola).  Following the approval of that process, the case is submitted to a Family Court.  Not sure how long that may take for approval but I am more than willing to wait and find out.

 

We so appreciate the prayers that have been offered up on behalf of Nola and our family!  Please continue to keep all of the waiting children and families in your prayers.  This is an unbelievably difficult process and it won't be over until every child is home with their forever family

Now, an even bigger BIT of news!!

Yesterday we received a message from Kelley at USCIS.  She wrote to say they had received a message from CNA.  CNA stated that they had received the letter from us, via the US Embassy, that documented the dates of our visits along with pictures.  They said that the empathy period in this case with the domestic family had failed and that, as a result, they would be willing to re-consider the new evidence from the U.S. PAPs.  It can't get any better than that...........well....it can.......but for now, this is great!!  Basically, what they are saying is that they tried to place Nola with a Guatemalan family and that placement failed so they will now reconsider us.  It's not a "yes your case can proceed" statement but the next best thing!  The CNA Board is still debating the issue and until we hear a definite "YES" I won't be resting.  Thank you all so much for your prayers up to now and please keep them coming.  We are getting closer!  Praise the Lord!!

Little Bits of News

On Friday, I received two e-mails, one from USCIS and one from the US Embassy in Guatemala.  Kelley from USCIS just let me know that there hasn't been a decision made yet.  She also wanted to inform me of a meeting they were going to have with CNA today to discuss our case and cases like ours who the CNA say have no bond with their child.

The message from the Embassy was more uplifting.  We were told to write a letter to CNA documenting our visits with dates and pictures.  The Embassy will deliver the letter and support our appeal of the CNA decision.  I was up until 2am copying the information from all of our visits (13 total) and adding pictures for nearly every one.  There were some visits that I wasn't able to get pictures because I wasn't allowed but I still have the stamp in my passport to prove I was there.  When I was finished I had 8 pages!  Far too large a file to send as one attachment.  I had to divide it into three files.  I just received confirmation from the Embassy that they received all three sections.  The official said she would send the letter to CNA immediately but I would imagine there would have to be some translating done first.  Anyway, I'm resting easier since I have that job done.  Now, I only need to print out the letter and send a hard copy to the Embassy for them to keep in our file. 

***Update***

I received a message from the Embassy around 6:30 letting us know our letter had been delivered to CNA.  The Director said our case would be reviewed and they would let the Embassy know if there is a possibility for our case to continue.

I'm praying specifically for the Board of Directors at the CNA to recognize the love we have for Nola.  I hope they can see our determination to bring her home hasn't diminished at all over the last five years.  I'm asking that they honor the bond we have established with our little girl and allow our case to proceed.  Please join me in that prayer!

I'll keep you all posted.