Videos of Ukraine Orphanages

Pryluky Orphanage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFF_IJvmYvk


Orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3sws5Zi4Q8

Two Weeks To Go

This has been a rather trying weekend for our family. This was our last "free" weekend before we leave for Ukraine! We had a rather long list of stores to visit and "stuff" to buy. Jason was supposed to move plants from our house to his mother's basement but the weather didn't cooperate, so he'll have to work that activity into his rather packed schedule. The plan was for Ashton to stay with his PaPa Tudor, however he wouldn't let us out of his sight - he knows something big is about to happen.

I started the day with tears because it hit me that in two weeks, we will be away from Ashton. I know that it is our choice not to take him with us, however we have sincerely prayed about this decision and feel that is the best choice to make...that doesn't mean it's easy. Because of his young age, he may not be allowed into court and there is a chance that the orphanage will not allow him to visit on the premises. If he can't be with us at all times, then who will watch him? I certainly am not leaving my child with a stranger! Our hearts are breaking because we know that it will be awful to be apart. When we arrived at my parents' house on Saturday morning, Jason warned them that I was hormonal - thanks.

Although we will be gone for six weeks, we have to pack very lightly. We can only take enough clothes for 5 days! YIKES!! I had to repeatedly remind my mother and sister of this fact as we shopped this weekend because they have the idea that I need to layer - that means more clothes to pack and no can do.

For those of you who know me well, I'm a list person and everything must be organized. I'm doing my best not to forget something but I just have this sinking fear that I will! Have you ever tried to buy diapers and pull-ups for a child you don't know?! I struggled with what to buy and did the best I could. We were told that our child may be potty trained but will need pull-ups for the ride home. The problem is, pull-ups cannot be bought in Ukraine, so we have to guess at sizes - so very frustrating but fun at the same time.

On Sunday, the tears started again at the end of Sunday School and wouldn't stop until the close of the service. It was like someone turned on the water, and I couldn't turn it back off. Bro. Ken was preaching about fears and phobias - certainly nothing to cry about. There were visitors behind me, so they probably thought that I had lost my mind. I literally could not stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks...it was awful. My maternal hormones are out-the-roof right now!

When we were in small groups in Sunday School, Jason made the comment that we are at peace with the adoption but we're wrecks about leaving Ashton. I hadn't quite thought about it like that before but he's right. For the first time, I stopped long enough to realize that I do have peace that God has our child picked-out. We're not even worried about the flight overseas. Looking back, God's hand is evident throughout the journey. Don't we serve an awesome God!

First Toys for Our New Child

Today during my lunch break, I went to Big Lots and just poked around. I purchased a few toys for our new child! Because we do not know the specific age or even gender for the child that God has selected to join our family, we have not been able to buy very much at all for the child. We can't even buy diapers because the child may already be potty trained - children in orphanages are often trained very early due to the limited resources to buy diapers. Not being able to prepare for the child's arrival home is difficult. I actually feel rather guilty because when I was pregnant with Ashton, I shopped constantly for clothes, nursery decorations, and toys. This little child hardly has anything original because we don't know what to buy!

About two weeks ago, I had a phone conference with America World's Eastern European director, Kate, and she said that we needed to purchase toys for our child. She said that the toys in the orphanage are very boring and basic. The children generally love toys that move and make sounds. The biggest problem is trying to determine what toys to buy and where to pack them.

What did I buy? First, I found an Elmo doll with a small blankie sewn to Elmo's hand. I thought that he or she might find Elmo comforting to sleep or snuggle with. Next, I bought a round, bouncy cow that shakes and makes all sorts of noise. The last toy was a dog riding in a car that plays music and rolls across the floor. Between the dog and cow, I was about to go crazy on the drive home because every bump I hit activated the toys. No doubt about it, if the child loves toys that move and make sounds, he or she will love the cow and dog!

