Thursday, September 25, 2008

Paperwork Chains

More paperwork. Our new agency is trying to not make this cumbersome but it has to meet state regulations etc. We understand and certainly don't want any problems. So more notarized signatures, a new contract, etc. Thank heavens for our wonderful social workers husband Peter, who has been our notary. He is another angel. Some low days feeling uncertain about this all again but trying to stay focused on Dias and like our coordinator Susan says, stay strong for this child. So more treks back to Fed Ex to over night documents.
From what we hear so far, our paperwork in Kazakhstan is being pulled from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and will be processed within the next couple of weeks. Then the Kazak team makes trips back and forth between Almaty (big city) to Taldykorgan (smaller city) where Dias lives, to file papers with the court and arrange our accommodations. Within a couple of months we should be issued a LOI (letter of invitation) and travel a couple of weeks after that!
With the help of our brother-in-law Kevin and his Rotary brothers, we have secured new bills ( a huge issue in International Adoption because all money taken to Kazakhstan must be new uncirculated bills). We are getting great results from our ink cartridge recycling drive and our bank has been awesome (do you believe that? but they have) and we are hoping to finish a loan application with a wonderful organization called A Child Waits Foundation, that grants low interest loans for adoption. SO many angels! I can't wait to take Dias to each of them and say look what you have helped do!
Another new quilt waits for Dias made by his Grandma Polly. He is already so loved.
Hope to have good news soon. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

It's Official

We officially gave our Power of Attorney to the Kazakh team with Journey Homes Adoption Services, Inc. to represent us for our adoption. The next few weeks will bring more paper work and emails as we wait for good news. We are not giving up on this child.
We are applying for a loan with A Child Waits Foundation (WONDERFUL people) that will be a low interest loan if approved. We were denied a grant (sad) but only because our chosen child is not special needs enough (glad).
Our wonderful credit union also approved an increase in a personal line of credit. I am also working on fund raising stuff. Working and a family aren't leaving much time to do this but we are pushing through. Working on EBay stuff today.
We are rush-rush about all this because we were told we could receive travel dates in a month or so if all goes well.
Keep us in your thoughts.
Our newest photographs are so stinkin cute of our chosen child! That smile and those mischievous eyes keep us strong and focused.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Cautiously Hopeful

No real news except that there is no real bad news. We are hoping to know more about our options by the end of the week.
Our new agency, Journey Homes Adoptions Inc. is looking at all the different angles this arrangement could lead to.
This is not a simple challenge for the people involved.
We are supported by World Partners Adoptions, our first agency, by their staff and expertise but any finalization of our adoption will be through our new agency. Overall they feel confident. Our coordinator, Susan Cotten (soon to be suggested for Saint Hood) feels good about it and that means everything! We appreciate all of these people more than we'll ever be able to convince them. Just that they want to try and there is still hope means everything. We look forward to telling anyone that will listen how God has worked through this adoption. This little boy has touched many people.
We are not giving up on our little boy!
There will be more money involved for several reasons and I am working on a sponsor letter for anyone interested.
We have information that Dias remains at the baby house (Thank you God!) and the staff there know we are still trying to adopt him. Our paperwork is intact and safe. We are running out of time before that becomes another issue.
New mantra: "Not problems, but challenges."
We are staying busy and enjoying Shawn as he learns about Kinder garden.

What's the difference between an adopting mom and a pit bull? Lipstick! (Thank you Gov. Palen)