Three families from our agency received referrals for children this week. Three... but not me. Unfortunately, none of the referrals came from our region. (Remember, there's that lengthy August vacation for the Voronezh adoption official.) September is right around the corner though. I'm hoping these recent referrals are a sign of good things to come for all of us waiting families.
You know, even though we continue to wait, we have to be so grateful that we are with an agency that received accreditation. From what I understand, there are only about 10-15 agencies (out of over 50) that are reaccredited. The rest are jumping through new hoops set forth by the Russian government.
Ahhh, no one says pregnancy is easy. You do realize, that when all is said and done with our "paper pregnancy", our children will have a gestation period longer than a baby elephant (which is 22 months)! Hmmm, does any of this excuse my recent cravings for Baskin Robbins chocolate milkshakes?
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Mapquest This
Just planning my route from Los Angeles to Voronezh. No adoption news yet, but since I'm so bad with directions (just ask Scott), I thought I'd better get a head start. I'm always befuddled by the whole "Go north, go east..." thing. Just tell me which landmark to turn at. "When you get to the Kremlin, make a sharp right..." That works much better for me.
Also, check out the new link on the side. You can see the 7 day forecast for Voronezh.
Also, check out the new link on the side. You can see the 7 day forecast for Voronezh.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Russia Update
Last week we received this update from our agency. Looks like our region(Voronezh) won't be seeing much movement until September. If you read the update, you'll see that the person in charge of adoptions in our region is on a 4 week vacation. I must admit, at first I read that and thought, "Are you serious!? Who takes a 4 week vacation?!" Uh...well... in case anyone is counting... we teachers are on week 9 of our summer vacation... (Which, by the way, we TOTALLY deserve!:))
Here's the update:
Dear Russia families,
As we begin to see movement within the Russian regions, I would like to address a few questions that I am receiving.
What is happening in Russia now that reaccreditation has occurred?
As usual, the progress made since reaccreditation varies by region. The primary regions we currently work with are Krasnoyarsk, Tula, Nizhniy Novgorod, and Voronezh.
In Krasnoyarsk, all of the required accreditation documents have been submitted, our partner agency is now registered there, and we are working towards being able to submit dossiers to this region.
In Voronezh and Tula, the person in charge of adoptions for these regions is on vacation for the month of August, so we must wait until their return to proceed with registration in these regions. It is typical for Russians to vacation in August, usually for 4 weeks.
In Nizhniy Novgorod, a meeting is scheduled for next week for the accreditation documents to be submitted in order to be registered in this region. Nizhniy Novgorod only accepts a very limited number of dossiers.
How does the referral process work?
America World keeps a running list of the order in which families submit their Dossier to Russia. Several families have been asking what number they are, and where they are on the list. I would like to clarify that as families are registered into the different regions, you will be split up, and the order of the main list will not be as relevant, since the order would then be based on each of the regional lists, and what gender/age range each family has requested. The order in which dossiers are submitted to regions is also affected by document validity.
We do not have control over what type of referrals we receive as that is up to each of the regions and based on the children available. For example, if we receive a referral for a 3 yr old male, and the first several families requested females, Dr. Dubrovsky will match him with the first family to have requested a male within that age range. So in many ways, the order of "the list" is more for our records and not necessarily the order you will receive your referral. Please review your documents to ensure that all documents are updated and ready to be submitted.
When will families start receiving referrals?
We do not know when families will start receiving referrals. We have heard this week that the number of children available for international adoption is lower than previously available. This has been attributed to the policies implemented in Russia providing greater opportunity and incentive for Russian families to adopt children.
I cannot provide information on exactly when your family will be receiving a referral. I will not know when your family will receive a referral until Dr. Dubrovsky calls me to let me know he has a referral for your family.
When we begin to see families accept referrals, we will announce the number of referrals accepted each week in the "Weekly Update" on our website and families may choose to announce the news within the Yahoo Chat group. I will not be able to give information about which families have received referrals and the referral they have received due to confidentiality policies.
As movement in Russia continues, my workload is increasing and I greatly appreciate your patience during this time. We are praying for all of the Russia families as you wait on the Lord's sovereign timing in bringing the child He has for you into your family. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Grace & Peace,
Kate Reen, MSW
Eastern Europe Program Director
6723 Whittier Avenue, Suite 202
McLean, VA 22101
Toll Free: 888-ONE-CHILD ext. 117
Direct Line: (703) 891-3284
Fax: (703) 356-8973
www.spirit-of-adoption.org
(KJV) Romans 8:15 For ye have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father.
Here's the update:
Dear Russia families,
As we begin to see movement within the Russian regions, I would like to address a few questions that I am receiving.
What is happening in Russia now that reaccreditation has occurred?
