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The morning of March 31st was just like any other for most waking up in this suburb of Guatemala City. The sky had a sprinkling of clouds and there was a coolness in the air that was slowly giving way to the warmth of the rising sun. Still, as we hustled across the cold tile floor, our toes danced with chills of excitement. Our hearts were racing as we made final preparations to leave for the embassy. The smell of eggs made their way through the window as Rita was preparing a small breakfast for before we left.
Mia quietly sat in her seat as we drove the car toward downtown Guatemala City. Kristina was behind the wheel smiling and talking of how she could not believe this day had arrived. As we approached the downtown area and early morning flight was arriving into La Aurora International Airport. I commented that tomorrow I was actually going to take my girls home with me. Kristina cautioned me that until we were all on the plane together not to get too excited. Oh joy of joys…
We parked in the street near the embassy and walked toward the gate. The typical vendors approached us asking if we needed visa photos which of course we did not. Upon arriving at the gate with our pink slip in hand, we met up with quite a few others from the Guatemala Adoption Forum. I was truly humbled to know just how many people were rooting for our family to come home together that week. Soon we made our way through security and into the embassy. As usual, the seats filled up and people were standing all around.
Kristina, Mia, and I though surrounded by hundreds of people felt as though we were in our own little world. After turning in our paper to the officials, we waited as family by family was called behind the closed door of Window 8. The tears and joy on their face as they emerged told the story of our near future. Finally we heard our names announced and we made our way into the tiny room. The next moments were a blur as papers were signed, then they were stamped. The woman spoke of a few instructions and then it came.
“Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Mummau this now concludes the adoption of your daughter. If you can come back today at 3:15pm her visa will be ready!” Silence filled the next 2 or 3 seconds as we could not form the words to say.
“Thank you so much” Kristina finally made out as she fought the wave of emotion coming over her. The woman smiled behind the counter with a knowing smile both of the recognition that a family was complete and because she had heard from our “angel” in the embassy about our case. We made our way back out of the door and into the waiting room where a few cheers went up. We most likely glided down the steps of the embassy on our way out. Once outside the gates, we stopped not really knowing how to express the emotions we felt. I immediately dialed the cell phone and called my Mom in New Mexico. We told her about everything and of course she cried. She jumped right on the Guatemala Adoption Forum and wrote the post (which you can still visit today by clicking the link) called Mia is officially a Mummau!
Cody just called and they completed the interview a few minutes ago, they pick up the visa at 3:15 and home, home, home tomorrow. I have attached the picture they sent of the infamous pink slip and the happy family! Love to you all, Mia’s Grammy ~ Glenice
PS: They said to tell you all that they had a long chat with “Joc’sMom” this morning while they were waiting…
Immediately, people started pouring their support on the board. It was overwhelming that we truly were done.
We decided that our final night in Guatemala we would spend in the city at a hotel. We chose the Hotel Biltmore Express which is a part of the Westin Camino Real. We reserved the room and went in to lay down for a bit. The day had taken it’s toll on Kristina emotionally and Mia didn’t seem to be feeling so well either. At 3:15 I was at the embassy by myself and picked up not only the passport and visa but a thick packet in a brown envelope that was strictly not to be opened by anyone except the officials in Atlanta when we arrived. It was then back to the hotel to get the girls and go!
We hopped in the car and raced back to Rita and Odwar’s house. The news was received with both joy and sadness. For over a year, Kristina and Mia had become family to Rita and Odwar. It seemed that this week had happened on warp speed in comparison with the pace of the preceding months. Now here we were packing everything and leaving for the United States in the morning. As we were loading the car, the house phone rang. Rita picked it up and whispered that it was our lawyer’s partner.
“Do you know if the Mummau’s have received a pink piece of paper from the US Embassy” he asked her doubtfully.
“Yes” Rita replied “In fact, they will be going home tomorrow!”
“No this is not possible” his partner came back sharply “there are many things that need to be done including getting the visa for the child. It will most likely be another 2 weeks.”
Rita calmly said “No they have the visa with them and they are booked on the flight tomorrow. You can come say farewell if you wish but they finished this on their own.” Then she hung up with a sly smile.
Rita drove us back into the city to drop us at the hotel. Again the tears came easy as the final embraces were made before she left. She came back once more as Mia quietly said “Bye Wita” Then in another moment she was gone.
Suddenly we had no place here anymore. We as a family were visitors to this wonderful country. This was the birthplace of our daughter but her home and her family awaited her in North Carolina. Tomorrow morning we would board the plane and make the journey home…together.
But…
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.
but???
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh
OK I broke out and laughed at that comment. That couldn’t be a more accurate description of our feeling about what happened next.