Mark's 1st Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas :0} Our gifts started early by receiving news from our attorney on December 21st that Donovan's parental rights had been terminated. Thank you Lord for working out every detail in bringing us Mark.

This is Mark on his Radio Flyer Rocket he got for Christmas!

Here are some random pictures of our time together as a family. We pray for a safe and Happy New Year for each of you!

New Bib Record

We set a new record for us in bib use last week. Mark went through 32 bibs in 2 days! We would find it a little more reasonable if we changed his bib each time a dab of drool hit it...but we wait until you can wring the thing out! Still no teeth to show for it either. If someone knows a good use for recycled drool, please share! We have plenty to go around :)

Good news from our attorney!

Troy has talked with our attorney over the last couple of days and received some very good news! As some of you know, we have been waiting for one specific curator to file her report regarding Donovan's notification. She was assigned in May and our attorney had not hear from her or received a copy of the report. Well, come to find out, she had filed the report in August, but it was misfiled somehow. Donovan and his attorney were both notified on June 23rd that they had 20 days to file to necessary paperwork to contest the adoption. At that time Donovan told the curator that he was going to contest it, but as of this morning still has not done that. According to the law, his time is up...but we have a very liberal judge assigned to our case that tends to favor the rights of the birth parents rather than the adoptive parents. If the judge follows the rule of law, then there should be no reason the finalization can't go forward. If he were to choose to give Donovan another chance, then we would still have to follow the judge's ruling on that.

After getting specific dates of contact from our attorney and on his advice, we are going to proceed with the finalization beginning December 5th. (Our attorney now has ALL of the documentation he needs to proceed with the finalization). That will be a full 6 months from the last date of contact from Donovan or his attorney. Our attorney feels like waiting 3 more weeks, will just help our case. He feels very confident going into the finalization that if contested, he can prove that Donovan has not acted responsibly since the time of Mark's birth. There are several things he "should have done" in order to show care and intent for the child. None of which he has done...Praise God!! If he did contest it, the next step would be determining paternity, which was never done.

We believe God is working out every detail for us to become the legal parents of Mark, although we feel we have been his parents from before he was born. We ask that you continue to pray for the finalization process and that God has truly changed Donovan's heart to not contest the adoption. What a day of rejoicing in the Lord(Psalm 33) we will have when the judge signs the legal documents to make Mark "officially ours."

Thanks to all of you who have been traveling on this journey with us and seeing God in every step of the way. We are blessed to have family, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, that we don't know personally, praying for all of us and our attorney.

Halloween

Although Mark didn't go trick-or-treating, he did get dressed up...in more than one costume!
This one he wore most of the day.







This one was very warm...but too cute not to put on him for pictures :) Mom had fun anyway!!!

Our recent trip to see family

Traveling with an infant was much more "interesting" than it ever was when it was just the two of us! I guess I didn't realize just how much more luggage you would need until we were charged for exceeding the weight limit in Denver! The positive part is that most people are kinder and more sympathetic when you have a baby with you...even if he does look like a toddler! We found the people in Phoenix to be much nicer, friendlier and lenient than they were in Denver. Yes, I was just as surprised as you are :) At one point I even asked a TSA official in Denver if he was having a bad day. (He didn't respond) Mark did very well on the flights, it was the car rides that he disliked; therefore we disliked! We found that if mommy sat next to him and entertained him, it would be a better trip for all of us. Although some may think he won, how many hours in car can you stand with a crying baby before you realize, nobody wins!

Mark got to see snow for the first time. He wasn't very excited about it though!










Mark got to meet all of the great grandparents that he hadn't met before. Super Nana was in Tennessee so we did not get to see her this trip :( Here are some pictures of Mark with aunts, uncles, Nana, Papa, great grandparents, as well as cousins!



With Aunt Grace. He laughed a lot with her! Hard to believe I know :)





Mark with Popop, grandma Judy and uncle Gary. Uncle Gary (aka smurf) had to fly a patient down to Ft. Collins, so Mark got to meet him early and see his airplane.






Here he is with Aunt Jan








Mark and Aunt Tonya. His grin says it all!
We had a wonderful time in Lander. The weather was great and we were able to spend time outside and take a walk.






Tonya's dog, Buck, was hoping he found a new friend to play catch with. He figured Mark had a hand to throw with, he was set!








Mark enjoying the feel of real grass...not Arizona crab grass!








A very happy Nana!








And Papa!








Mark with Grandma & Grandpa Harper. He really enjoyed the shirt that grandpa was wearing. He was mesmerized by the colors.