Toilet Facilities in Ukraine

While trying to figure-out what to pack, I received a lot of interesting advice from parents who have traveled before us. After looking at some of the pictures, I am a little concerned about some of the amenities (i.e. restrooms) that we take for granted here in the U.S. Here are some of the photos of the restrooms that we will most likely encounter while on our trip. Does anyone own stock in Germ-X, if not, now is the time to buy it because you will make a fortune off of us!

One Month to the Appointment Date

One month from today, we will have paid our first (and hopefully only) visit to the SDA. November 14th is our appointment date with the SDA at which time we will be shown the profiles of a few children who meet our adoption critieria (age 14 mos - 3 years; with minor correctible health condition). I was sitting in church tonight and the thought ran through my mind that in one month, we will be in an apartment or flat preparing to meet our newly selected child within the next day or so.

I am so nervous about the SDA meeting because there is no guarantee that a relatively healthy child will be available. I am trying so hard not to worry but to leave it in God's hands - I'm failing miserably at that right now. Please pray specifically that on Nov. 14th, God will have our child's profile in the selection that we are presented on that day and that we will know without a doubt which child to visit. Also, please pray for peace for us, especially me (Erica) because Jason seems to be completely at ease while my stomach is tied-up in knots. I look at Ashton and my heart breaks because I can't stand the thought of leaving him for such a long period of time. I know that we've made the right decision to leave him with family, but that doesn't mean we won't miss him dearly!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Ashton's 3rd Birthday

Today, Ashton is turning 3! I can't believe how quickly these last few years have flown. I remember his very first birthday when we woke him up and placed a Nemo fish hat on his head - Nemo was his favorite character at the time, so of course that was the theme of his party. He was so little and hardly had any hair that amounted to more than peach fuzz!

Currently, Ashton is fixated by Spiderman. We have transformed the garage into Spidey headquarters. I stayed up very late into the night working on his cake because I want it to be just right for "The Man" as Ashton refers to himself. His party was a success and all everyone had loads of fun! We ended the evening with supper at Demos - Ashton's 2nd favorite restaurant (Cracker Barrell is his 1st choice).

On Friday, Nanny Shields and I joined Ashton's class at Southeast Baptist Daycare to celebrate his birthday with cupcakes and ice cream. The children were adorable with chocolate all over their little faces. Ashton was so proud to have his Nanny Shields at his party - I'm sure it was an event that meant a lot to her as well.

We had a wonderful birthday weekend!

Any names yet?

Okay, the question that is asked daily, "What names do you have picked out?"

For those of you who weren't around us when I was pregnant with Ashton, Jason and I have a terrible time agreeing on names. It took nine months to come-up with Ashton Cade! Things haven't changed much in three years. We still can't agree about names. Jason likes the name Julianna. This past summer, he went on a mission trip to the Lakota Indian Reservation in South Dakota and one of the little girls there was named Julianna. Whereas Jason drove the van to pick-up the children for VBS, he had written down her name in his book so that he wouldn't forget to pick her up in the mornings. I like the name, however I don't want people to shorten it to Julie.

I like the names Maura and Tetianna. Jason says that both names are "nice" but he still prefers Julianna. He has actually been pretty sneaky because he has taught Ashton to say that his sister's name is Julianna - not too fair, if you ask me! One thing about it, Ashton is quick to correct you if you say that his sister's name is anything but Julianna, so maybe his defense of her name will keep people from shortening it.

We have 3 name books that we are taking with us!

Cedar Wood Pumpkin Patch

For the last two years, we have taken Ashton to the Cedar Grove Pumpkin Patch in McMinnville, TN. Jason's parents and his sisters attend with their children. It is so much fun because we take a hayride to a field full of pumpkins and each person chooses the "perfect" pumpkin to take home. There are two fenced-in areas containing animals such as a cow, goats, sheep, donkey, chickens, a turkey, etc. that the children can pet and interact with. There are old fire trucks and an old Army truck that the children can play on.

Ashton especially enjoys the fire trucks. Tears came to my eyes when he told me that next year, he would drive the fire truck and his sissy would sit beside him. I just keep trying to imagine what Ashton will say when he meets his new sibling for the first time. Will he embrace her? Will he act shy? One thing is for sure, he will love her as much as a toddler knows how.

