Two days ago I completed another step in the adoption process. As my friends and family, and now strangers who happen to come across this blog, know, I am in the military, and one of the things that military forces do is deploy to places we don't want to go so you don't have to. In the next couple of months the unit I am in is set to deploy, and as far as they knew, I was planning on going right along with them.
As soon as I'd found out about the impending deployment, I made sure to let my chain of command know about my situation. I was instructed to write a memorandum (a letter, for civilians) to my battalion commander informing him of the situation I am in. The adoption process had begun before Lindsey and I found out about the adoption, so I wanted to make sure they knew everything.
Well, as a result — and I don't know this for sure — I will probably be moving to the other battalion in the brigade that just recently returned from a deployment. This has its pluses and minuses, but the important thing is that they are willing to work with me when they could have told me that I would just have to wait until we got back, which would make us lose Banana.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Dossier Kit
Hello everyone!
A little update today. We finally received our dossier kit, an email with 26 attachments of forms that need filled out. Some of these forms even need filled out in duplicate and triplicate. Yikes! Not to mention that there are expiration dates on some of these forms, so the timing has to be right for everything.
However, all this overwhelming paperwork is nothing compared to how great it feels to be one step closer to Anna! Please pray that we fill out the paperwork correctly (that might sound odd, but the wording needs to be exact or it can be sent back from Russia for reworking) and that the timing is just right with everything!
Thank you for all your support!
A little update today. We finally received our dossier kit, an email with 26 attachments of forms that need filled out. Some of these forms even need filled out in duplicate and triplicate. Yikes! Not to mention that there are expiration dates on some of these forms, so the timing has to be right for everything.
However, all this overwhelming paperwork is nothing compared to how great it feels to be one step closer to Anna! Please pray that we fill out the paperwork correctly (that might sound odd, but the wording needs to be exact or it can be sent back from Russia for reworking) and that the timing is just right with everything!
Thank you for all your support!
Monday, March 16, 2009
It's Been A Long While
Well, Lindsey and I have had quite the busy few weeks, both in and out of our adoption process. We've had a few blessings and a few setbacks in the process, but everything looks like it's going to be on track.
First off, Russia released a blacklist, so to speak, of home study agencies which they are no longer accepting applications from. Naturally, due to our luck, the one we were going to go with was of course on this list. We prayed about it some more, thanked God that we hadn't actually made any financial commitments to the agency, made some more calls, and found another agency that Russia will accept. Their fees are about $300 more than the agency we originally were going with, but they are able to get the entire home study completed in 2-4 weeks after receiving our initial payment and application.
Another setback is that I am not receiving the student loan refund check I was originally expecting after all. With everything that was going on in this semester, I had to drop one of my courses, taking me out of eligibility for aid by going below a half-time status. Right now, we're not sure what to do to make up for that money we were expecting, but we're confident God will come through for us. We still have grants we can apply for, and have also had donations sent to us, including some from a most unexpected source.
So, where are we now? We're waiting on a couple of things. The home study packet and the dossier. The requirements for that were recently changed as well, so we've been waiting on our adoption agency to get the required documents to us. I also still have to go get my passport.
Keep praying for us, it's a long road that seems like it will never end.
First off, Russia released a blacklist, so to speak, of home study agencies which they are no longer accepting applications from. Naturally, due to our luck, the one we were going to go with was of course on this list. We prayed about it some more, thanked God that we hadn't actually made any financial commitments to the agency, made some more calls, and found another agency that Russia will accept. Their fees are about $300 more than the agency we originally were going with, but they are able to get the entire home study completed in 2-4 weeks after receiving our initial payment and application.
Another setback is that I am not receiving the student loan refund check I was originally expecting after all. With everything that was going on in this semester, I had to drop one of my courses, taking me out of eligibility for aid by going below a half-time status. Right now, we're not sure what to do to make up for that money we were expecting, but we're confident God will come through for us. We still have grants we can apply for, and have also had donations sent to us, including some from a most unexpected source.