Mark with uncle Scott, aunt Cindy, Ethan and Lance






With uncle Cavin and aunt Diane








With cousins Brian, Thomas, Wesley, Daniel and Annalise







There were many others that we were able to see and spend time with that we did not get pictures of. We are learning that the camera/bag is going to be now be another "purse." Thanks to everyone who went out of their way to see us. We had a great time catching up and introducing Mark to you!

6 month Pictures

Look at those muscles!










Here comes trouble!










I look GOOD in red!












Our smiley boy :)

Latest Update from our Attorney

I spoke with our attorney this morning for an update. He still has not heard back from the curator assigned to Donovan. (This is the person who serves him the paperwork to terminate his parental interests). He said it is a little odd that they haven’t filed the report yet, but that could be a good sign. If the curator did contact Donovan’s attorney, they only had 20 days to respond. Depending on when (and if) they contacted the attorney, that time period may be up and his rights may have already been terminated! (This is what we are praying for). We won’t know that until our attorney has contacted that curator. (Several attempts have been made with no response). The attorney said that there aren’t any laws on the book to cover part of our case. Meaning since Donovan’s attorney contacted our attorney to contest the adoption, and then has never contacted him again; there is no response time frame on record. That is why the information from the curator is so important. If for some reason there is something in the curator’s report showing a response by Donovan, then we will file a Motion to Terminate Parental Interests. The court will require our attorney to notify Donovan’s attorney and they will have 20 days to respond to our notification. That is when a legal battle would begin. Our attorney would like to wait until 6 months have passed from the time he originally received the letter from Donovan’s attorney contesting the adoption, as he feels this helps our case. He did not have the exact date in front of him, but said he will have it for me when I call back later this week. We know that it was before June 5^th, as that is the last time either of us has heard from Donovan or his attorney.

Our attorney is not able to start the finalization paperwork until he receives a birth certificate for Mark. The State of Louisiana is taking 6-8 months right now to get them out. Once he has it he can move forward with the finalization. He has to file a bunch of paperwork on our behalf and then we wait some more. The average time is 12-14 months from date of birth. Our attorney said that if we don’t have to fight Donovan, then we don’t have to go back to Louisiana for the court hearing. He can stand on our behalf as it is mostly a “rubber stamp” and photo ops. with the judge. If it is contested, then we all have to go back L

Thank you for your continued prayers. Phil 4:6-7 reminds us not to be anxious about this, but to give it to God, through prayer, and He will give us the peace we need to get through this. His faithfulness thus far has been overwhelming to say the least! We thank Him each day for giving us this day with our precious son. No parent knows when it could be their last.

We are looking forward to many of you meeting Mark soon!

No new information / Mark's Dedication

I talked with our attorney again today. He is waiting to hear back from one of the curators as to the status of their report. One of the curators has filed their report, so we do know that we are only dealing with one potential birth father. The other curator has not filed her report and as of this morning has not returned our attorney's calls for the status. What we are praying is that once she does file her report, we will have an all clear to proceed. It is possible that Donovan signed off on the papers and she just hasn't filed the report. We know it is a long shot, but keeping Phil 4:6-7 in mind, we are praying diligently for that! Our attorney is going over to that branch of the system this afternoon and is hoping to get additional information for us. I will call back on Monday to see if he did. I am hoping to get a better time line of how long the curator can draw this out before we need to take action.

This is a picture of us dedicating Mark on September 29th. Our church is very community oriented, so we had a dedication/baptism service at someone's home that evening. (No Mark was not baptized!) What a blessing it is to have others praying on your behalf. Not only for wisdom and guidance as we raise this precious boy, but prayers for his salvation. That God would extend His grace and mercy to our son and that Mark would be able to see how God chose him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4) to be a part of His kingdom!

Lord willing, He will grant our prayers. Thank you to everyone who is praying on our behalf. What a glorious day it will be to have this adoption finalized and to see Mark become a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Waking up in the morning

He has the best smiles when he wakes up in the morning!









Now that he tries to hide from the camera
it makes it a little more of a challenge

Play time with Frasier and Keaton

Mark enjoys watching
the dogs run after their
toys and fight with
each other over them.
Although at times, they
get a little too excited for
him and he starts to cry!



As long as Daddy's arms
are around him to protect
him...he's all for playing with
the dogs!

mmmm....peas!

We recently introduced peas. Let's just say they have not been a big hit! The first 3 days he gagged! The 4th day was better, but he has gagged each time since. For those of you who don't know me that well...I am a sympathetic gagger! If I hear it happening, I'm right there with 'em. I am thanking the Lord for just making me laugh thus far. Of course trying not to show Mark that I am laughing can be a challenge as well! Squash is next! Let's hope it doesn't have the same gag effect on him :)