Yard Sale to Benefit Adoption

We had another yard sale this morning. We didn't advertise this time because the newspaper fee would be over $50.00! We posted signs at the main roads, and they worked! At times, we were flooded with shoppers. It is so weird what sells first. The items I couldn't imagine someone would want were the first things to go! I was ready to close shop by 8:30 a.m. because the sun was starting to get very hot. We made close to $200.00, so it was a productive morning!

We had a rather unusual shopper - a ferrett! I looked down just in time to see the little hairy creature scoot right beside my foot. At first, I thought it was a o'possum but then realized it was a ferrett. Ashton was fascinated by it, however he became alarmed when it tried to get into Granny's house. One of the customers took it home with her until we find-out who it belongs to.

I must tell you about one customer in particular. She had scripture references and Christian logos all over her vehicle. She had noticed our yard sale signs that stated that proceeds benefited adoption. She stated that God had blessed her with two grandchildren from Russia, so she personally knew how expensive it is to adopt internationally and not to worry because God would be sure we had enough money. Now, I didn't even mention the cost or whether or not we already had enough money. She went on and on about how much she loves God and how He always provides for her. This may be wrong, but I decided to see how much of a Christian she really is. I gave her too much change. I know that she realized the error because of the look on her face when I purposely counted the money back to her. As she turned and walked back to her car, she said, "God bless your new family." What a hypocrite!

I beg of you, please remember that people are always watching you. From my experience, those who constantly have to advertise that they are a Christian do so because their life doesn't reflect it. If this lady isn't going to behave as a Christian, then I certainly wish she would remove the license plate advertising her church and all the scripture verses and logos. It is certainly difficult to live a Christian life, but people like her do not make things any easier by casting a bad light on Christians in general!

Scabies and Lice Meds

I spoke with Dr. Eastham today and informed him that we have received a travel date. He is an absolutely wonderful pediatrician! I feel very confident that he will work diligently with both us and Vanderbilt International Adoption Clinic to provide the best care possible for our new little one. I am concerned about our new child having lice and/or scabies. I have read several reports from families who have traveled this summer that stated that the children in the orphanages were practically all suffering from lice and scabies. Dr. Eastham helped to alleviate some of my concerns by educating me as to treatment methods. I am SO relieved to have such a wonderful doctor. He has absolutely no problem working with Vandy and spoke very highly of the clinic - once again, God has met our needs with wonderful medical professionals to assist us!

The Big Brother-To-Be

This is Ashton, our biological son. He will be three years old on October 13, 2007. He is just starting to understand that God places the baby in its Mommy's belly, so we're trying to explain the concept of adoption as much as possible. He now states that his sissy lives across the "big pool" (ocean) but that he has a baby in his belly! He is excited about being a big brother, however he is a little anxious about Mommy and Daddy being away in Ukraine for such a long period of time. He's going to be great with our new child. As much as Ashton chatters, our new child is bound to learn English in record time!

Slide Show of Ashton

Ashton's Bombshell

On our way home from church tonight, Ashton said something that really broke my heart. He stated, "Mommy love Sissy more." I could have cried - actually, I did. We have been very open with Ashton about the adoption process and how he is going to have a new sibling. He typically does pretty well and can even point to Ukraine on the map. I never expected Ashton to make a statement of that nature. We love him so much and always dote on him. I just can't imagine how horrible it is going to be to be separated from him for such a long period of time. When he gets ready to go to bed at night, he says that he needs his Mommy and he needs his Daddy - what's he going to think when we are gone? I only wish he could comprehend how much he is truly loved!

Vanderbilt International Adoption Clinic

This morning, we attended a seminar hosted by the Vanderbilt International Adoption Clinic. The speakers consisted of a pediatrician, therapist, and psychologist - all of whom were very informative. They will work in conjunction with our pediatrician, Dr. Eastham, to diagnose and effectively treat our new child for any ailments. Our child will have a cursory exam in Ukraine when applying for a Visa, however more in-depth testing is recommended. In order for a child to be eligible for international adoption, a medical condition must be diagnosed, therefore many children receive very creative diagnoses but are actually relatively healthy by our standards. We want our child to receive the best possible diagnosis and treatment options available, therefore we do anticipate utilizying the clinic's services.