As usual, the progress made since reaccreditation varies by region. The primary regions we currently work with are Krasnoyarsk, Tula, Nizhniy Novgorod, and Voronezh.
In Krasnoyarsk, all of the required accreditation documents have been submitted, our partner agency is now registered there, and we are working towards being able to submit dossiers to this region.
In Voronezh and Tula, the person in charge of adoptions for these regions is on vacation for the month of August, so we must wait until their return to proceed with registration in these regions. It is typical for Russians to vacation in August, usually for 4 weeks.
In Nizhniy Novgorod, a meeting is scheduled for next week for the accreditation documents to be submitted in order to be registered in this region. Nizhniy Novgorod only accepts a very limited number of dossiers.
How does the referral process work?
America World keeps a running list of the order in which families submit their Dossier to Russia. Several families have been asking what number they are, and where they are on the list. I would like to clarify that as families are registered into the different regions, you will be split up, and the order of the main list will not be as relevant, since the order would then be based on each of the regional lists, and what gender/age range each family has requested. The order in which dossiers are submitted to regions is also affected by document validity.
We do not have control over what type of referrals we receive as that is up to each of the regions and based on the children available. For example, if we receive a referral for a 3 yr old male, and the first several families requested females, Dr. Dubrovsky will match him with the first family to have requested a male within that age range. So in many ways, the order of "the list" is more for our records and not necessarily the order you will receive your referral. Please review your documents to ensure that all documents are updated and ready to be submitted.
When will families start receiving referrals?
We do not know when families will start receiving referrals. We have heard this week that the number of children available for international adoption is lower than previously available. This has been attributed to the policies implemented in Russia providing greater opportunity and incentive for Russian families to adopt children.
I cannot provide information on exactly when your family will be receiving a referral. I will not know when your family will receive a referral until Dr. Dubrovsky calls me to let me know he has a referral for your family.
When we begin to see families accept referrals, we will announce the number of referrals accepted each week in the "Weekly Update" on our website and families may choose to announce the news within the Yahoo Chat group. I will not be able to give information about which families have received referrals and the referral they have received due to confidentiality policies.
As movement in Russia continues, my workload is increasing and I greatly appreciate your patience during this time. We are praying for all of the Russia families as you wait on the Lord's sovereign timing in bringing the child He has for you into your family. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Grace & Peace,
Kate Reen, MSW
Eastern Europe Program Director
6723 Whittier Avenue, Suite 202
McLean, VA 22101
Toll Free: 888-ONE-CHILD ext. 117
Direct Line: (703) 891-3284
Fax: (703) 356-8973
www.spirit-of-adoption.org
(KJV) Romans 8:15 For ye have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Trying out this slideshow
Now that I'm a real life blogger, I keep coming across all sorts of neat gadgets I can add to the blog! You may have noticed the Time in Voronezh Clock, the music that probably scares you everytime you visit, the counter (I think Scott has been visiting 10 times a day, just to run it up), and now I've found this slide show doohicky (official term). Molly will be the guinea dog as I try to make it work.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Standing Still?
Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 1 Samuel 12:16
This verse has been my daily mantra for a while now. As our adoption journey has, well, d r a g g e d on over the past 2 years, there have definitley been moments we've felt sad, sometimes discouraged. Maybe it has seemed like we were standing still, but guess what... turns out you can learn a lot when you're standing still. You can learn trust, faith, perseverence, compassion, to listen, to pray, to always hope.
We have never been without hope... Sometimes it has seemed others may have been without it:
Why not consider another country?
Maybe you'll get pregnant!
How about looking into a U.S. adoption?
But, in our hearts we know that this winding road to Russia is the path we are supposed to be on, for now. You see, when we came to the decision to adopt, it wasn't just our decision. We truly feel that this is God's plan for us... His promise to us.
So if you need us... we'll be standing still for a little while longer. Can't wait to see the great thing the Lord is about to do before our eyes! I'm so glad you'll all get to see it too.
This verse has been my daily mantra for a while now. As our adoption journey has, well, d r a g g e d on over the past 2 years, there have definitley been moments we've felt sad, sometimes discouraged. Maybe it has seemed like we were standing still, but guess what... turns out you can learn a lot when you're standing still. You can learn trust, faith, perseverence, compassion, to listen, to pray, to always hope.
We have never been without hope... Sometimes it has seemed others may have been without it:
Why not consider another country?
Maybe you'll get pregnant!
How about looking into a U.S. adoption?
But, in our hearts we know that this winding road to Russia is the path we are supposed to be on, for now. You see, when we came to the decision to adopt, it wasn't just our decision. We truly feel that this is God's plan for us... His promise to us.
So if you need us... we'll be standing still for a little while longer. Can't wait to see the great thing the Lord is about to do before our eyes! I'm so glad you'll all get to see it too.
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