Wow--it's been a month since I made an entry--time sure flies when you are doing nothing.
No--I am not going to Russia yet as the title implies but I did attend a Russian Travel orientation at the agency. I have heard many people on the chat boards talk about three trips to Russia but my agency still prepares us for two trips as that is what their families have been able to do. I learned lots of good info about what to expect when a referral actually does come. Unfortunately, I still have no idea when that will happen. I do love going to the classes they offer because they always end them with a panel of parents who have already adopted and their children--it is so cool to see them and to hear their stories.
I have been amazingly patient with this wait--more so than with the first one. Maybe because I am experienced in the disappointment of not going so I am afraid to be too hopeful or maybe because of the realization that the end cost (financially) will much higher than I had started out expecting so I need to spend some time socking away as much money as I can. I used to put my overtime earnings away to the adoption fund but OT has been nearly eliminated at my work so now I need to look at ways to decrease spending--not quite as easy as working overtime. but..I am extremely happy that I do have my job and have no fear of losing it--that is not true for many people so I am grateful.
I had a great Easter with my sister and her in-laws. We did church, Easter egg hunt, and the big dinner with ham and all the fixings.
The rest of my family was pretty spread out. Two of my brothers took their sons and went snow-mobiling in the Buckhorn Mountains of Wyoming--their third trip there this winter but as my nephew says "We gotta ride as long as there is snow". They love it.
Both of their wives worked the weekend but they got together with my Mom after they got off work and had a big dinner. both sisters when to their in-laws and then two of my brother's live on the west coast so they did their own thing with family members. It was kind of weird because Easter was usually the big holiday in our family (We love the celebration of Christ rising) and we would all get together but my sister's in-laws were a great substitute for my family.
Two of my adoption friends live in Tennessee where the tornadoes hit. Their town was hit hard but fortunately both of them and their families are okay. My thoughts go out to those who lost their homes or other things and especially to those who lost loved ones or who were harmed.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Just waiting
I really have nothing new to report on the adoption front. I am in the waiting mode. My agency is very good with weekly updates that have specific informatin about each region they work with and my specialist has called just to see how I am doing. Next month I will go to travel orientation so more good stuff to learn. I still expect a few months wait but I am okay with that for now--I feel peaceful about it because I trust the people I am working with.
If you remember my post in early Feb. I had made up the room for my daughter for my dossier pictures and I was enjoying just sitting in it--it is so bright and cheery. I also said I would probably put it all back away because that is my spare room and I didn't want anyone to sleep on the new linens, etc. until after my daughter has--I want her to be the first and to have a truly new room. So I got it all back in the closet and just in time. My home has been quite a refuge for my family this past couple weeks. My youngest brother and his fiancee are moving from Norfolk, Va (Navy) to Monterey, Ca. They drove through Minnesota on the way to visit family and spent one night at my house--it was fun to see them. I had dinner plans with the adoption support group I have found here so they got to come along and meet the girls. It was fun.
Last weekend my sister and her kids passed through town on the way home from my Mom's (I am just about in the middle of their 5 hour drive) and they ended up staying the night due to bad weather.
Yesterday my Aunt and Uncle came to town to have check ups at the Mayo Clinc--they are not staying with me but we will get together.
Now this weekend my nephew that is attending college in Iowa is coming up Friday night and I am taking him to the airport in Minneapolis on Saturday. He is flying to Tahoe to go skiing for spring break. Hi is meeting up with two of my brothers (one is his Dad) and other friends. They should have a blast.
I never get visitors and now to have so many--it's been fun. I wish I could be going to some of those fun places with them but I am glad to have them visit on the way.
My spare room has been busy.
I do have one update on my adoptin plans. I thank everyone for their input on the topic of adopting siblings. I especially am grateful for all the support and encouragement to help me realize that it wasn't a crazy thought and I could handle it. There are many reasons that I would love to have siblings but there are also many reasons why I decided that it wasn't right for me to do that at this time. I did decide to ask for one little girl up to 4 years old. Maybe someday my little girl will get a sibling but if not, then it will be "just you and me kid". I can't wait.
