It has been a while since I’ve updated the log. First, I’ve been sick – yuck! Also, we have been watching the status of adoptions in Russia very closely. After much prayer and many discussions, we have chosen to switch from the Russia program to the Ukraine program. This was a difficult decision. With where we are in our process, making a switch is easy now, but in another month or so, it would be much more difficult and expensive. We love the Eastern European culture, so we wanted to stick with a country in that block. Ukraine stole our hearts. What a neat country! The more we learn the more excited we are. Ukraine has a long and varied history with a mix of cultures.
The Process will be similar. The main difference is that the Ukraine will usually require just 1 trip. That one trip will be much longer lasting from 3-6 weeks. Our Home study is almost complete (just waiting on some state clearances to come in). Once the home study is complete, we will file it with USCIS to begin the immigration process. We send the home study and a few other documents to the Ukraine and wait for them to tell us what other documents will be required and for a preliminary acceptance. We then complete our dossier. We should then get an invitation to travel about a month later.
The Ukraine does referrals a bit differently than Russia. We will travel to the Ukraine where we will be provided with a selection of children that might match our family and are available for adoption. We will then choose 1-3 of them to visit and make a decision. Then we have a court visit and a waiting period before we can bring the child home.
I have a dear friend who is travelling to Russia today to adopt her son that they have been trying to adopt for 2 years now. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts as they travel during these uncertain times in Russian adoption.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Still going...
Things are still moving along. We had our first home study visit on Sunday. That was really an interesting process. Our social worker asked us many questions about our backgrounds and our motivations for adopting. She even interviewed Boo on her feelings toward the adoption. I found the whole thing facinating. We have to have at least 2 more visits before the process can be complete.
We also finished our adoption education credits this week. We took a class on adoption and parenting adopted children, read numerous articles and we read a book that included an online test. All were very interesting and I feel much better prepared on what to expect.
For those of you who have been watching the news, there was a case recently where a mother returned an adopted child to Russia. Obviously, Russia did not approve and has threatened to freeze US adoptions. After lots of prayer on our part, we have decided to continue moving foward with Russia. This is a risk, but it is our hope that this incident is viewed as isolated, and we hope that the dialoge it initiated between Russia and the US will result in better protection for children in the end.
We also finished our adoption education credits this week. We took a class on adoption and parenting adopted children, read numerous articles and we read a book that included an online test. All were very interesting and I feel much better prepared on what to expect.
For those of you who have been watching the news, there was a case recently where a mother returned an adopted child to Russia. Obviously, Russia did not approve and has threatened to freeze US adoptions. After lots of prayer on our part, we have decided to continue moving foward with Russia. This is a risk, but it is our hope that this incident is viewed as isolated, and we hope that the dialoge it initiated between Russia and the US will result in better protection for children in the end.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Resolve Strengthened
The adoption process is moving along. We did get everything in on time, so the multiple trips to the post office were definitely worth it! I’ve been sick for the last 5 days, so that slowed things down a bit. We are in the middle of the home study process, and we hope to have our home visit this weekend. The home visit consists of a licensed social working coming out to the house and interviewing each of us, looking over our property and working with us on any education or other items she feels we need to complete our home study. We are also about to send in the rest of the initial fees. We are beginning the application process for several adoption grants that are available. I am surprised thus far at how smoothly things are progressing. Our adoption agency is terrific in answering our questions and leading us through the process.
Sunday night, Extreme Home Make Over was on a family in Kemah (just a few miles down the road) who have adopted 11 of their 15 kids and have fostered over 85 children. They had Ike damage and were living in a trailer. The story strengthened our resolve to this adoption. That family is such an inspiration – and to see a family so close to home that have done what they have really touched our heart. Things slowly seem more real and possible as we move through this. It’s cool to think that there is a little boy out there waiting for us to get through the red tape to bring him home.
Sunday night, Extreme Home Make Over was on a family in Kemah (just a few miles down the road) who have adopted 11 of their 15 kids and have fostered over 85 children. They had Ike damage and were living in a trailer. The story strengthened our resolve to this adoption. That family is such an inspiration – and to see a family so close to home that have done what they have really touched our heart. Things slowly seem more real and possible as we move through this. It’s cool to think that there is a little boy out there waiting for us to get through the red tape to bring him home.
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