I wanted to share this email that I just got from our caseworker at Gladney. We really are beyond excited about this news (see below)! We also just found out that our case is in PGN, which is the last stage of the process. It happened really quickly! Please pray that there will be no more road blocks and that it will progress through PGN quickly (cases get kicked out of PGN for all sorts of reasons, things have to be corrected, and then they go back in… it can be a long process, but we’re praying it’s not for us). THANK YOU SO MUCH for praying for us through this. We are overwhelmingly grateful for you! God has been so good to us! Also, for those of you who don’t know, we’ve gotten 2 DVDs of Ava, and she seems extremely happy and well cared for.
From: Carrie Greil [mailto:Carrie.Greil@gladney.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:09 AMTo: Rebecca ScottSubject: RE: change of address
Guatemala hasn’t said for sure, but everything we are hearing from JCICS (the organization that represents most adoption agencies in the states) and our attorneys says that everything will progress. The feeling is very positive toward the grandfathering of the cases, especially those in the PGN. I don’t think you’ll have to worry.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
God's Mission: Adoption by Max Lucado
When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Here is how it happens. You come before the judgment seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of his justice he cannot dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, he punished himself on the cross for your sins. God’s justice and love are equally honored. And you, God’s creation, are forgiven. But the story doesn’t end with God’s forgiveness.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:15–16 NASB).
But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4–5 NASB).
It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the Great House of God.
Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. I certainly don’t mean to offend any biological parents—I’m one myself. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact, sometimes the child came with no decision. I’ve heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I’ve never heard of an unplanned adoption.
That’s why adoptive parents understand God’s passion to adopt us. They know what it means to feel an empty space inside. They know what it means to hunt, to set out on a mission, and take responsibility for a child with a spotted past and a dubious future. If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us.
God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:15–16 NASB).
But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4–5 NASB).
It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the Great House of God.
Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. I certainly don’t mean to offend any biological parents—I’m one myself. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact, sometimes the child came with no decision. I’ve heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I’ve never heard of an unplanned adoption.
That’s why adoptive parents understand God’s passion to adopt us. They know what it means to feel an empty space inside. They know what it means to hunt, to set out on a mission, and take responsibility for a child with a spotted past and a dubious future. If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us.
God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home.
Monday, October 15, 2007
New pictures of Ava
Here she is... cuter than ever... 2 months old and only 8 lbs! :) The report said that she is sleeping great and is a very happy baby.
Some good news and thoughts from Rebecca
Most everyone who reads our blog has already gotten this email from us, but I wanted to post it here, too (see below). We've gotten some pretty good news since we sent it that I wanted to share with everyone. I won't go into much detail because it's a little confusing, but things seem to be headed in a good direction. Most everyone (i.e. UNICEF and the State Department) is now fully supportive of the amendment which will allow adoptions already in process to be completed, but we still have no idea where President Berger stands. We were supposed to find out more today, but we never got the email, so we're hoping to hear something soon. God has been so good to us throughout all of this, I really can't express it adequately. He has been more real to me during this time than ever before. He has allowed me to see the body of Christ at work like never before. We have been loved and supported and cared for in ways that I could never have imagined (speaking of this, we want to thank all of you, from the bottom of our hearts, for praying for us, emailing and making calls on our behalf (and Ava's!)... it means more to us than you will ever know). We have had the opportunity to pray and trust Him like never before. It's been amazing. On a side note, just being totally honest, I am now at a place where I have detached myself from the situation, and somewhat from Ava. The thought of not getting to bring her home is more than I can bear, so it's probably a good thing that I have kind of separated myself emotionally. It's not really even something I chose to do... it just kind of happened. Maybe God is protecting me, I don't know. But when I look at her pictures I see a precious baby girl who lives in Guatemala... not MY baby girl. I think once we know what is going to happen I'll be able to change the way I look at her and allow myself to connect emotionally again. Until then, I really am in a peaceful place and trying to see God in this time of waiting.
Here's the email that Todd wrote:
Dear Family and Friends,
For starters, thank you for taking the time to read this long email completely. I am not a big favor-asker, but I am pleading for your help to assist us in this situation.
