After much prayer and research, we believe God is leading us to turn our adoption focus to Ethiopia. We have re-applied to our adoption agency and are waiting to get notice of acceptance into the Ehthiopia program. It is so weird that we're starting all over again. Oi. We're supposed to be getting some money back from our facilitator in Ukraine. Please pray that everything goes smoothly with that. I must say that a one-week stay in a warm country is a nice adjustment, as are many other aspects of Ethiopian adoption. We'll keep you posted on any further developments. Jump over to our new blogsite as we chronicle our journey to Ethiopia:
http://hollandadoptiontake2.blogspot.com
Gina
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Disembarking from the Ukraine Train
Over the past couple months we have been following blogs of people going over to Ukraine to adopt children. As we've been watching many stories play out we've noticed that it has become increasingly difficult to move forward in that country if you want a young child under the age of 4. Just recently, a family that is working with the same agency we are, went over and spent 5+ weeks chasing down multiple referrals only to return home without a child. We were following another family via their blog that is from Florida and they also returned home without a child after multiple jacked up referrals.
So, about two weeks ago we began praying to see if God wanted us to continue with Ukraine or head a different direction by seeking another country or possibly domestic. We have been asking for clarity and wisdom and that God would be clear in His leading.
God could have spelled it out in my Alphabits, but instead He chose a different, less freaky way. Wednesday I (David) got a call from the Eastern Europe program director from our agency and she informed me that the State Department of Adoption in Ukraine would not be accepting our updated documents and that we could re-submit our dossier in 2009 with the slim possibility of receiving a healthy referral for a little girl under 5. Apparently the word coming from Ukraine is that they have no healthy children under age 8 available. It's not true, but that's the party line. She went on to say that if we chose to stay in the program that they would support that decision and assist in any way they can, but she did not recommend it based on what has been transpiring over there. She has never been this direct in her counsel, but it has never been this bad in Ukraine either.
So, later on today we're going to call her and officially remove ourselves from the Ukraine program. It's a very odd feeling because for the last 18 months we've been all amped up to adopt a little girl from there and now that is not going to happen. It's sad because we KNOW there is a little girl over there that would match our request. But, there is some relief as well because neither of us wanted to go back there for so long and get yanked all over the place jumping through all the hoops you have to and still likely coming home childless.
Please pray for us as we back everything up and start from square one. We're not sure which road to take, but we clearly see that God has stopped the Ukraine Train and it is time to disembark. Thanks for following our story, we'll keep you posted on the next step!
So, about two weeks ago we began praying to see if God wanted us to continue with Ukraine or head a different direction by seeking another country or possibly domestic. We have been asking for clarity and wisdom and that God would be clear in His leading.
God could have spelled it out in my Alphabits, but instead He chose a different, less freaky way. Wednesday I (David) got a call from the Eastern Europe program director from our agency and she informed me that the State Department of Adoption in Ukraine would not be accepting our updated documents and that we could re-submit our dossier in 2009 with the slim possibility of receiving a healthy referral for a little girl under 5. Apparently the word coming from Ukraine is that they have no healthy children under age 8 available. It's not true, but that's the party line. She went on to say that if we chose to stay in the program that they would support that decision and assist in any way they can, but she did not recommend it based on what has been transpiring over there. She has never been this direct in her counsel, but it has never been this bad in Ukraine either.
So, later on today we're going to call her and officially remove ourselves from the Ukraine program. It's a very odd feeling because for the last 18 months we've been all amped up to adopt a little girl from there and now that is not going to happen. It's sad because we KNOW there is a little girl over there that would match our request. But, there is some relief as well because neither of us wanted to go back there for so long and get yanked all over the place jumping through all the hoops you have to and still likely coming home childless.
Please pray for us as we back everything up and start from square one. We're not sure which road to take, but we clearly see that God has stopped the Ukraine Train and it is time to disembark. Thanks for following our story, we'll keep you posted on the next step!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Waiting for Little Sissy
Davi has a little notebook (she calls it her diary) that she scribbles in from time to time. This picture was her most recent add. Mind you, there's not a lot of detail as there are with many of her pics--just a quick draw. I asked her about the picture. She said it's Little Sissy inside the orphanage. She's sitting waiting for us. I'm glad to see she has a smile on her face.
A few weeks ago Davi offered to give us money to help with the adoption. She's so funny and such a sweety.
Despite the fact that she's excited to get a sister, she's doing quite well with the wait. Actually, all three of us are feeling at peace about being put on hold as we're watching some messiness happen in Ukraine. We're hoping there as some good changes (and warm weather) in the near future that are timed perfectly with our return. Whatever the case, we know our God is capable of anything, and we're so grateful to be in His wise care.
