Our letter of invitation arrived yesterday. I have a jpeg of it and I'm learning to read Russian. Nyet!
Looks like we'll travel some time between April 27 - May 1. We're really starting to get nervous about the timing though because Justin has a customer event he's been planning since Dec. that takes place in Miami at the end of May. He has to be there, so much so that he would need to fly back for it and then return to Kaz if needed. This is all so crazy!
Now that the infamous LOI is in hand, we wait for a cable. Yes, a cable--invented shortly after morse code and apparently poor dear Kaz still uses this cryptic means of communicating with its embassy. When the embassy gets the cable, it will issue the visas. Vodka shot anyone?
My lovely neighbor and awesome friend, Connie, took that chatter box Isabelle (seriously, she's just like Sophie in that regard. I call it breathe-talking. If she's breathing, she's talking! And if you listen, its all darling, but my brain is one of those that hyper-focuses on one thing only) off my hands this morning so I'm whirling thru the house and around town trying to get as many items off the "to do" list and finish two editing jobs. And somehow the school didn't pull me off the volunteer list so I'm going to type up stories for 5 second graders as part of my Publishing Center responsibilities. So I'm off....
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
What we know about Petr (Nicholas)
Just want to share the "blurb" we received on Petr when we chose him from among the boys age 1-3 available for adoption at the Ust-K Baby House. Many children are not available because their biological parents meet the minimum requirement of one visit per year.
"Petr is available for adoption. This Caucasian boy has brown eyes and light brown hair. He has a great smile and is always joking with everyone. He is super healthy. He just turned three. He is a very gentle child and likes everyone. He is a little shy when he first meets strangers. He asks for a Mom and Dad all the time. He is very outgoing once he knows you. He is generally happy. He takes very good direction from adults. He was born the middle of Feb 2004. He is very verbal. He has many friends.
He has been in the orphanage since April 2006. No one knows where he was before, and there is nothing in any document showing where he was before. He was an abandoned child."
Please pray for protection of his young little soul as we get closer and closer to finally meeting him. I just can't wait to put my cheek against his peachy little face. We've already packed a Redskins cushy football and some "real" shoes!
"Petr is available for adoption. This Caucasian boy has brown eyes and light brown hair. He has a great smile and is always joking with everyone. He is super healthy. He just turned three. He is a very gentle child and likes everyone. He is a little shy when he first meets strangers. He asks for a Mom and Dad all the time. He is very outgoing once he knows you. He is generally happy. He takes very good direction from adults. He was born the middle of Feb 2004. He is very verbal. He has many friends.
He has been in the orphanage since April 2006. No one knows where he was before, and there is nothing in any document showing where he was before. He was an abandoned child."
Please pray for protection of his young little soul as we get closer and closer to finally meeting him. I just can't wait to put my cheek against his peachy little face. We've already packed a Redskins cushy football and some "real" shoes!
Friday, April 13, 2007
All is well
Just got an email from Orson. Peter (Nicholas) is still at the orphanage, no LoI yet, and there won't be any problem getting a 2-bedroom apartment for us in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
We've been following a few other families' adoption blogs, and one family just had an ordeal because the adoption judge became aware that their photos were on the web. We may need to password protect this site to prevent having similar problems.
Also, Justin told me he got an email from Nick Greiner offering to get our Kaz visas. Whoopee, I'm so excited that he'll be doing this. Wow. Thanks Nicky!
We've been following a few other families' adoption blogs, and one family just had an ordeal because the adoption judge became aware that their photos were on the web. We may need to password protect this site to prevent having similar problems.
Also, Justin told me he got an email from Nick Greiner offering to get our Kaz visas. Whoopee, I'm so excited that he'll be doing this. Wow. Thanks Nicky!
13
Today is Friday, the 13th, always a lucky day for my hubby, beginning with birth on the 13th of Nov. 13, tho it's not always so lucky for me.
The day started pretty rough. First of all, Dad had another stroke yesterday and is in the hospital again, so that's what I awoke thinking about.