If you remember my post in early Feb. I had made up the room for my daughter for my dossier pictures and I was enjoying just sitting in it--it is so bright and cheery. I also said I would probably put it all back away because that is my spare room and I didn't want anyone to sleep on the new linens, etc. until after my daughter has--I want her to be the first and to have a truly new room. So I got it all back in the closet and just in time. My home has been quite a refuge for my family this past couple weeks. My youngest brother and his fiancee are moving from Norfolk, Va (Navy) to Monterey, Ca. They drove through Minnesota on the way to visit family and spent one night at my house--it was fun to see them. I had dinner plans with the adoption support group I have found here so they got to come along and meet the girls. It was fun.
Last weekend my sister and her kids passed through town on the way home from my Mom's (I am just about in the middle of their 5 hour drive) and they ended up staying the night due to bad weather.
Yesterday my Aunt and Uncle came to town to have check ups at the Mayo Clinc--they are not staying with me but we will get together.
Now this weekend my nephew that is attending college in Iowa is coming up Friday night and I am taking him to the airport in Minneapolis on Saturday. He is flying to Tahoe to go skiing for spring break. Hi is meeting up with two of my brothers (one is his Dad) and other friends. They should have a blast.
I never get visitors and now to have so many--it's been fun. I wish I could be going to some of those fun places with them but I am glad to have them visit on the way.
My spare room has been busy.
I do have one update on my adoptin plans. I thank everyone for their input on the topic of adopting siblings. I especially am grateful for all the support and encouragement to help me realize that it wasn't a crazy thought and I could handle it. There are many reasons that I would love to have siblings but there are also many reasons why I decided that it wasn't right for me to do that at this time. I did decide to ask for one little girl up to 4 years old. Maybe someday my little girl will get a sibling but if not, then it will be "just you and me kid". I can't wait.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Win a custom made flag quilt
Just a quick note to let you all know of this incredible raffle opportunity.
The woman on the BOD from "Two Hearts for Hope" are raffling a custom made quilt wall hanging and you get to choose which country you want.
Two women that have years of experience in quilting are making the quilt--it will be beautiful. What an awesome addition this would be to any child's room.
All proceeds will be used to help toward the adoption expenses for Kim Prud'homme who is traveling to Russia for her daughter.
Check out this blog to see an example of the beautiful quilt and see what country choices are available.
http://customflagraffles.blogspot.com/
The woman on the BOD from "Two Hearts for Hope" are raffling a custom made quilt wall hanging and you get to choose which country you want.
Two women that have years of experience in quilting are making the quilt--it will be beautiful. What an awesome addition this would be to any child's room.
All proceeds will be used to help toward the adoption expenses for Kim Prud'homme who is traveling to Russia for her daughter.
Check out this blog to see an example of the beautiful quilt and see what country choices are available.
http://customflagraffles.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 23, 2009
Help the children in Qostanay
Please read the following message from "Two Hearts for Hope"
Northern Kazakhstan is experiencing a very cold winter and the children have nothing to look forward to. They stare out the windows and long for warmer happier summer days where they can run free and somewhat let their cares disappear.
March 22 is the Kazakh holiday of Nauryz which celebrates the end of the long cold winter and ushers in the warm spring. Nauryz is generally celebrated with a great meal among family and friends. The Holiday lasts for one month with cultural events, games, song, and dance. The main theme of the Holiday is renewal and joy.
This year you have the chance to bring some joy and smiles to the children at the Delphin Orphanage by helping them celebrate with a few goodies of their own.
Your $10.00 tax deductable donation will help will help us reach our goal of supplying all 75 children with a cake celebration, books, and small toys for this happy celebration.
Donations are being accepted through March 20th by following the paypal link on our website www.twoheartsforhope.org or by sending a check to:
Two Hearts For Hope
PO Box 1928
Lebanon, MO 65536
Please pass this message on and Thanks for your support.
Northern Kazakhstan is experiencing a very cold winter and the children have nothing to look forward to. They stare out the windows and long for warmer happier summer days where they can run free and somewhat let their cares disappear.