Gina
Friday, March 7, 2008
March 7th
Our facilitator was not given an invitation this week for us to return for a second appointment. Go figure. He was told that invitations might come next week. Anyone want to place a bet?
Oh well, this is not our biggest concern right now. We just got word of a family who is returning home without a child. They had received three referrals (we've been told you only get two) and went to three regions only to be going home with no child.
We're also hearing of other families who are refusing first referrals, but we haven't gotten to see what is happening at second appointments yet.
We're trusting God's will in all this. Thanks for your prayers. Please pray that we would see God move to release more orphans.
Gina
Oh well, this is not our biggest concern right now. We just got word of a family who is returning home without a child. They had received three referrals (we've been told you only get two) and went to three regions only to be going home with no child.
We're also hearing of other families who are refusing first referrals, but we haven't gotten to see what is happening at second appointments yet.
We're trusting God's will in all this. Thanks for your prayers. Please pray that we would see God move to release more orphans.
Gina
Friday, February 29, 2008
Still No Appointment, but...
This morning we got an email from our family coordinator. Our facilitator, Yuri, did not receive an invitation for us, but he was told by SDA staff that they are working on invitations for all second appointment families. Yuri expects that we will be invited for April, possibly March, and that we will likely have notification of an appointment date next week. We'll see. God's timing, right?
The spring would be a great time to go, weather-wise. If we go this spring, please pray that we can get to Ukraine and back before Davi finishes school. It would be really nice if she could finish kindergarten and do all the end-of-the year activities with her class.
Gina
The spring would be a great time to go, weather-wise. If we go this spring, please pray that we can get to Ukraine and back before Davi finishes school. It would be really nice if she could finish kindergarten and do all the end-of-the year activities with her class.
Gina
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Hopefully new info on Friday!
We got a call from our adoption agency family coordinator today. Our facilitator in Ukraine, Yuri, got to meet with someone from the SDA. They told him that this Friday they will have an official letter of invitation for us to return to Ukraine for our second appointment. It is not clear as to whether there will be a specific return date in the letter. I hope it's not just a letter vaguely saying they will have us back sometime. We'll let you know if we do actually get the letter on Friday and what's in it!
Thanks for your prayers!
Gina
Thanks for your prayers!
Gina
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Forgotten Yet Fingerprinted
We got fingerprinted for the third time today...you know, just in case something has changed since the last two times we were fingerprinted. If I'm sounding cynical...well then you get my vibe. This was an update to the fingerprints we got last year about this time for the state of Nebraska. The FBI had to have their own set for the USCIS stuff--why they can't share is beyond me.
We're a little concerned that they won't be processed in time for our home study to be updated before the original one expires. Not much we can do about it, though. Of course we're praying.
In the meantime, we're feeling forgotten. I was just on the FRUA website, viewing some previous chats. The only other families, except for our new friends the Reeds and us, that I've come across who are waiting for second appointments are from Germany. At least one of them has been waiting since October. If anyone has heard of someone who was sent home and then returned for a second appointment, please let me know. It seems we've been forgotten by the SDA. They seem to have just gone on with business as usual, just like we never happened. At their first appointments, families have been getting children that we would have gladly welcomed. From a faith perspective, I know those children were not meant for us, but it's still hard to be waiting because "there are no children that match our request." I don't know what they plan to do with all of us who are waiting, or if they plan to do anything. Very frustrating. So we continue to do things like get our fingerprints updated because we're still hoping.
We're tired. We can't wait to have a face to put with all the preparation; then we'll say, "It was all worth it!" But right now, we don't have that face. I admit, I'm having a hard time keeping my focus on Christ without a wandering glance at my circumstances. I'm hoping for the time that we can look back on this and see God's fingerprints all over it. And I'm clinging to the fact that, in Christ, we are never forgotten.
Gina
We're a little concerned that they won't be processed in time for our home study to be updated before the original one expires. Not much we can do about it, though. Of course we're praying.
In the meantime, we're feeling forgotten. I was just on the FRUA website, viewing some previous chats. The only other families, except for our new friends the Reeds and us, that I've come across who are waiting for second appointments are from Germany. At least one of them has been waiting since October. If anyone has heard of someone who was sent home and then returned for a second appointment, please let me know. It seems we've been forgotten by the SDA. They seem to have just gone on with business as usual, just like we never happened. At their first appointments, families have been getting children that we would have gladly welcomed. From a faith perspective, I know those children were not meant for us, but it's still hard to be waiting because "there are no children that match our request." I don't know what they plan to do with all of us who are waiting, or if they plan to do anything. Very frustrating. So we continue to do things like get our fingerprints updated because we're still hoping.
We're tired. We can't wait to have a face to put with all the preparation; then we'll say, "It was all worth it!" But right now, we don't have that face. I admit, I'm having a hard time keeping my focus on Christ without a wandering glance at my circumstances. I'm hoping for the time that we can look back on this and see God's fingerprints all over it. And I'm clinging to the fact that, in Christ, we are never forgotten.
