I have never been one of those people who packs more than a day or two in advance. Until this trip. So much stuff to remember.

Embassy forms. Photo book. Baby carrier. Winter coats. Toys and media for the trip home. Money, lots and lots of money. Ear plugs. Laundry stuff. Camera.

I had a kind of funny day today. Last week, I was not sure how we were going to get to the airport. I researched all of the options, like taking a shuttle or renting a car or how much it would cost to leave our car there while we were away. We decided to ask some friends who we aren’t so good at keeping in touch with, but are totally awesome. Yes, they said they’d take us! YAY! Well, then, today, I got an email from my sister-in-law, who lives about 3 hours away, saying that they’d be in the KC area this weekend and asked if we still needed a ride to the airport. Then, my aunt called less than an hour later to ask if she could help, specifically giving us a ride to the airport!

I have found it so interesting throughout the adoption to think about which people are the ones who help us and how different people have their preferred ways of helping. How some people are constantly looking for a way to help and some people are so eager once you just ask. Some people are very upfront about their efforts and others surprise you.

If you’ve asked for a blog invite, you should have one. I haven’t intentionally ignored anyone, so if you missed you, please ask again. We still have about 30 invites left. I am still blogging here, obviously, but once we leave, I’ll be blogging entirely or almost entirely at the private blog.

We actually leave in 5 days, but in one week exactly, we’ll be sitting at our SDA appointment, assuming they’re on time! WHOA.

We leave in 9 days. EXCITING. And scary. We are just trying to get things taken care of and our house all clean before we go. And making all of those last minute arrangements. Oh, and trying to enjoy the last few days of this life. You know, the way that our lives have been, because it’s about to change dramatically.

We have a new nephew, Leif! Please welcome him to the world. He is super cute and healthy, as is my sister– especially the cute part. This also means that my niece is still the only girl sandwiched by brothers and I imagine she is even more eager now for a girl cousin.

If you have asked me for a private blog invite up until this moment, you should have one in your inbox. If not, please ask again. I have been checking my Spam filter, but it’s possible I’ve overlooked a few.

I got this email from Andrea Roberts, Hero of the Year, yesterday. Yes, I am going to keep calling her that since it is a perfect, well deserved title for her…

Hi all, I am sure many of you are waiting to hear *something* from me about this mess in Ukraine. You have probably been hearing the rumors and comments from blogs, as well as the statement on the US State Dept website. The 2nd hearing of this vote could happen any time between this week and next Spring, we just don’t know. 

What I want to assure you is that RR is doing everything possible, and leveraging every influential relationship we can to at least convince the Ukrainians to make an exception for the adoption of children with special needs. The opportunities RR has had, especially through the Angels in Adoption award, have opened doors for our ministry that we never had before. God clearly knew we would need these “friendships”, because they are truly working hard for us now. 

IF they do indeed put a moratorium in place, we are advocating HARD with Congressional Leaders, the US State Dept, the US Embassy in Kiev, and our facilitation teams on the ground in Ukraine…to make sure the voice of these children is heard, and that the parliament there understands the life-altering gravity of their decision to impose a closure, even for a short period of time. Even under the guise of improving the process or moving towards Hague compliance, this would be nothing short of a human rights violation, to prevent the adoption of those children with special needs. 

I have just submitted a list of (70) families currently in various stages of the adoption process in Ukraine, to the US State Dept, members of Congress, and the Embassy in Kiev. We are very hopeful that this list will be proof to the parliament of how many children (and of course many more) whose lives would be severely impacted, if not LOST, if their adoptions are delayed. 

For those of you who are close with paperwork, PLEASE get those dossiers in right away!!! 

At this time, there is still NO information on when this 2nd hearing is on the docket, and no solid information on the language of the bill or how loudly our “ruckus” on this end is being heard in the Ukrainian government. You can trust that we will keep you updated as soon as we have something of credible value to report. Please continue chugging away on your dossiers and plans to adopt, and do not delay! These children are depending on you. I’m doing my part for them….get through your papers as quickly as humanly possible for their sakes! 

Have you heard the news about adoption in Ukraine? If not, here is the offical release from the US State Department…


Ukraine Adoption Notice

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues

November 3, 2010


The Ukrainian legislature is in the process of voting on a bill that would suspend all intercountry adoptions from countries without bilateral agreements with Ukraine, including adoptions from the United States. The bill passed a first reading and vote, but must still pass a second reading and be signed into law by the president. The second reading could take place in the next few weeks. If the bill passes the second reading, it may be signed into law as early as the end of 2010. The draft bill appears to include suspension of all adoptions in progress.

The Department is will post updates as information becomes available.


Scary stuff. But, everyone has told us to proceed as usual. And I would like to share some sage advice with you…