The Long Way Home International Adoption from Russia: Fall is looking up

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Fall is looking up

September first for so many people out there is the return to school for their children and a return to a "normal" schedule. To me, it's always been the return of tall boots, Taber corn, fall soccer, tea in the cool evenings, amazing fall colors and the countdown to Halloween, my birthday and Christmas... Tonight I am looking forward more than ever to the changing of the leaves and the coming of Santa. It's not time for tall boots yet but I'm dreaming of Khabarovsk in the snow and hopefully meeting my little boy... all I want for Chistmas is YOU! All my documents are signed off on and notarized / apostled and headed for translation. I'm in the works. I know there is one family ahead of me in Khab waiting for a boy up to 2 1/2 and I really hope that things happen for us the way that our agency seems to think it will. Hanging in and hanging on - 11 months today since registration in Perm (which on the upside is 11 months closer than I've ever been to having a son).

2 comments:

julian said...: It should take a week or so to translate, then a week to get your docs out to the region. Then you wait. BUT it should not be very long. My BFF, Missi, who is also following your story, is asking about your coordinator, since we have not worked with her. You will find that if you end up in Khab in maybe, November or December, it will be magical. There are "snow celebrations" in the center square, near court, and there are ice statues, and lots of festivities through the winter. I have been looking at the database, trying to pick out a little boy!!! There are several out there. I had fun researching the hotels. I stayed at the Intourist, some stay at the Paris, some stay at this apartment style hotel called the Mar Kuel. There are others, but those are the main ones for adopting families.
The wheels are moving. Maybe you can press your agency to find out what baby homes they work in. AND if they work in Komsomolsk. Before you go on your first trip, I want to mail you some letters and photos. Who ever works with you might be willing to mail them for me. (I keep in touch with my Anna's main nanny from her orphanage) She also adopted, and loves to hear how her "children" are doing in their American/International homes!
I am sure you have already decided what international doctor you want to send your referral info to. But that is something you may want to go ahead and organize. (I can verify that the info you get will be the truth from the region)For me, I did not take a doctor with me. I knew that based on what the orphanage doctor told me, I could make a decision. It will be a gut decision no matter what. From the Yahoo group, you will see that most did NOT take a doctor to the baby home for an evaluation...Just an opinion!
OK, I have to go to work! I AM GETTING SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!; September 2, 2009 at 5:45 AM
Calico Sky said...: Stacy I just found your blog, I too am a Canadian single who is adopting! I'm looking heavily at Russia, just trying to now decide on an agency and make a final decision (am also looking at Pakistan and Vietnam - although don't think any Canadian agencies are taking new applications for Vietnam at the moment). Can I add you to my blogroll?; September 8, 2009 at 1:51 AM

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Adoption timeline

Started discussing adoption following the accident in 1999
Took IA course and registered for Kaz adoption 2004 - decided to wait
Met with HS agency to discuss programs and process Jan '08
Submission for Kaz approval Feb '08
Changed countries to Russia March '08
IA course March '08
Home Study April / May '08
Signed with Agency May '08
HS approval June '08
Paperchase for Perm dossier registered Oct '08
Update HS July '09
Paperchase for Khabarovsk Aug '09
Registered Khab Oct 1 '09
Referral #1 Nov 9th '09
Declined referral #1 Nov 10th '09
Referral 2nd referral Dec 14th
Accepted referral Dec 16th
Trip one Dec 23, 2009 - Jan 1st 2010
Completed Court dossier Feb 3rd
Dossier submitted to Judge: March 16th
Judge requested more documents - submitted April 14th
Pre trial: May 5th
Court date June 1st 2010
GOTCHA! June 16th
Welcome HOME: Home June 24th 2010

Defining my success... defining who I am...

He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust of pure men, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.

Quotes I like:

"You can't always control what happens to you, but you CAN control how you react to it" Scott Tennant

I may never know the meaning of life, but when my son was adopted, I felt my life had meaning - modified anon. quote

"I can find only three kinds of business in the universe: mine, yours and God's. Much of our stress comes from mentally living out of our business." Byron Katie (good quote for the waiting!)

Natural Child: Any child who is not artificial.

Real Parent: Any parent who is not imaginary.

Your Own Child: Any child who is not someone else's child.

Adopted Child: A natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own.--- Rita Laws, PhD

Said a disappointed visitor, 'Why has my stay here yielded no fruit?''Could it be because you lacked the courage to shake the tree?' said the Master benignly.
Anthony de Mello, SJ

"Sometimes we stare so long at our balloon in the sky we forget that our ice cream is melting on our plate." Anon

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prays for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?" Evan All Mighty

"Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible." Claude Bissel

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of." Jim Rohn

"Love is the answer... now what is the question?"

"Whenever you have an opportunity to laugh, laugh; whenever you have an opportunity to dance, dance; whenever you have an opportunity to sing, sing - and one day you will find you have created your paradise." Osho

"It's the one with a certain and definite dream, who boldly steps into the uncertain and indefinite, who goes the farthest and throws the best after-parties." Thoughts from the Universe

"The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away." David Viscott

"So often life is every bit as good, if not better, than the wonderful make-believe movies we love to watch. It has all the same joy and sorrow, mystery and suspense, adventure and excitement, and love and emotion - except it's real. Live your life as if it were a great movie - complete with the happy ending." Unknown

"Once upon a time, there was a very busy girl. She lived with a tired yet hopeful soul. Then, one day, her soul asked her to stop... and just breathe. And so she did. And the girl and her soul lived happily ever after." Unknown (A lesson I have still yet to learn... but it certainly does sound resonable!)

"To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer." Saadi

"Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one." Nicholas Berdyaev

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." Unknown

"Religion is a guy in church thinking about fishing. Spirituality is a guy out fishing thinking about God." From the book: 'Truth from Fireman Joe'

"We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid,or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder.We always have the choice." Tenzin Gyatso

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems." Mahatma Gandhi

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.I just wish he didn't trust me so much" Mother Teresa

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,regardless of time, place, or circumstance.The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."--- An ancient Chinese belief

If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.--- Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev

If not through the door, then through the window! --- Russian proverb

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life.But here was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first,some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid.Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that this was my life.This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.Happiness Is the way.--- Fr. Alfred D Souza

I asked God, "How much time do I have before I die?"He replied, "Enough to make a difference" Unknown

My heart is so small it's almost invisible. How can You place such big sorrows in it? "Look," He answered, "your eyes are even smaller, yet they behold the world."
Jalal ad-Din Rumi

I didn't give you the gift of life, but in my heart I know the love I feel is deep and real, as if it had been so. For us to have each other is like a dream come true! No, I didn't give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you! - Anon.

The Long Way Home International Adoption from Russia

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Fall is looking up

2 comments:

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