Second, my aunt has asked for a determination on "the ranch." As many of you know, about 3-4 years ago I saw a tv story of nun who basically died of loneliness after a life devoted to others. Mother Theresa said "Loneliness is the leprosy of the 20th century," and the 21st. Anyhow that story gave rise to an idea that I shared with Dad walking on the beach, and he thought it was great. He was really enthusiastic--Dad always had such a big heart. Ok, he sometimes had a big mouth, but when it concerned the needs of others, his heart was huge. I remember when Bernarda, Sophie's babysitter, had problems with her teeth. Dad paid $800 to have them fixed. And he was so glad to do it. Well, the idea was to give the ranch to the Catholic Church--part orphanage, part retirement home for elderly nuns. The very young and the very old in company together. Tia was so excited and had so many contacts in the Church. But as happens so often, the relationships turned sour and ruined the whole thing. Next thought was to work w/ Habitat for Humanity and SOS orphan homes. This time fear got in the way. Fear of losing the financial security that Tia has in that large tract of land. Really the disappointment of those two endeavors led to initial thoughts of adopting a child, the "each one, teach one" kind of thing. So, something good did come of it. But now revisiting the whole thing is quite emotional for me.
Third, oh shoot, I have to get going or I'll miss my NIA class at the Y--a dance, martial arts, groovy kind-a dance class that is so amazingly wonderful. I'll be a different person when I return, won't even remember what number three was! Hasta pronto, Steph
The day started pretty rough. First of all, Dad had another stroke yesterday and is in the hospital again, so that's what I awoke thinking about.
Second, my aunt has asked for a determination on "the ranch." As many of you know, about 3-4 years ago I saw a tv story of nun who basically died of loneliness after a life devoted to others. Mother Theresa said "Loneliness is the leprosy of the 20th century," and the 21st. Anyhow that story gave rise to an idea that I shared with Dad walking on the beach, and he thought it was great. He was really enthusiastic--Dad always had such a big heart. Ok, he sometimes had a big mouth, but when it concerned the needs of others, his heart was huge. I remember when Bernarda, Sophie's babysitter, had problems with her teeth. Dad paid $800 to have them fixed. And he was so glad to do it. Well, the idea was to give the ranch to the Catholic Church--part orphanage, part retirement home for elderly nuns. The very young and the very old in company together. Tia was so excited and had so many contacts in the Church. But as happens so often, the relationships turned sour and ruined the whole thing. Next thought was to work w/ Habitat for Humanity and SOS orphan homes. This time fear got in the way. Fear of losing the financial security that Tia has in that large tract of land. Really the disappointment of those two endeavors led to initial thoughts of adopting a child, the "each one, teach one" kind of thing. So, something good did come of it. But now revisiting the whole thing is quite emotional for me.
Third, oh shoot, I have to get going or I'll miss my NIA class at the Y--a dance, martial arts, groovy kind-a dance class that is so amazingly wonderful. I'll be a different person when I return, won't even remember what number three was! Hasta pronto, Steph
Friday, April 6, 2007
Finally Some News!
Ah, finally something tangible to report! I spoke with Orson, the director of our adoption agency, last night.
I was actually calling to get some reassurance about the whole adoption process in Kazakhstan because I have been following another couple's adoption and they've run into some astonishing issues, with not one, but two birth moms returning to reclaim the first and then the second of the baby boys they have been trying to adopt. Well, Orson did a good job--these really are amazing circumstances, and just by the way, God is doing monumental things thru this poor woman whose heart has just been crushed. Her spirit has not. She is going up against the birth mom, an 18 year old girl who is now pregnant again. The police actually took her first child away from her because the neighbors complained of wild parties and the incessant crying of a baby!
I digress, but man, it has just been a tremendous story to see unfold while waiting for our own to begin!
So, last night, Orson gave us the good news that our dossier had cleared the Ministry of Education, for real this time. And it is now with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We should have our invitation to travel in 10-15 days. At that time, around April 2oth, we can Fedex our passports to the Embassy of Kaz in DC for our visas.
If any of you who live in the DC area would like to help us by going there in person, we would be eternally grateful. The embassy is in the embassy district and apparently things that get done in person go more smoothly and quickly I've been told. There is a service called the Assistant Stork but they charge something like $50 per visa and we need 5! I would reimburse any of your expenses and lunch at the, gosh I can't even remember the name of it anymore, ya know the Grill, or 1789 or Perry's or whatever else is now posh or popular these days.
So, once we have those visas, we will book our flights. I'd love to use some of the FF miles we have, but last minutes travel arrangements don't really jive w/ cheap. Darn. So we'll pay $1500/person and probably go ORD to FRA to ALA to UKK, oh yeah! Can't I just go thru labor one more time? Do flights this long offer epidurals? Am I starting to chicken out or what. It's the lack of sleep. Just like during a real pregnancy, I can't sleep toward the end, so I might as well go ahead and have the baby--I'm up all night anyway. This time though I dream of being in an orphanage and not being able to understand what anyone is saying, and trying to get some kind of medical info because my new son is throwing up.
