Today, Gabriela officially became our daughter!!! The Guatemalan government (PGN) gave their final approval on the adoption and Gabriela's birthmother signed off for the final time! So, the next steps will go as follows:
1. Birth certificate reissued from Mixco, where Gabriela was born, and a Guatemalan passport will be issued in her name with our last name (Maria Gabriela Hall). We will change her name to Gabriela Marie when she arrives in the US. This will take about 1 week.
2. US Embassy authorizes 2nd DNA test -- results take 1 week.
3. US Embassy issues "Pink Slip" with date of the Visa appointment. This is usually set for 1-2 weeks after the DNA results are received. This is the date that the US will finalize the adoption and we will be able to bring her home FOREVER!!!
We will plan to travel to Guatemala around the week of March 10th. We will probably go down before the US Embassy Visa appoinment and stay in Antigua for a little while.
I have a feeling that I may be able to acutally sleep tonight -- or maybe I may now realize that I am actually a parent and will probably not sleep for another 18 years!
Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes. We are so thankful that we will be able to bring Gabriela to a home surrounded by such wonderful friends and family!
Joe & Tara
1 comment:
CONGRATULATIONS Mom and Dad!
That's great news! Have fun getting her room ready and all the pretty "pink" things.
Gramma Dot says that wonderful news too!! She was so excited when I just called her.
Praise The Lord!
All our Love,
Virginia, Gary and Allie
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