As many of you know, Rebecca and I are in the process of adopting a baby girl named Ava from Guatemala. Ava was born on August 6 and is living in foster care. If you had asked us last week, we would have told you that we fully expected to bring her home six to eight months from now. We have now, though, hit the first real test of faith during our adoption of Ava. The Guatemalan government announced last week that it will not process U.S. adoption cases after December 31, 2007. This means that those families (roughly 5,000, including ours) whose cases are currently in process with Guatemala risk either a significant delay in bringing their children home or outright cancellations of the adoptions.
Unless the Lord moves miraculously in our individual timetable, and/or unless the Guatemalan government (Guatemalan president Oscar Berger, specifically) alters the law that was just enacted, our ability to bring Ava home any time soon (or maybe at all) is in jeopardy.
With that in mind, we are calling on you for specific needs. We would ask that you pray for this situation, and that you contact specific lawmakers and organizations to voice your concerns.
Prayer Needs:
Please pray that, throughout this whole situation, Jesus Christ would be glorified and that this would be a vehicle through which His name is made known.
Please pray that, if the Lord wills it, those families currently in process with a Guatemalan adoption would receive special dispensation from the current law, or that the law would be changed altogether.
Please pray for Ava and her foster parents as they go through this uncertain time. Please pray that Ava would be aware, even at 2 months old, of her Heavenly Father’s love for her and his protection over her. Pray that she would receive favor in the eyes of her foster parents and all those who care for her. Pray that she would be surrounded by people who love her, and that all of her needs would be met.
Please pray for Wil and Ben as they wait for their sister, that they don’t feel insecure or unstable in any way during this confusing time. Pray for wisdom for me and Rebecca, that we would understand their thoughts and needs as we go through this together.
Please pray for me and Rebecca, that we would face this time with joy, trusting that the testing of our faith produces endurance. Pray that God would use us during this time to amplify Christ, and that we would be constant supports to one another.
Practical Needs:
As I mentioned above, POLITICAL PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT. Below is a list of 3 people and 3 organizations you can call, 1 organization you can email, and 1 petition you can sign to plead the case for Guatemalan orphans. To achieve maximum effect, we have been asked by Gladney to focus our efforts into a 72-hour time period: October 9 (Tuesday) – October 11 (Thursday).
1. Senator John Cornyn (202) 224-2934 - ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
2. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (202) 224-5922 - ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff. Senator Hutchison is a member of the Senate Adoption Caucus.
3. Your U.S. Representative (you can find out who this is at http://www.house.gov/) - ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
4. Office of Children’s Issues at the Department of State (202) 736-9130
To these people, feel free to speak from the heart. Additionally, you can say something like:
“I am calling about the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As you are aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that it will not process U.S. adoptions after December 31, 2007. Their announcement also indicates that there will be no “grandfathering” of adoptions already in process. If these adoptions are not fulfilled, roughly 5,000 children will be forced to live indefinitely in institutional or foster care.
As your constituent, I am asking that you be a strong advocate for the children of Guatemala by signing the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to the President Oscar Berger of Guatemala and signing the Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS) sponsored letter to UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in process as of January 1, 2008 be processed to completion under the existing notorial laws.”
5. UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) Headquarters (212) 326-7000 - please ask to speak to Ann Veneman, Executive Director
6. UNICEF Guatemala 011-502-2327-6373 - please ask to speak to Manuel Manrique (we will reimburse you for the international call)
Feel free to speak from the heart. You can also say something like:
“I am calling on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through my tax dollars), I am asking that UNICEF lend its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.
As you may know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there would be no “grandfathering” of adoptions already in process. If the 5,000 children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in process as of January 1, 2008 be processed to completion under the existing notorial laws.”
7. Send an email to Joint Council on International Children’s Services supporting Intercountry Adoption to mailto:guatemala5000@jcics.org. JCICS will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for intercountry adoption.
8. Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition-sign.html.
If you have any questions about our adoption or anything discussed above, please call me at (214) 213-7476 or email us at toddandrebecca@tx.rr.com.
