Hey everyone,
We have decided to wait out the next few weeks until a possible 2nd vote from the Ukrainian parliament may or may not take place. Here is the latest from the US Department of State.
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 will post updates as information becomes available. You can track with the following link. http://adoption.state.gov/news/ukraine.html.
Much love,
Jessica
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Another Step Back
Well, just as we were about to send off our Dossier and fee to our agency today, we found out the Ukranian parliament voted to put a moratorium on international adoptions. Unfortunately, it passed. Thankfully, because of finding out through another blog, we did not submit our paperwork and fee.
Here is what we know - we are recieving conflicting information for how long it may actually take. It may be 6 months or less. With our paperwork being submitted soon, we were guessing our travel date might be
in February. If it takes less than 6 months, we will be cutting it so very close, and spend thousands of dollars with no guarantee.
From our agency -
"As of today Ukraine is not closed; there are a few proposals that were discussed. We are communicating with our coordinator who is checking everything, and will let you know the latest tomorrow."
We definitely need your prayers, guidance, and feedback. This has been the most emotional roller coaster, and all happening within the last month. Please pray for the many orphans, not just in Ukraine, but all over the world, as we approach Orphan Sunday on the 7th.
Tomorrow, once we receive an update, we will take the time to pray and decide how to proceed. I will update as soon as I can.
With a heavy heart,
Jessica
Here is what we know - we are recieving conflicting information for how long it may actually take. It may be 6 months or less. With our paperwork being submitted soon, we were guessing our travel date might be
in February. If it takes less than 6 months, we will be cutting it so very close, and spend thousands of dollars with no guarantee.
From our agency -
"As of today Ukraine is not closed; there are a few proposals that were discussed. We are communicating with our coordinator who is checking everything, and will let you know the latest tomorrow."
We definitely need your prayers, guidance, and feedback. This has been the most emotional roller coaster, and all happening within the last month. Please pray for the many orphans, not just in Ukraine, but all over the world, as we approach Orphan Sunday on the 7th.
Tomorrow, once we receive an update, we will take the time to pray and decide how to proceed. I will update as soon as I can.
With a heavy heart,
Jessica
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
3 Steps Forward
Hi all,
It was 2 weeks ago from yesterday we found out the little girl we thought would be ours, is not. In the process of adoption, you understand the risks involved intellectually, but your heart still gets caught up in the thick of it. Chris and I have grieved differently, as expected, but the encouragement from God, our family, and dear friends helps us. At the Tapestry conference, we met with friends going through similar situations, both in adoption and foster care, and while all of us are hurting in some way, we recognize this is what God has called us to do. And so, we press on.
Chris and I are going to continue to move forward to adopt from Ukraine. Our paperwork is almost complete, and will send what is apostilled to Ukraine within the next week. The last few items needing to be apostilled will hopefully be sent within the next month. Once everything is received and translated, we should have a travel date a couple months out.
I like what Chris said -"Do we fear what could go wrong in adoption or do we continue knowing God is in control and move forward with what's in front of us? We will move forward.
We thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Much love,
Jessica
It was 2 weeks ago from yesterday we found out the little girl we thought would be ours, is not. In the process of adoption, you understand the risks involved intellectually, but your heart still gets caught up in the thick of it. Chris and I have grieved differently, as expected, but the encouragement from God, our family, and dear friends helps us. At the Tapestry conference, we met with friends going through similar situations, both in adoption and foster care, and while all of us are hurting in some way, we recognize this is what God has called us to do. And so, we press on.
Chris and I are going to continue to move forward to adopt from Ukraine. Our paperwork is almost complete, and will send what is apostilled to Ukraine within the next week. The last few items needing to be apostilled will hopefully be sent within the next month. Once everything is received and translated, we should have a travel date a couple months out.
I like what Chris said -"Do we fear what could go wrong in adoption or do we continue knowing God is in control and move forward with what's in front of us? We will move forward.
We thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Much love,
Jessica
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tapestry Conference 2010
Hey everyone,
Tomorrow we will attend the Tapestry Conference at IBC. We went last year, and it was so informative. Great speakers, great sessions, and great resources to take away for adoption and foster care.
My emotions are still up and down, but I believe we need to go. We are signed up for the sessions on parenting an adopted child. After the past couple weeks, this may be hard, so I am asking for your prayers.
I will write about the event soon. In the meantime, check out this link. Even if you are not able to make it, there are great resources available and free downloads from previous years.
Much love,
Jessica
Tomorrow we will attend the Tapestry Conference at IBC. We went last year, and it was so informative. Great speakers, great sessions, and great resources to take away for adoption and foster care.
My emotions are still up and down, but I believe we need to go. We are signed up for the sessions on parenting an adopted child. After the past couple weeks, this may be hard, so I am asking for your prayers.
I will write about the event soon. In the meantime, check out this link. Even if you are not able to make it, there are great resources available and free downloads from previous years.
Much love,
Jessica
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sad News
Chris and I have some sad news to share with you. While I was in Austin on Tuesday getting our paperwork apostilled, I received an email from our adoption agency. They stated the owner of the agency needed to speak with us ASAP. My first thought was "this can't be good." I immediately called Chris and forwarded him the message. Thankfully, I had one of my girlfriends with me along for the ride.
I finished getting the paperwork signed, and received a phone call from the owner of our adoption agency at 1:30. She told us that the little girl we thought would be our daughter is no longer available for adoption. Her father had been in prison, was released, and did not want to waive his parental rights. Our hearts ache over losing the child we thought we were going to bring home, and at the same time we know God has a plan. We just can't see it yet.
We know we will continue to move forward with adoption. We just don't know how that looks right now. We are not sure if we continue with Ukraine, another country, or domestic.
Please continue to pray for this sweet precious girl. We do not know much about the circumstances to which she is going back to, but God knows. We believe her father must be showing some kind of love, as he is fighting to keep her. Pray for her protection, for love to be poured over her, and for someone to share Christ with her and her father.
Please pray for us as we grieve this loss - for wisdom, clarity, and timing to move forward with the adoption process. We will be speaking with our agency this week and asking some hard questions. Pray that through this pain we will glorify God.
Much love,
Jessica
I finished getting the paperwork signed, and received a phone call from the owner of our adoption agency at 1:30. She told us that the little girl we thought would be our daughter is no longer available for adoption. Her father had been in prison, was released, and did not want to waive his parental rights. Our hearts ache over losing the child we thought we were going to bring home, and at the same time we know God has a plan. We just can't see it yet.
We know we will continue to move forward with adoption. We just don't know how that looks right now. We are not sure if we continue with Ukraine, another country, or domestic.
Please continue to pray for this sweet precious girl. We do not know much about the circumstances to which she is going back to, but God knows. We believe her father must be showing some kind of love, as he is fighting to keep her. Pray for her protection, for love to be poured over her, and for someone to share Christ with her and her father.
Please pray for us as we grieve this loss - for wisdom, clarity, and timing to move forward with the adoption process. We will be speaking with our agency this week and asking some hard questions. Pray that through this pain we will glorify God.
Much love,
Jessica
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)