Spring days.

                                                                                                                        May 8, 2013

Dear Jack,

Just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. I hope you are having a great day.  You are getting so big 2 and ½ wow, time is going by so quickly.  The days are getting warmer and summer is just around the corner, your cousin Boston loves to be outside. I am sure that you do too. 

There are so many great things for you to discover, and I am sure that you are a curious little guy.  Bugs and dirt are endless fun for little boys. Boston can spot and ant from quite a long ways away and loves to play trucks in piles of dirt.  Your daddy and Uncle Josh would practically live outside in the summer, climbing trees, riding bikes and playing with friends. 

Do you like to draw? Do you love music? Do you like dirt bikes and monster trucks like your cousin?  Are you outgoing and funny, or do you have a more mellow personality with a quick but sly since of humor?  Are you talking up a storm, and do you know your colors?  Do you know how much you are loved and missed, because you are so very much?

Jack, we want to know that we are all doing fine though we miss you daily life has continued on.  We have grown and changed because of what has happened over the last 2 ½ years, but it has not all been negative. There has been positive changes as well.  There are new cousins and weddings on the way, there have been fun family gatherings and vacations that are being planned.  Don’t worry about us, we won’t ever give up, but we will also continue to live life to the fullest as we wait for your return. 

Your daddy is doing well. He has big plans and his life is changing fast.  I know that you will be as proud of him as we all are. He is such a fun and loving man. We are so grateful to have him in our family.  He thinks of you and misses you all the time and only wants the best for you. Please always remember that.

If I could say anything to your adoptive parents it would be, we love you and only want the very best for you.  We are grateful to know where you are and that you are being loved and well cared. There is true comfort for your daddy and family in knowing those small yet very important things. So many fathers and families don't have that knowledge.   I understand it is difficult for them to put themselves in your daddy or our shoes; we have tried over and over to put ourselves in theirs.  Over time perhaps they will come to understand why we could never or will never give up on you.  Perhaps they are only listening to their attorney at this time and that is why they have not responded to our multiple requests to share information with them, including but not limited to all medical information.  We truly hope that one day soon they will open their hearts to the fact that you have a daddy and family that loves you and miss you so much. 

Remember Jack as you are reading this one day, this blog was our only way to reach out at the time to you.  It is where we could express our feelings, upcoming events, notices of court actions, as well as show support for others who have experienced the same loss.  This blog was never to cause pain, but instead a way to deal with ours as we wait for you to come home.  We do hope and pray that your adoptive parents will read this and understand that.  We will continue to pray for you and them daily, we truly only want the best for you.

Love

Grandma Jenny

Still Waiting...

Jackson:

We are still waiting to hear about a court date with the Utah Supreme Court. We haven't given up on you and are still fighting. We will never forget about you even if we are quiet on this blog. We don't ever stop thinking,worrying, or loving you

We were hoping and praying that there was going to be a miracle we were going to be reunited, but it seems that is not going to happen.

Jackson, we can't believe that 2 and 1/2 years of your life have come and gone, and we don't know a thing about you. We hope that one day soon, that will change and we get to be involved with your childhood, with your milestones and in your life. We hope with the many changes happening in the courts daily that we can finally have justice prevail, and have you reunited with your dad, where you belong.

We love you with all of our heart and will always have a special place for you.

XoXo,

Your 1st Family

Utah Legislation Session 2013

Utah is in full swing for their legislative session. There have been numerous adoption related bills. There are quite a few bills that we support, that will be helpful for protecting father's rights. We still have a long ways to go, but I think it's a start.

SB183 helps with pushing agencies, birthmoms or father's, or adoptive parents for commiting fraud. It can be punishable by revoking of the agency's license or can reap attorneys fees if fraud can be proven. Although, this is a good step it doesn't remove the fraud immunity statue in the law and the adoption would not solely be reveresed based on fraud. In Jake's case, we have OUTRIGHT fraud in multiple forms and it would still not bring Jake and Jack together.

SB155 is a bill for open adoption agreements to be enforceable. This will be a great tool for parents thinking to place and are made promises in return for their child. These promises should be upheld. Although, they made revisions to this bill and it will only apply to DCFS currently.

Here is a story Fox13 ran about the legislative bills and Jack's story.