One interesting tidbit of information that we received is that our new child will more than likely not respond to falls or injuries like Ashton does. For example, if the child falls, he or she may jump-up and state that he is okay when in reality what he really needs is TLC. Children raised in orphanages have learned to self-soothe and rely mostly on themselves because caregivers do not have time to give them the TLC that they crave. When Ashton takes a minor fall, we tell him that he's okay and he's a big boy - he doesn't think anything about it. Our new child will need to be paid attention to because he or she has never had that type of attention. This will be one way in which we hope to bond with our child. Think about it, this child is leaving the only life that he or she knows and is entering a whole new world of strangers - he or she doesn't know who to trust, much less love.

http://www.vanderbiltinternationaladoption.com/

Airline Reservations

Until now, it has seemed as if we were living a dream and still in the paperchase process. We have just reserved our airline tickets with Delta. We used the services of Kathy Henry with All Direct Travel to obtain the best rates - she's been wonderful! Well, we will be flying out of Nashville, into New York, and then on to Kiev on November 10th!

Follow-up Letter to Family

Today, we mailed follow-up letters to our immediate family and then separate letters to our extended family and friends who have been so supportive of the adoption. I'm posting the follow-up letter (which was very similar to that received by extended family and friends) because several people online have asked to read it. After joining a couple of online Ukrainian adoption groups, I began to realize that a lot of people have experienced difficulty in explaining why they chose international over domestic adoption and in handling derogatory remarks about their choice to adopt. I think our social worker had a great idea when she suggested the letters because they have served as a way for people to better understand the decision and process without feeling too nosy and even more so, they have helped to eliminate derogatory remarks because people understand why we chose to adopt. Hopefully, these letters can help other families in their adoption journey.

FAMILY LETTER #2:

This letter delivers very exciting news – our adoption application has been approved by Ukraine officials! We are scheduled to leave for Ukraine on November 10th! So far, the adoption process has transpired very smoothly – of course, we all prayed that God’s hand wouldn’t lift from our paperwork. The Eastern European director at America World (our agency) stated that she has never seen anything like it – our homestudy was completed in record time, U.S. officials have processed our paperwork with unheard of fast timing; and our application was submitted to Ukraine in less than one month (Ukraine only accepts a maximum of 8 American applications each Monday)! The director stated that when God works in our lives, He moves mountains. Prayers work!

Once we arrive in Ukraine, we will have an appointment with Ukraine adoption officials. During that appointment, we will be shown a selection of approximately two to six photographs and biographies. We must “pick” our child from those photographs. Oftentimes, the photos are at least a year old and do not accurately reflect the appearance of the child today. The medical and background information will be very sketchy and not all that reliable. As such, we will be hiring a physician who specializes in international adoptions to assist us in determining the correct medical condition of the child we select to visit. If after visiting with the child, we do not think that he or she is an appropriate match or that the medical conditions are severe, we will have another opportunity to visit with another child.

We can only imagine what you are thinking – how are we going to “pick” a child? We keep asking ourselves that very question! That’s where you come in. Please begin praying now that on the day of our appointment (November 14th), God will lead us to the child that He has created for us. We will have only minutes – literally – to decide upon a child. There will be very little time for discussion back and forth, so we are completely relying on God’s guidance in that when we see the picture and hear the bio, we will know without a doubt which child to choose. We know that God’s presence is very real in this adoption – He will lead us if allowed to do so.

