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Life in the United States marched on with no concept of how our lives were reeling each day without each other. Being separated for over 13 months was almost unbearable and yet we pressed on. It was the only choice we had. Day in and day out we heard many thoughts people had about our situation.
“Why don’t you just go adopt another kid who is easier”
Or “Man I don’t think I could let my wife go through that like you have.”
We heard so many that we began to have a deaf ear toward the things many people said. Rarely did we ever cross anyone who meant harm with their statements but so many never thought before they spoke. I also knew that my sensitivity was at an all time high and any reaction I might give at the time would be an over reaction. That very thing led to a heated late March conversation with my friends in Guatemala.
I spoke with our lawyer as he had yet to pursue Mia’s birth certificate from Santa Maria Chiquimula. In our conversation, as broken as his English and my Spanish is, we discussed the completion of the case. According to him, with Easter coming he planned to have the birth certificate within the next 3 to 4 weeks and then it would be another 3 to 4 weeks before Kristina and Mia could go home. I told him I expected the Birth Certificate to be in hand within the next 3 or for days. I told him I was going to be on a plane for Guatemala in 2 days and I would be taking Kristina home with me by April 1st. He told me that this was not possible and I should not get my hopes up. Even through our limited communication the tension could be felt as I had enough of hearing the despair in my wife’s voice. I had grown tired of simply watching Mia grow up in pictures. His tension came from knowing the sincerity in my voice and yet knowing the system he was dealing with.
Not long after my conversation with our lawyer, my friend from Guatemala called me and had apparently spoken with our lawyer as well. For the first time in the many years I had known my friend we spoke words that were heated with one another. He tried to convince me not to expect the impossible while I conveyed that I would take the case upon myself if I had to. While our friendship never was in danger, we left the conversation unsure how the next few days would unfold.
Oddly enough, we received a call that week that our lawyer had made the long trip to Santa Maria Chiquimula to pick up Mia’s new birth certificate. In his hands he held the document that listed us as her parents. Funny how that happened huh?
Determined, frustrated, and nervous, I boarded the plane for Guatemala City for what I hope would be the last time to visit Kristina and Mia without bringing them home. The odds did not look good for us as the Holy Week was upon us and offices all over the country would be closed.
The Mummau Series
1. Choosing To Adopt
2. Why International? Why Guatemala?
3. The Call From Guatemala
4. The Process Begins
5. A Prelude To Mia
6. How Can You “Choose” A Child – Leaving Others Behind?
7. Peer Into The Heart – Journal Entries
8. Meeting Maria – Finding Mia
9. Leaving Our Daughter…is that…no way!
10. Rivers of Waiting
11. Mistakes, Intentions, and Naivety – How Hope Began To Die
12. Alone in Guatemala and Waiting
13. Time Marches On – Goodbye Mia for Now
14. Joyful Gringos in Quetzaltenango
15. Mia Mia
16. Abuela Comes To The Rescue
17. Doctors, Couriers, and Delays
18. Even So, You Won’t Believe This
19. The Summer of Frustration Ends
20. Fall Approaches with Broken Hearts…Teeth
21. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.1)
22. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.2)
23. Kristina Comes Home
24. Mia’s First Steps
25. December’s Momentum
26. An Angel In The Embassy? I
27. An Angel in the Embassy? II
28. A Christmas to Remember…and Forget
29. Daddy’s 2nd Visit
30. Clash at The Embassy
31. We’re In The PGN! OK Let Us Out!
32. Accomodations
33. The Pencil – Never Give Up
34. Exiting the PGN…sort of
35. Exiting the PGN…yet again
36. Daddy Has Enough
37. The Countdown Begins
38. Easter Brings Hope
39. Sit With Me in San Cristobal
40. T-Minus a few things and counting
41. My New Favorite Color
42. Hope Becomes Reality-The Embassy Interview
43. Mia Mummau Goes Home
More blogs about Guatemala Adoption.