I remind myself to put on the Full Armor of God including the Sword, God's Word, "Do not be anxious about anything. In everything, by prayer and thanksgiving, make your requests known to God, and His peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus." A peace that surpasses all understand...that's what I need. And today is Good Friday. The day my best friend took the bullet for me. And you. He is so GOOD. Peace.
I was actually calling to get some reassurance about the whole adoption process in Kazakhstan because I have been following another couple's adoption and they've run into some astonishing issues, with not one, but two birth moms returning to reclaim the first and then the second of the baby boys they have been trying to adopt. Well, Orson did a good job--these really are amazing circumstances, and just by the way, God is doing monumental things thru this poor woman whose heart has just been crushed. Her spirit has not. She is going up against the birth mom, an 18 year old girl who is now pregnant again. The police actually took her first child away from her because the neighbors complained of wild parties and the incessant crying of a baby!
I digress, but man, it has just been a tremendous story to see unfold while waiting for our own to begin!
So, last night, Orson gave us the good news that our dossier had cleared the Ministry of Education, for real this time. And it is now with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We should have our invitation to travel in 10-15 days. At that time, around April 2oth, we can Fedex our passports to the Embassy of Kaz in DC for our visas.
If any of you who live in the DC area would like to help us by going there in person, we would be eternally grateful. The embassy is in the embassy district and apparently things that get done in person go more smoothly and quickly I've been told. There is a service called the Assistant Stork but they charge something like $50 per visa and we need 5! I would reimburse any of your expenses and lunch at the, gosh I can't even remember the name of it anymore, ya know the Grill, or 1789 or Perry's or whatever else is now posh or popular these days.
So, once we have those visas, we will book our flights. I'd love to use some of the FF miles we have, but last minutes travel arrangements don't really jive w/ cheap. Darn. So we'll pay $1500/person and probably go ORD to FRA to ALA to UKK, oh yeah! Can't I just go thru labor one more time? Do flights this long offer epidurals? Am I starting to chicken out or what. It's the lack of sleep. Just like during a real pregnancy, I can't sleep toward the end, so I might as well go ahead and have the baby--I'm up all night anyway. This time though I dream of being in an orphanage and not being able to understand what anyone is saying, and trying to get some kind of medical info because my new son is throwing up.
I remind myself to put on the Full Armor of God including the Sword, God's Word, "Do not be anxious about anything. In everything, by prayer and thanksgiving, make your requests known to God, and His peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus." A peace that surpasses all understand...that's what I need. And today is Good Friday. The day my best friend took the bullet for me. And you. He is so GOOD. Peace.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Tomorrow is April
Just a quick update because not much to tell. Our dossier is still with the Ministry of Education. Petr is still waiting for us. We are nearing the end of Spring Break--initially when faced with 10 days and no plans, I wasn't quite sure what to do.
So we prepared the upstairs, switching a couple of rooms around and painting one, doing some stenciling in the others. I'm so excited about how it all turned out. Now Isabelle and Nicholas will share the room with the animal murals. The bunk beds have been taken apart and reassembled as two beds. It's really cute for both a girl and a boy.
The work on the house exterior is moving along again. The house wrap permit slowed us down a bit. We did the photo shoot for Sophie at a horse barn. Katrina and Isabelle were also photographed. Then Kerrie, the photographer, took Sophie into downtown Naperville for some "urban" shots. She had a blast and is SO photogenic.
Anyhow, I hope that by the next time I post, I have some really exciting news. Til then!
So we prepared the upstairs, switching a couple of rooms around and painting one, doing some stenciling in the others. I'm so excited about how it all turned out. Now Isabelle and Nicholas will share the room with the animal murals. The bunk beds have been taken apart and reassembled as two beds. It's really cute for both a girl and a boy.
The work on the house exterior is moving along again. The house wrap permit slowed us down a bit. We did the photo shoot for Sophie at a horse barn. Katrina and Isabelle were also photographed. Then Kerrie, the photographer, took Sophie into downtown Naperville for some "urban" shots. She had a blast and is SO photogenic.
Anyhow, I hope that by the next time I post, I have some really exciting news. Til then!
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