The other thing that we ask is that you also begin praying for the length of our stay. The average in-country stay is four to six weeks, however Ukraine has now mandated a new type of passport. Like the U.S. government, Ukraine was not prepared for the backlog that the new regulations created. Unfortunately, some families have been forced to stay an additional six weeks in order to receive the correct documentation so that their newly adopted child can leave the country. Nissan will allow Jason time to travel overseas, however he may have to return to the U.S. earlier than Erica does in order to return to work. We are not stressing about this right now because we know that God’s hand is in this adoption and that He will provide - He has shown that to us time and time again! Please join us in praying in that between now and November, Ukraine will get caught-up with issuing passports so that we can get back to the States in record time!

We are so very excited about the calling that God has placed on our family – don’t forget that the calling also extends to you. We can’t wait to introduce our newest child to everyone. We’re also wondering how Ashton is going to react to a new little brother or sister! By the way, instead of Ashton having to pack-up and move to his grandparent’s house during our journey abroad, he is going to be able to continue living at our house (with a caretaker, of course) while we are away – another prayer answered!

Another little tidbit of news is that I (Erica) am no longer inflicted with heart disease! After undergoing further testing in July, it was determined that my heart is now functioning well within normal limits and is no longer enlarged. My cardiologist literally cried when he gave me the report. He said that whereas I have been on medication for less than one year, there is no medical explanation for my hasty recovery, therefore the recovery can only be attributed to the work of God. He said that he just couldn’t understand why God would allow me to undergo such a serious ailment only to heal my body a year later – I told him that I knew why. There is a child across the world who needs a home, and that had I not undergone this illness, we would not have begun the adoption journey at this point in our lives. The phone line was quiet after this comment, and then the comment was made by my cardiologist – “To God be the glory!” We would “Amen” that comment!

Thank you for all your support, encouragement, and prayers during the last several months and in the months to come. It is so encouraging to know that we are not undergoing this amazing, and yet scary, experience alone!

Dossier Submitted - Another Prayer Answered

We received the call from America World that our facilitator, Yuri, was able to submit our dossier today. Each Monday, approximately 8 American dossiers (adoption applications) are accepted by the SDA (Ukraine adoption agency). There is a waiting list for submissions, so we are really blessed that our paperwork has been submitted. Ukraine has approximately 20 days to review our file and extend an invitation to travel. Right now, we are being told to expect approx. 30 - 45 days before we hear any news because the SDA is backlogged with dossiers. We're praying and God's moving mountains.

Yard Sale to Benefit Adoption

We had a yard sale at the Tudor house this morning. We raised over $300.00 to help with the adoption costs. I am going to the Secretary of State this week to apostille (certify) our dossier, so the amount raised will be more than enough to pay for the service. People were very gracious and many gave extra because of the adoption. We had a blast! It was well worth staying-up practically all night on Friday just trying to get everything priced. Ashton was quite the greeter and made sure that he thanked everyone for helping to bring his new little sibling home. Once again, God is good!

I-171H Received

We received the form today that allows our child to be officially considered an American citzen as soon as the airplane wheels touch the ground! We are so excited. This is the document that we were concerned was not going to arrive in a timely manner. We have prayed and prayed that our application (I-600A) would processed in record time - prayers work! Our agency was astounded that we received the documentation in less than one month. I'm so excited that tears are streaming down my face! Jason opened the envelope while I was at my parents' house, so he didn't have a clue what it was. I had to leave immediately just to make sure this was real!

Letter to Our Family

Adoption is far reaching and impacts not only our lives but that of our family and friends as well. After we determined that adoption was the path that God had planned for our lives, we excitedly shared the news with family and friends. We quickly realized that not everyone was excited about this decision as we were. Needless to say, this was heartbreaking and very frustrating. Society takes for granted that babies are conceived and born everyday, when that's not reality for everyone. Sometimes God's plan is not for a child to grow in a mother's tummy but instead in her heart. I think the most frustrating conversations that we experienced were those in which we were told that we should adopt from America because we need to take of Americans. Where would be today if Christ had come to Earth only to heal and save the Jews?