Gina
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Anyone?
I'm curious, have any of you heard of someone else who was sent home after a fruitless first appointment and is waiting to return to Ukraine for a second one? Other than our friends the Reeds and us, I have not been able to find anyone else in this situation. Yet, we were told at the SDA that over 100 people were in line ahead of us to be called back for a second appointment. I realize this includes hopeful adopters from other countries as well, but I have my doubts that the list is really that long. Let us know what you know!
Gina
Gina
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Blood Work and Med Forms...Again
After getting our lab results back (you'll be happy to know we are still free from Hepatitis B, Syphilis, and HIV), we went in to get our medical forms updated. (Since our adoption hasn't been completed yet, we're having to make sure all forms in our dossier stay current.)
You may remember last year it was a major hassle to get these filled out correctly by the doctors and nurse staff. It took several tries (mainly by my doctor), and after finally getting it done right, I got a bill for $100--just for having the paper signed, in addition to what we paid for physicals, blood work, and all that. One of my big fears was having to re-do this form, and low and behold, we had to re-do it.
We went in yesterday, and thankfully it was a breeze! We both went to David's doctor this time, and he was very careful to make sure all the details were just right. He even walked down to the pharmacy with us to make sure it was notarized correctly by the notary-pharmacist, and let us carefully watch the process. Thank God for Dr. Bott! And for something smooth in this volatile process!
This week in Omaha, we'll be in the single digits. This makes Ukraine's 30's sound balmy. We know it's different when you have to be out in it, though. We're thankful to be able to go from building to car to building. We are so blessed here!
Gina
You may remember last year it was a major hassle to get these filled out correctly by the doctors and nurse staff. It took several tries (mainly by my doctor), and after finally getting it done right, I got a bill for $100--just for having the paper signed, in addition to what we paid for physicals, blood work, and all that. One of my big fears was having to re-do this form, and low and behold, we had to re-do it.
We went in yesterday, and thankfully it was a breeze! We both went to David's doctor this time, and he was very careful to make sure all the details were just right. He even walked down to the pharmacy with us to make sure it was notarized correctly by the notary-pharmacist, and let us carefully watch the process. Thank God for Dr. Bott! And for something smooth in this volatile process!
This week in Omaha, we'll be in the single digits. This makes Ukraine's 30's sound balmy. We know it's different when you have to be out in it, though. We're thankful to be able to go from building to car to building. We are so blessed here!
Gina
Monday, January 14, 2008
God sets the lonely in families
That's how Psalm 68:6 begins: "God sets the lonely in families..."
We are so thankful for the opportunity to be the family that a lonely child will be set into. Even though our little girl may be excited to come home with us, I doubt she has any idea what she's really missing in a family.
I think this could be said of a lot of people. And not just orphans.
He sets the lonely in families. We were reminded of this truth again this weekend. Our church family (Heartland Church) donated their hard-earned money to provide us with a really nice Christmas bonus. This follows the recent collection gathered for Pastor Appreciation in October. I believe the first gift toward our adoption came last year (2006) in the form of a Christmas bonus. Throughout 2007, we watched the church adoption fund (originated by our good friend and worship pastor Matt) grow beyond our expectations. In addition to financing, Heartland has been a huge support through prayer and encouraging words. I don't know what we'd do without this family!
For nearly our whole married life, we have lived far away from any biological family. Needless to say, there have been many lonely times. But thankfully, God sets the lonely in families. He continues to build us up through the Church around us, as well as through the larger Church family--friends/family from all over who have supported us. I don't know how many times this year I've thanked God for the Church. And I don't plan to stop any time soon.
Gina
We are so thankful for the opportunity to be the family that a lonely child will be set into. Even though our little girl may be excited to come home with us, I doubt she has any idea what she's really missing in a family.
I think this could be said of a lot of people. And not just orphans.
He sets the lonely in families. We were reminded of this truth again this weekend. Our church family (Heartland Church) donated their hard-earned money to provide us with a really nice Christmas bonus. This follows the recent collection gathered for Pastor Appreciation in October. I believe the first gift toward our adoption came last year (2006) in the form of a Christmas bonus. Throughout 2007, we watched the church adoption fund (originated by our good friend and worship pastor Matt) grow beyond our expectations. In addition to financing, Heartland has been a huge support through prayer and encouraging words. I don't know what we'd do without this family!
For nearly our whole married life, we have lived far away from any biological family. Needless to say, there have been many lonely times. But thankfully, God sets the lonely in families. He continues to build us up through the Church around us, as well as through the larger Church family--friends/family from all over who have supported us. I don't know how many times this year I've thanked God for the Church. And I don't plan to stop any time soon.