So, where are we now? We're waiting on a couple of things. The home study packet and the dossier. The requirements for that were recently changed as well, so we've been waiting on our adoption agency to get the required documents to us. I also still have to go get my passport.
Keep praying for us, it's a long road that seems like it will never end.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Update on donations
Hello Everyone,
We have just found out an even better way to take donations for our adoption of Anna. Instead of using PayPal, checks can now be sent to A Child's Embrace which is the sister company of our adoption agency. This way donations are tax deductible!
If you are interested in helping us out you can send a check to:
A Child's Embrace
2012 Broadway Street
Vancouver, WA 98663
When you do that just make sure that in the memo line of the check that it says: Anna 81020.
Thanks,
Justin and Lindsey
We have just found out an even better way to take donations for our adoption of Anna. Instead of using PayPal, checks can now be sent to A Child's Embrace which is the sister company of our adoption agency. This way donations are tax deductible!
If you are interested in helping us out you can send a check to:
A Child's Embrace
2012 Broadway Street
Vancouver, WA 98663
When you do that just make sure that in the memo line of the check that it says: Anna 81020.
Thanks,
Justin and Lindsey
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
WHOOO HOOO!
GREAT NEWS! Hello everyone, all I have to say is God really was trying to teach me patience the last few days, which has been KILLING ME! I even told Justin that I'm fine with learning patience once Anna is home with us (and has doctors like she needs, etc.), but that I can't handle it now. Well, amazing news! My refund check from my school has come in and it's enough to cover not only our deposit to the agency, but also almost our entire home study (which we only have to pay half now).
This is such good news because last semester it was much later in the year until I got the check, which was making all of this situation more frustrating as we were just waiting on things to happen (both Justin and my school money and money that was left to Justin from his grandmother).
I am so grateful and so relieved. I already called the lady at the adoption place to let her know, she was excited for us too!
Thank you for your prayers
This is such good news because last semester it was much later in the year until I got the check, which was making all of this situation more frustrating as we were just waiting on things to happen (both Justin and my school money and money that was left to Justin from his grandmother).
I am so grateful and so relieved. I already called the lady at the adoption place to let her know, she was excited for us too!
Thank you for your prayers
Monday, February 16, 2009
Anna Videos
Here are some videos of Anna from the Russian web site we got most of the pictures from. They take a while to load, and are for the most part in Russian. The second video has a section where the American doctor speaks about her in English though. Give it a look.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Some updates
Hello Everyone,
Thank you so much for your support as we've been starting this journey. We are still going forward and trying to figure everything out. The paperwork feels overwhelming at times, and honestly so does the money.
At this point Anna will actually be taken "off hold" for us while we continue to try and get everything together. While this feels like a setback, especially considering how much we already care about this little girl, I am hopeful that what God has planned will come true. I am trying to look at this as positively as possible. If there is another family that already has their home study done, and has the funds necessary to complete the adoption quicker than we could, then Anna will get the medical care that she needs all that much sooner. While it's heartbreaking to think that some other family would get "our Anna," I am trying to keep in mind that God is in control of everything. If she is meant to be in our family, then she will still be available once we are able to do everything we need.
We will still be moving forward with our home study as soon as possible, and we will keep everyone updated as much as we can.
Thank you so much for your support as we've been starting this journey. We are still going forward and trying to figure everything out. The paperwork feels overwhelming at times, and honestly so does the money.
At this point Anna will actually be taken "off hold" for us while we continue to try and get everything together. While this feels like a setback, especially considering how much we already care about this little girl, I am hopeful that what God has planned will come true. I am trying to look at this as positively as possible. If there is another family that already has their home study done, and has the funds necessary to complete the adoption quicker than we could, then Anna will get the medical care that she needs all that much sooner. While it's heartbreaking to think that some other family would get "our Anna," I am trying to keep in mind that God is in control of everything. If she is meant to be in our family, then she will still be available once we are able to do everything we need.
We will still be moving forward with our home study as soon as possible, and we will keep everyone updated as much as we can.
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