We appreciate your help and praise God for His steadfast love and unwavering devotion to us, His adopted children.
Todd and Rebecca
Here's the email that Todd wrote:
Dear Family and Friends,
For starters, thank you for taking the time to read this long email completely. I am not a big favor-asker, but I am pleading for your help to assist us in this situation.
As many of you know, Rebecca and I are in the process of adopting a baby girl named Ava from Guatemala. Ava was born on August 6 and is living in foster care. If you had asked us last week, we would have told you that we fully expected to bring her home six to eight months from now. We have now, though, hit the first real test of faith during our adoption of Ava. The Guatemalan government announced last week that it will not process U.S. adoption cases after December 31, 2007. This means that those families (roughly 5,000, including ours) whose cases are currently in process with Guatemala risk either a significant delay in bringing their children home or outright cancellations of the adoptions.
Unless the Lord moves miraculously in our individual timetable, and/or unless the Guatemalan government (Guatemalan president Oscar Berger, specifically) alters the law that was just enacted, our ability to bring Ava home any time soon (or maybe at all) is in jeopardy.
With that in mind, we are calling on you for specific needs. We would ask that you pray for this situation, and that you contact specific lawmakers and organizations to voice your concerns.
Prayer Needs:
Please pray that, throughout this whole situation, Jesus Christ would be glorified and that this would be a vehicle through which His name is made known.
Please pray that, if the Lord wills it, those families currently in process with a Guatemalan adoption would receive special dispensation from the current law, or that the law would be changed altogether.
Please pray for Ava and her foster parents as they go through this uncertain time. Please pray that Ava would be aware, even at 2 months old, of her Heavenly Father’s love for her and his protection over her. Pray that she would receive favor in the eyes of her foster parents and all those who care for her. Pray that she would be surrounded by people who love her, and that all of her needs would be met.
Please pray for Wil and Ben as they wait for their sister, that they don’t feel insecure or unstable in any way during this confusing time. Pray for wisdom for me and Rebecca, that we would understand their thoughts and needs as we go through this together.
Please pray for me and Rebecca, that we would face this time with joy, trusting that the testing of our faith produces endurance. Pray that God would use us during this time to amplify Christ, and that we would be constant supports to one another.
Practical Needs:
As I mentioned above, POLITICAL PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT. Below is a list of 3 people and 3 organizations you can call, 1 organization you can email, and 1 petition you can sign to plead the case for Guatemalan orphans. To achieve maximum effect, we have been asked by Gladney to focus our efforts into a 72-hour time period: October 9 (Tuesday) – October 11 (Thursday).
1. Senator John Cornyn (202) 224-2934 - ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
2. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (202) 224-5922 - ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff. Senator Hutchison is a member of the Senate Adoption Caucus.
3. Your U.S. Representative (you can find out who this is at http://www.house.gov/) - ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
4. Office of Children’s Issues at the Department of State (202) 736-9130
To these people, feel free to speak from the heart. Additionally, you can say something like:
“I am calling about the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As you are aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that it will not process U.S. adoptions after December 31, 2007. Their announcement also indicates that there will be no “grandfathering” of adoptions already in process. If these adoptions are not fulfilled, roughly 5,000 children will be forced to live indefinitely in institutional or foster care.
As your constituent, I am asking that you be a strong advocate for the children of Guatemala by signing the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to the President Oscar Berger of Guatemala and signing the Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS) sponsored letter to UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in process as of January 1, 2008 be processed to completion under the existing notorial laws.”
5. UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) Headquarters (212) 326-7000 - please ask to speak to Ann Veneman, Executive Director
6. UNICEF Guatemala 011-502-2327-6373 - please ask to speak to Manuel Manrique (we will reimburse you for the international call)
Feel free to speak from the heart. You can also say something like:
“I am calling on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through my tax dollars), I am asking that UNICEF lend its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.
As you may know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there would be no “grandfathering” of adoptions already in process. If the 5,000 children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in process as of January 1, 2008 be processed to completion under the existing notorial laws.”
7. Send an email to Joint Council on International Children’s Services supporting Intercountry Adoption to mailto:guatemala5000@jcics.org. JCICS will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for intercountry adoption.
8. Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition-sign.html.
If you have any questions about our adoption or anything discussed above, please call me at (214) 213-7476 or email us at toddandrebecca@tx.rr.com.
We appreciate your help and praise God for His steadfast love and unwavering devotion to us, His adopted children.
Todd and Rebecca
Friday, September 21, 2007
Big Brothers!
I wanted to post some new pictures of the boys because they are getting so big, and I am so bad about putting new pictures on here! Neither of them fully understands what is going on with the adoption, but they have been so sweet about Ava! We have her pictures around the house, and Ben loves to talk about her ("Look, Mama! Baby Ava!). Wil uses the most precious voice when he sees her pictures and says the cutest things about her. I love hearing him because he is imitating what he hears us do, and he seriously has the sweetest, most sensitive heart of any kid I know. I feel blessed beyond measure to get to be the mom of these boys. It's the hardest, most wonderful job in the world.
Ava - 6 weeks old
We got our monthly report and new pictures of Ava! Seeing new pictures of her makes it almost unbearable to have to wait to get her. She is the most precious baby!!! She is with a new foster mom named Mayra, who is married and has a 22 year old daughter. She is also fostering a 7 month old baby. Please pray that Ava would be surrounded by love and care in this new home.
She now weighs 7.7 lbs and is about 20 inches long. She eats and sleeps really well and has been in good health, according to the report. She also no longer cries when she takes a bath. :) We are so thankful for this good report!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Ava's name
Ava means "life" or "to live"
Elena means "light"
We found these verses that we think go along perfectly with her name:
For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).
Ephesians 5: 8-9
Elena means "light"
We found these verses that we think go along perfectly with her name:
For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).
Ephesians 5: 8-9
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Introducing Ava Elena Scott
+Aug.+9%27+07.JPG)
+Aug.+9%27+07.JPG)
+Aug.+9%27+07.JPG)
+Aug.+9%27+07.JPG)
She's here!!! We finally got to see pictures of our baby girl last Thursday, and she is beautiful and healthy!! We can't believe she is ours! She was born August 6, 2007 weighing 5 lbs 13 oz. She was 18 in. long with a full head of black hair, as you can see. :) We've named her Ava Elena... Elena is the Spanish form of Helen, which is my mom's and grandmother's name, and my middle name. In most of the pictures below she is 3 days old. We think she is just perfect.
Please, please pray for her and for her foster family. Her foster mother's name is Telma, and she's married with 2 kids... an 8 yr. old daughter and a 14 yr. old son. She's been a foster mom for 10 years. Please also pray with us for her birth mother, whose name is Ircia. I am struggling with so many different emotions in all of this. I am thrilled beyond words, but my heart is just broken for her mom, who happens to be exactly my age. There was no information given about her dad. Todd is thrilled, too, but is struggling with feeling helpless, and wanting to go down there today and bring her home.
We're told by Gladney that the waiting time is approx. 8 - 10 months. We're hoping we get her sooner than that, most especially before her first birthday!
Please, please pray for her and for her foster family. Her foster mother's name is Telma, and she's married with 2 kids... an 8 yr. old daughter and a 14 yr. old son. She's been a foster mom for 10 years. Please also pray with us for her birth mother, whose name is Ircia. I am struggling with so many different emotions in all of this. I am thrilled beyond words, but my heart is just broken for her mom, who happens to be exactly my age. There was no information given about her dad. Todd is thrilled, too, but is struggling with feeling helpless, and wanting to go down there today and bring her home.
We're told by Gladney that the waiting time is approx. 8 - 10 months. We're hoping we get her sooner than that, most especially before her first birthday!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The Boys
Ben's first haircut
I cried because Barber Dan cut off all his curls!
Todd and Wil's campout in our back yard.They actually made it all the way through the night!
officially approved
Well, we are officially approved by Gladney! Our home study write-up was finally completed and sent to all the appropriate places. So now we really are just waiting. We should be contacted by CIS anytime now to get fingerprinted, and we should receive approval from them in less than 8 weeks, Lord willing. We found out that referrals are being made very quickly after approval is obtained, so we are SO excited about that. We could potentially know who our baby is in less than 2 months! I guess I'm just nervous about finding out who our baby is and then possibly having to wait forever to go get her, which really could happen with all this stuff that's going on over there. Again, an opportuity to trust God.