Gina
Friday, January 11, 2008
Necessities
We know that many of you are reading this blog b/c you're also in the process of adoption. As you're preparing to bring home your child, you'll probably remember things like clothes and bedding. But I want to stress how important it is that you also remember music. Afterall, music is one way to help your child grow artistically. With that in mind, we'd like to recommend this option...you can thank us later.
(If you're not really interested in kids music, you'll want to watch too. This could change your mind.)
(If you're not really interested in kids music, you'll want to watch too. This could change your mind.)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Pointless Meeting
Our facilitator Yuri did meet with the Deputy Minister. However, "they were not very helpful," according to our family coordinator. They still will not give approximate dates. She went on to write: "...we expect that they will check with Yuri when they potentially have children available which match what your request is regarding your openness to them and then you will be invited. This means that it appears we are back to where we started with the second appointment. The timing however is up in the air." We have to watch our dossier documents and make sure they are updated, which we've already been doing. More waiting. More money.
David is starting to get used to the idea of going a month or so later than we had planned. Being able to have warmer weather while we're there would be nice. But there's still that nagging urgency to get our daughter out of the orphanage and finally home.
Gina
David is starting to get used to the idea of going a month or so later than we had planned. Being able to have warmer weather while we're there would be nice. But there's still that nagging urgency to get our daughter out of the orphanage and finally home.
Gina
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Still waiting
Thanks for praying for Yuri's appointment today. Since it's around midnight in Ukraine as I write this, I'm thinking we won't be getting any news about the meeting today. Hopefully tomorrow. We assume that no news means no significant thing worth reporting happened at the appointment. But who knows?
What's a little frustrating is that even when we get some news, it can change just as quickly as it came. At any time, the new administration will be taking over, and we don't know how they will decide to do things. What we do know is that they can decide and put it into effect at a moment's notice. I had heard you have to be flexible when adopting from Ukraine. That's an understatement. I could be an Olympic gymnast after this journey!
Thankfully God is in charge. And He never changes.
Gina
What's a little frustrating is that even when we get some news, it can change just as quickly as it came. At any time, the new administration will be taking over, and we don't know how they will decide to do things. What we do know is that they can decide and put it into effect at a moment's notice. I had heard you have to be flexible when adopting from Ukraine. That's an understatement. I could be an Olympic gymnast after this journey!
Thankfully God is in charge. And He never changes.
Gina
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Any News?
It's funny b/c we met some people online that are in the same situation we are processing through this stage of the adoption in Ukraine. They are having the same conversations with their friends and family as we are. The dominant question: So, do you have any news? The dominant response: Nope.
Well, here's some news...
We did get word from our family coordinator saying that she spoke with our facilitator (Yuri) in Ukraine and the scoop is that he spoke with a staff psychologist at the state department of adoption (SDA) and the plan is to invite families waiting for a second appointment back when there is a child matching their request (we were hoping for that!). Tomorrow, January 9th, Yuri has a meeting with the Deputy Director of the SDA to share our situation and to get clear answers regarding approximate travel dates based on when children matching our request will be available. This meeting is going down @ 3 p.m. Kiev time (7 a.m. Omaha time...but you can see that thanks to those saavy clocks we loaded on the site!)
Would you please join us in prayer for that meeting tomorrow? Please pray for the following:
Well, here's some news...
We did get word from our family coordinator saying that she spoke with our facilitator (Yuri) in Ukraine and the scoop is that he spoke with a staff psychologist at the state department of adoption (SDA) and the plan is to invite families waiting for a second appointment back when there is a child matching their request (we were hoping for that!). Tomorrow, January 9th, Yuri has a meeting with the Deputy Director of the SDA to share our situation and to get clear answers regarding approximate travel dates based on when children matching our request will be available. This meeting is going down @ 3 p.m. Kiev time (7 a.m. Omaha time...but you can see that thanks to those saavy clocks we loaded on the site!)
Would you please join us in prayer for that meeting tomorrow? Please pray for the following:
- That Yuri would have a productive meeting with the Director and that they would be honest and straightforward giving clear directions on what we can expect upon our return.
- That we would have a much clearer picture regarding travel dates
- That our second appointment would ultimately yield the little girl that matches our request
Tomorrow we're having to start the process of updating forms. We get to start with the medical form! This one was by far the most difficult one to complete the first time around. We have to go get another HIV, syphillis, hepatitis B, and TB test. I'm wondering what our insurance company thinks of all this? What would you think if someone came in to a clinic within one year of previously having these tests for high-risk behaviors? "This is for adoption!" "Yeah...sure!" Hmmmm......
Anyway, would you please spend some time in prayer over the course of the rest of today and tomorrow on our behalf? We'll let you know what we know when they tell us what went down!
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