Adoption is a very personal choice that should be supported, but reality is that many people cannot or will not support something that they don't understand. For us, adoption is not "Plan B" because this is the route that God knew we would travel before we were even born, much less married. Our social worker suggested that we should write a letter to help prepare people and enable them to better understand our decision. In reality, the rather probing questions and remarks weren't so much from family as from others, because we don't see our family all that often due to living in various states. I certainly didn't want to walk-in at Christmas and people wonder who the new child was! The following is a copy of the letter that we sent to our relatives. It was very well received and they are all very supportive.

Dear Family Member,

I’m writing to let you know of a very special event in our family – Jason and I are in the midst of adopting a child from Ukraine. As we scurry around to complete paperwork, meet with our social worker, and deal with international bureaucracy, we are reminded that God has set us out on this journey and will be with us to enjoy the end result – a child to cradle in our arms and love forever. However, this journey is not just ours, it is yours as well. Although you will not physically travel across the world with us, you will definitely be in our hearts and on our minds. Throughout this process, we have come to realize just how special you are to us and to our children. Miles may keep us apart but our hearts are quilted together by the hand of God, for He chose that we should share the same bloodline but even more, share our love and lives – that’s what makes us family.

Preparing for this adoption extends to your home as well as to ours. It is important for us to know that you too will embrace this child, who although will not share our physical traits or the blood that runs through our veins but will share our in our lives and most importantly, our love and commitment to each other. Some of you may be asking, “Why adopt?” or “Why adopt internationally?” The answers are simple, because God has placed a very special calling on our life to do so. There is no rhyme or reason as to why Ukraine except that God has opened door after door and continuously tugged at our heartstrings. It is our hope that after learning more of our story, you too will feel a tugging at your heartstrings that cannot be denied and long for the day when you too can embrace the newest member of our family.

Now, we have something to ask of you…we need your prayers. Dealing with a foreign government can be very difficult – especially emotionally. Laws change constantly, so nothing is ever for certain. Due to black market baby scandals, Ukraine’s international adoption program has just reopened this year. The adoption process has been completely revised and is still being “tweaked” as the days pass. We are waiting on our passports and a specific form that allows our child to become a U.S. citizen once he or she touches U.S. soil. We are asking that you covenant with us to pray that the both the U.S. and Ukraine governments cooperate and are speedy in completing their portion of the paperwork.

We are also requesting that you pray for each and every individual who has played or will play a part in the adoption process. At this time, we are finalizing our paperwork and preparing to send it to Ukraine for translation and review. If our application is approved (a huge prayer request), we will then receive an invitation to travel. The duration of our stay in Ukraine will be approximately four to six weeks. During that time, we will literally “pick” our child from a selection of photographs of children who match our prerequisites. We are requesting a healthy little girl (but will accept a little boy) who is between the age of 14 months and 24 months. Ashton turned two in October of 2006, so we want to maintain the birth order of our children. Under Ukrainian law, the adoption of a child under 14 months is not allowed unless the parents are Ukrainian citizens.

The most important prayer request of all is for our child. Please pray that when our appointment day arrives, we will be shown the child that God has picked for us and that Jason and I will both know who this little person is without a doubt. Once we select a child, we will then be transported to her orphanage to visit with her. After visiting with her, if we decide that she is indeed the child for us, then a court date is scheduled. If you are wondering what we will do if we don’t like the child for some reason, we do have the option of visiting with another child and adopting her.

There are two very discouraging aspects of this process – being away from Ashton and knowing that in all likelihood, our little girl (or boy) is across the world without a Mommy or Daddy. My arms literally ache for this child. When a child is conceived within you, the love you have for that child grows with you. When a child is adopted, the love grows within the heart and is faceless but ever so strong. Please pray that each night, God will descend from heaven and rock our precious child to sleep. This may seem odd to you, but I pray daily that God will allow our little girl to see our faces each night so that she will know that we are coming as fast as we can and that we love her. This little poem says it all:

I hope you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that’s how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are…what’s taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin…
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I’m doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you’ll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

-------- Author Unknown

Some children think babies come from storks, but for Ashton, his little brother or sister will arrive from an airplane! For those of you who don’t know, Ashton is fixated by airplanes and begs his PaPa to take him to the airport whenever possible. How fitting for an airplane to bring his little sibling across the world to share in all of our lives.