Monday, April 30, 2007
A possible bump in the road
Todd listened to a conference call last week, and Gladney has decided not to accept anyone else into the Guatemala program. Because we are already in, we don't have anything to worry about, but it could prolong the process for us. We really are fine with however long we have to wait, especially since the boys are still so young and we have plenty to keep us busy right now! We really do believe that it will happen in God's perfect timing. Guatemala is currently trying to reform the adoption process because the system is very corrupt (people selling babies and things like that). Gladney says they honestly have no idea if anything will change, but they want us to be prepared in case things do happen and we have to wait longer.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Jezebel
I found out where Wil came up with Jezebel. It's from a book called Skippy Jon Jones about a siamese cat who wants to be a chiuaua. One of Skippy Jon's sisters is named Jezebel. Wil loves the name!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Waiting
We've pretty much done everything we can do, and now we are in the waiting process. As we understand it, we are first waiting for CIS approval, then we will be fingerprinted, and then we could receive our referral at any point after that. We hired a wonderful lady to help us with our dossier, so it's only taken us a few weeks to complete, thanks to her! After we receive our referral we will have to wait 6 - 12 months to go pick up our baby. I think that will be the hardest part of all of this. I just can't imagine what it's going to be like to know she is ours and then have to let total strangers take care of her. It is really going to test our faith, which I think will be good for us! Thankfully, it is not the people taking care of her we have to trust... it is a Sovereign and loving God.
Wil's thoughts about adoption
When we first asked Wil what he thought about having a baby sister he was very much on board. He, of course, doesn't understand exactly what is going on... he made the comment that we are going to buy a sister from a Spanish school, and he told his Mother's Day Out teachers last week that we are adopting a little sister named Helen from Guatemala who is 2 years old. Probaby the funniest thing he said is that he thinks Jezebel would be a good name for our baby. I honestly have no idea how he came up with that! I didn't know he'd even heard the name. On a more serious note, he is SUCH a sweet big brother to Ben. They are really starting to play together now and I love watching them interact. Todd always tells Wil that his most important job is taking care of Ben, and Wil takes his role very seriously. He monitors every move Ben makes and is sure to tell me if he is breaking any of our rules (like "no eating toilet paper out of the toilet" and things like that). I know he will take very good care of his little sister and I can't wait to see it! I'm a little worried about what Ben is going to think, only because he's so much younger, but I'm sure he will be fine. We're going to do whatever we need to do to make the transition as smooth as possible!
The Decision to Adopt
Ever since Todd and I got married we have believed that adoption would be part of God's plan for our family. We weren't sure when or under what circumstances, so we've thought and prayed about it a lot over these 6 years. After Ben was born last January we started feeling like maybe the right time was getting closer. We did some research, but then we put things on hold for a few months because it seemed a little overwhelming... Ben was not even a year old, wasn't sleeping well and wasn't very happy. We then found out he was allergic to dairy and things started to get much better, so we resumed the research process. At that point, we believe God made it very clear to both of us that it was the right time for our family to adopt. We both felt complete peace and excitement about the possibility of bringing another child into our family. At first, we really wanted to adopt from China and felt like it made the most sense for us, but both prospective parents have to be 30, so we looked at other options. We next looked into Colombia and Guatemala,and for a number of reasons felt that Guatemala made the most sense for our family. I loved the idea of adopting from a Latin American country because I have always loved the language and culture, and have felt called to minister to hispanic people. Once we learned more about adoption from Guatemala we became convinced that this was the right place for us. We looked into several different agencies along the way, but finally decided on The Gladney Center for Adoption in Ft. Worth because they were placing babies from Guatemala, and also because they are wonderful! Everyone we have talked to and worked with has been competent, helpful and caring. We really believe God led us to them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
+Aug.+9%27+07.JPG){kind=link}