Fox13 Clip


SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah senator has introduced legislation that would provide legal rights for the father of a child put up for adoption.
It’s a scenario you may be familiar with: a mother gives birth to her child and doesn’t tell the father when she gives up the baby for adoption. The dad is left with no legal rights because of a legal loophole, a legal loophole some say could cost a father his child, and a bill aimed at changing that was debated in a committee hearing Tuesday, that got very heated at times.
Some excerpts (a conversation between Senator Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake County, the sponsor of the adoption bill and the chair of the committee):
“It’s my bill Senator, point of order.”
“Thank you.”
“Senator, let me answer your question.”
“Wait, whoa whoa. Questions directed at the Chair. I don’t want badgering going on.”
“I didn’t get an answer to my question.”
Questions and concerns over the adoption bill left its fate in the hands of the committee, where it’s being held for now.
Wes Hutchins, an adoption attorney, says the legislation would have held adoption agencies more accountable. Hutchins claims some agencies encourage deception and lies.
“Adoption agencies coach Mothers on how to cut birth fathers out of the parenting picture,” Hutchins said.
However, lawmakers echoed several concerns saying, “We’re saying that after an adoption occurs in this bill, anyone can say a lie was told in the process?”
Despite strong testimony from Jennifer Graham, whose son has never meet his baby boy Jack because his birth mother gave him up for adoption without his knowledge, legislators said the current law would have protected him had filed for paternity before his child was born.
“He was told that if he did that he would never see his son,” said Jennifer Graham.
“Understood,” said one State Senator.
“That is in text message,” replied Graham.
“I can see that but the law would have worked if he would have filed. You’d have your grandson.”
The Committee did not vote on Senator Robles’ bill, instead deciding to bring it back another day during the session.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow could be one of the best or worst days yet to come in this ongoing emotional rollercoaster. The best outcome we could hope for would to be allowed to intervene in the adoption, have opposing counsel off of the case due to witnesses in the finalization of the adoption and to allow Jake to be able to meet his son, Jackson Michael Strickland, for the first time. There will be many emotions that will take place tomorrow and we can only hope we get to fill joy in our hearts, rather than crushing as we have felt so much over the past 20 months.

"Do not fear to repeat what has already been said. Men need the truth dinned into their ears many times and from all sides. The first rumor makes them prick up their ears, the second registers, and the third enters."

--Rene Theophile Hyacinthe LaÎnnec

Court:

Tomorrow 2:00 PM

Location: Layton Courthouse

435 North Wasatch Drive

Layton, Utah

Utah Adoption Agencies working to keep father's in the dark

To the adoptive couple

To the adoptive couple:

I just wanted to take a minute to express my deep heartfelt apologies for all that you have had to go through  these past ten months. I am sure your life has been far from easy. It's unbelievable how one selfish decision, by Whitney Pettersson, could have impacted and ruined dozens of lives forever. Both our lives will be forever changed no matter the outcome of this tragic ordeal.

It's crazy how small of a world we live in. After all, we only live 45 minutes away from each other. Soon after we found out who you were, we immediately had a stronger connection than just Jack. Did you know that my mother babysat you when you were a baby, adoptive father? Look really close at the pictures in the background. Also, did you know we have reached out to the paternal grandparents and shared with them the true situation and information and they thought that they would be able to work something out? Not the case.  Well, we have! We have tried to make contact with you to share with you MY side of the story, which Jack will hear someday.

Unfortunately, this "family" you have, is not based on honesty, and will one day unravel. This baby you have named "Ben" will never truly be your son. I am his biological father who loves him and ALWAYS has loved him and will fight for him until he is my arms.

This day and age, technology is everywhere. We will use this to our advantage if we have to find him one day. We have books and books of information, WE WILL share with Jackson! He will know the absolute truth.

This battle has been long and exhausting and it would be in everyone's best interest to stop this heartbreak now, before the wounds get deeper. Give Jack back and get the baby that you always wanted. One that truly was consented to adoption to be in a better home, not one that was UNRIGHTFULLY STOLEN from his father that wanted him.

To the adoptive couple, please do what is ethically and morally right. You know deep down in your heart, and the faith that you believe in, that Jackson is not meant to be with you. I understand the pain that you will be in, but it will only be so much worse, when HE can make his decisions. When he becomes an adult, and his decision is to have nothing to do with the people who betrayed him the most, his adoptive parents.

You know how to get a hold of us! Please do this so we can all move forward with our lives.

It's up to you to get Jackson home where he belongs.
PLEASE DON'T DENY JACKSON, HIS FATHER AND FAMILY.

I am dying to meet my son, and see the gorgeous little boy I have created.

Sincerely,

Jake Strickland, Jack's Grandparents, Aunt's, Uncles, SISTER, Cousins, and many many extended family and friends