I know I’ve taken-up a lot of your time, however it is important to us that you are aware of the expansion of our family and that you play a very valuable role in helping us to pray for a blessed adoption with the way made smooth. We ask that you share our requests with your other family members so that they too can pray and share in this experience. Hopefully, we will travel before the end of this year!

We are very open about this journey and would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have or just share more about how we arrived at our decision to adopt. Please note that although we are not expanding our family by traditional methods, adoption is by no means “Plan B” for us. Before we ever got married, Jason and I discussed adoption and how we wanted to have at least one of our own and adopt…you see, God always prepares us for what is ahead even when we don’t realize it. My heart condition isn’t an ailment that is restricting my life but a twist in the road that brings us to our appointed path in life. Thank you for listening to our story and sharing in our journey.

TBI Criminal History Report

Today we faxed our request for a criminal history report to TBI. I was so impressed by their services. I received a phone call verifying exactly what we needed within two hours of faxing! Believe it or not, the government is quick in completing some tasks!

AWAA Approved Our Initial Application

We received both a phone call and e-mail today stating that America World has approved our initial application. We truly feel that this is the agency that God has appointed to assist us in this adoption journey. They have worked diligently in assisting us with the transition from China to Ukraine, therefore we feel confident that we will enjoy working with them. Now, we are waiting for our dossier and home study checklist. Let the paper pregnancy begin!

http://www.awaa.org

Changing Country from China to Ukraine

Well, we've had to switch gears and start looking at other countries besides China. Effective May 2007, new adoption regulations will go into effect in China that may prohibit us from adopting from there. My heart condition may very well become a stumbling block to a successful adoption, therefore AWAA recommends that we choose another country. Our options are Russia, Ethiopia, and Ukraine. We were told that out of the three options, Ukraine would be the most predictable because Ethiopia is a relatively new program and Russia is currently experiencing great turmoil within the adoption world. Ukraine's adoption program has just reopened this month and has been re-vamped over the last several months. We have decided upon Ukraine. Of course, the program is a lot more costly than China, however we are trusting God to provide. It is amazing how His presence has been so strong throughout this process. We are submitting our modified intent to adopt letter to AWAA today. It's time to buckle-up and get ready for the roller coaster ride!

Mailing Preliminary Application to AWAA

Today, we submitted our preliminary application to AWAA. This is the first bit of paperwork that we have had to complete. An intake coordinator with America World will review our paperwork and determine what country we are eligible to adoption from. Our jobs, financial status, religious background, and health conditions will all be considered in making a decision whether or not AWAA will agree to serve as our agency. We are excited and scared at the same time. We've shared several family prayers over the paperwork, and it's all in God's hands!

Attending the Adoption Seminar

We attended the adoption seminar this morning. It was wonderful! I (Erica) actually cried throughout the majority of the program. Families from China, Ukraine, Russia, and Ethiopia gave their testimonies about how God led each of them to their child. A social worker spoke about what to expect in completing the homestudy and how to prepare for the overwhelming paper pregnancy. Paper pregnancy is the term used that refers to the period of time in which you are collecting documents for the dossier (adoption application) and waiting for a referral or travel date. I can't wait to be enter the paper pregnancy phase - hopefully it won't include extreme nauseau like I experienced while pregnant with Ashton! We are really excited but are still praying that God will ead us to the right agency and country.

On the way home, we ate lunch at Chick-fil-a and found ourselves parked beside a vehicle with an adoption magnet and then sitting beside a Caucasian family with a Chinese little boy. Is God trying to tell us something or what?

America World Adoption Seminar

We have just registered online for an adoption seminar conducted by America World and to be held at Fellowship Baptist Church in Bentwood, Tennessee. This is a huge step for us, however after a lot of research on agencies and countries, we really feel led to find out more information about America World. Included in the initial package from AWAA was a DVD - we have watched it repeatedly. We're not sure how we are going to finance the adoption, however we are confident that if this is God's will then He will provide all of our needs.