March 22 is the Kazakh holiday of Nauryz which celebrates the end of the long cold winter and ushers in the warm spring. Nauryz is generally celebrated with a great meal among family and friends. The Holiday lasts for one month with cultural events, games, song, and dance. The main theme of the Holiday is renewal and joy.
This year you have the chance to bring some joy and smiles to the children at the Delphin Orphanage by helping them celebrate with a few goodies of their own.
Your $10.00 tax deductable donation will help will help us reach our goal of supplying all 75 children with a cake celebration, books, and small toys for this happy celebration.
Donations are being accepted through March 20th by following the paypal link on our website www.twoheartsforhope.org or by sending a check to:
Two Hearts For Hope
PO Box 1928
Lebanon, MO 65536
Please pass this message on and Thanks for your support.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Productive Day
This week has been fun on the adoption front--I feel like I am progressing again.
Today I took the day off from work and went to the bank, ran around the neighborhood and took pictures, finished my dossier Part 1, made copies and got it mailed off to the agency.
I know this is just a hurry up and then wait part of the process but I really am happier when I am actually doing something instead of just waiting.
Now the dossier documents will be translated and then I will be registered in my region. This is so cool. I already feel more sure of this process than I ever did of the Kazakhstan one. Hopefully I am right.
I also took out all the little girl bedding that I had bought over a year ago and made up her room. I was required to put a picture of it in my dossier paperwork so I kind of had to but it is weird how much different that made me feel to actually have her room look like a little girl's room instead of just my guest room. I could stand in there for hours and just soak it up. I will probably take it all down and put it away again because I only have two bedrooms in my place and I don't want any visitors to sleep on her bedding before she is here--I want it to all be new for her.
We also had warmer weather today--it got above 30 and stayed there all day! That also helps make it a good day.
Today I took the day off from work and went to the bank, ran around the neighborhood and took pictures, finished my dossier Part 1, made copies and got it mailed off to the agency.
I know this is just a hurry up and then wait part of the process but I really am happier when I am actually doing something instead of just waiting.
Now the dossier documents will be translated and then I will be registered in my region. This is so cool. I already feel more sure of this process than I ever did of the Kazakhstan one. Hopefully I am right.
I also took out all the little girl bedding that I had bought over a year ago and made up her room. I was required to put a picture of it in my dossier paperwork so I kind of had to but it is weird how much different that made me feel to actually have her room look like a little girl's room instead of just my guest room. I could stand in there for hours and just soak it up. I will probably take it all down and put it away again because I only have two bedrooms in my place and I don't want any visitors to sleep on her bedding before she is here--I want it to all be new for her.
We also had warmer weather today--it got above 30 and stayed there all day! That also helps make it a good day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Good Day
Today was a good day--When I got home from work, I found out I had reached two big milestones in the adoption process.
My revised I-171H with the country change was in the mail!!!
I had the "Welcome to your region" email from my agency--I now know my region!!!
Every little step feels so good.
My revised I-171H with the country change was in the mail!!!
I had the "Welcome to your region" email from my agency--I now know my region!!!
Every little step feels so good.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Here's to a better year in 2009
I hope that 2009 started out well for all of you.
I had a lovely first day of the New Year as I celebrated Christmas with my whole family on that day. We had a nice time and had some good remembrences of my Dad. It felt a little odd without him. He wasn't an integral part in the planning or execution of our plans, he would just follow along with what we planned, so everything went on just as before with the only difference being that he wasn't there. It was a little unsettling that it could be so much the same as always and so different at the same time.
As you know, I have been working on my Russian adoption process. I have also been really thinking about the foster children program here in Minnesota so I looked into that. The one big drawback is that the vast majority of the kids are over age 7 and I was hoping for a younger child as I really want to experience some of the younger years. There are some younger children in the foster program but there are many parents waiting for them and they are often part of a sibling group so I was told it would be unlikely that I could adopt a child under 7.
I also asked about dual listing with foster care and Russia which is what I would really like to do but the Minnesota Waiting Children Program does not allow that so it was choose one or the other. I did choose to stay with Russia.
I had my last homestudy visit on Jan. 8th after spending the week before frantically clearing out my daughter's bedroom (that had morphed into a store room) and cleaning the whole house. It went well and I am now officially approved for bringing home one child up to the age of 4. As of Jan. 8th--my approval date, I am on the waiting list for Russia. Yeah!!! The wait for a girl is being quoted as 18-24 months so please pray I will be on the shorter end of that wait.
My agency is opening a program in a country new to them that might hold some promise but I don't know enough to say anymore about it now.
Here is an issue that I would like some honest feedback on:
I asked my social worker about the possibility of siblings (from Russia). I would have to do some more homework--they gave me a list of books to read--and they want me to talk to some other singles that adopted siblings (there are very few) and then go before a committee to be approved for siblings. Now I am not 100% certain I want to pursue this but here is my thinking--I just turned 48 and will be close to 50 when bringing a child home. With the increased costs and wait times, I know I will not be going through this a second time. I know it will be pretty tough when they are young but as I am an older mother, they could be left parentless when they are still young adults and I think it would be nice for them to have each other. I can't imagine my life without my siblings. The only parents I know that adopted siblings have beautiful children that they love very much but they have some pretty trying times. In doing this, I would not exclude the referral of a single chld---just be open to the possiblity of siblings if they were available. Some have already told me I am nuts. My sister said--"if your heart says that, pursue it. I trust God to bring you to the right spot and I trust you to make the right choice". Am I nuts for even thinking this or is it worth thinking about? I do want to be fair to my child(ren). Tell me what you think.
I had a lovely first day of the New Year as I celebrated Christmas with my whole family on that day. We had a nice time and had some good remembrences of my Dad. It felt a little odd without him. He wasn't an integral part in the planning or execution of our plans, he would just follow along with what we planned, so everything went on just as before with the only difference being that he wasn't there. It was a little unsettling that it could be so much the same as always and so different at the same time.
As you know, I have been working on my Russian adoption process. I have also been really thinking about the foster children program here in Minnesota so I looked into that. The one big drawback is that the vast majority of the kids are over age 7 and I was hoping for a younger child as I really want to experience some of the younger years. There are some younger children in the foster program but there are many parents waiting for them and they are often part of a sibling group so I was told it would be unlikely that I could adopt a child under 7.
I also asked about dual listing with foster care and Russia which is what I would really like to do but the Minnesota Waiting Children Program does not allow that so it was choose one or the other. I did choose to stay with Russia.
I had my last homestudy visit on Jan. 8th after spending the week before frantically clearing out my daughter's bedroom (that had morphed into a store room) and cleaning the whole house. It went well and I am now officially approved for bringing home one child up to the age of 4. As of Jan. 8th--my approval date, I am on the waiting list for Russia. Yeah!!! The wait for a girl is being quoted as 18-24 months so please pray I will be on the shorter end of that wait.
My agency is opening a program in a country new to them that might hold some promise but I don't know enough to say anymore about it now.
Here is an issue that I would like some honest feedback on:
I asked my social worker about the possibility of siblings (from Russia). I would have to do some more homework--they gave me a list of books to read--and they want me to talk to some other singles that adopted siblings (there are very few) and then go before a committee to be approved for siblings. Now I am not 100% certain I want to pursue this but here is my thinking--I just turned 48 and will be close to 50 when bringing a child home. With the increased costs and wait times, I know I will not be going through this a second time. I know it will be pretty tough when they are young but as I am an older mother, they could be left parentless when they are still young adults and I think it would be nice for them to have each other. I can't imagine my life without my siblings. The only parents I know that adopted siblings have beautiful children that they love very much but they have some pretty trying times. In doing this, I would not exclude the referral of a single chld---just be open to the possiblity of siblings if they were available. Some have already told me I am nuts. My sister said--"if your heart says that, pursue it. I trust God to bring you to the right spot and I trust you to make the right choice". Am I nuts for even thinking this or is it worth thinking about? I do want to be fair to my child(ren). Tell me what you think.
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