update on the adoption front

I guess I should post an update on what is going on with the adoption.

The good news is that the only agency who is accredited in Irkutsk has agreed to help us. This is huge!

We also got a list of things that the Judge has requested changes on...ugh! Sometimes I get so frustrated. Her primary gripe is that she doesn't like our apostille. She said it isn't perfectly square. I asked for our Secretary of State to change it - which they did, but it isn't a perfect square (it is 16cm x 17cm)...I don't know what to do about this. The agency says that they're working with the Russian Embassy to see if there is some kind of verification they can provide. But - that isn't going to be of any help to us - since all of our documents are there. When I hear that there is a problem with the apostille - all I hear is 'you have to redo your dossier again'. All 125+ documents - in triplicate.

I've redone our dossier no less than 7 times. Sometimes it seemed easier than other times. This last time was really hard - I don't know if it was because of my energy level - but it seemed like every document we needed from someone else (i.e. doctors etc.) was wrong - and had to be redone again and again. The thought of having to redo everything again makes me want to hide in a corner and cry.

Please pray that there is some kind of a resolution to this dossier thing. I simply don't see what the big deal is - all of our documents have been accepted (generally speaking) - it's just this one little thing. Furthermore - according to the Hague (the agency who came up with the whole apostille thing), the way our state provides the apostille is fine. UGH!

I am considering getting in touch with the Secretary of State to see if they have any thoughts - which I know they don't - but, can't hurt to ask.

Update on my Mom

I keep forgetting to post an update on my Mom - thanks to so many of you for emailing and asking how she is doing.

The good news is that she is fine. She will be going back to work next week. Honestly - she hasn't really shipped a beat...just waiting for the Dr. to release her to go back to work. You would never know she just had another heart attack!

She is in the process of fighting with the insurance company to get them to pay for Cardiac Rehab. The only place in our area that has CR is at the hospital that happens to be the closest to her house. Well, for some odd reason, the insurance won't cover Cardiac Rahab at that hospital. They want her to drive like an hour away! Insurance makes me so mad! So - please pray that the insurance company becomes logical, and agrees to pay for her Cardiac Rehab.

Earthquake hits Irkutsk

MOSCOW, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia's East Siberia was shocked by an earthquake on Wednesday, causing no damage or casualty, local media reported.

The quake, measuring from five to six points on the 12-point Mercalli intensity scale, occurred at 03:43 local time (2043 GMT Tuesday) in the Irkutsk region, near Lake Baikal, Itar-Tass said.

The epicenter was located under the Lake Baikal, local seismic station said.

cars and toothbrushes

A friend sent me a copy of an email devotion today. I want to pass it along...how many times has this happened to you?

Do you pray in your car? How about in the shower? Or while you are brushing your teeth? These are all moments in my day when I have learned to take advantage of the time I have to pray. This lesson was brought home to me in a whole new way one day as I was out driving around. It was one of those days when I had a long list of errands and many parking lots and highways to navigate. As I drove, I noticed a silver sedan ahead of me, which made me think of a friend of mine who drives one of those kinds of cars and was going through a tough time. As I looked at the car, I felt like God was telling me that my friend really needed my prayers that day. And so I prayed, and made a mental note to call her and check in with her as soon as I got home.

Just a few minutes later, I saw another similar silver sedan, and so I prayed again. Moments later, another one. This continued on throughout the day. By the end of the day, I was just laughing at how God had arranged for me to notice so many of these silver sedans—so many that I couldn’t not pray for my friend all day. I was reminded that day in a powerful way that: 1) God loves each of us enough to bring reminders to others to pray for us, and 2) God wants us to pray for our brothers and sisters. If we are obedient, He will send us reminders to help us lest we forget in all the busyness of our lives. Saying, “Oh, I meant to pray but I forgot” will be a thing of the past if we rely on Him to help us remember. As my silver car example proves, He can provide us with some pretty creative reminders.

I know one woman who knew she needed to pray for her brother who was going through a tough time. So she decided to pray for him every time she brushed her teeth. Even after her brother’s hard time was behind him, she still found herself praying for him while she brushed her teeth, and was grateful that, through this commitment to prayer, she had formed a habit. So, she continued to pray for her brother and still does to this day.

No matter where or when or what God uses to prompt us to pray, we know that it is vital to pray. God uses cars, and toothbrushes and anything else that is needed to help us remember to intercede for those people who desperately need our prayers. As a recipient of some of those prayers through the years, I am grateful for a creative, involved, active, loving God who will use whatever He can to remind us to lift up each other in prayer.

I miss Russia

Odd, huh. Who in their right mind would "miss" Russia? I do. And it is WAY expensive to go there this time of the year. Not to mention the bug factor in Siberia in the summer (seriously bad). But, I'd take it...

Being in Russia means that you're not comfortable. When I am there, I feel really out of sorts - hard to be the 'me' that everyone knows when I am there. But it's OK. It's just a different side of me. Kind of me without the high heels.

But I miss it...and by 'it', I mean Anya.

another thought on being grateful

I was reading a friend's blog this morning, and someone (who is such a great guy) posted a comment that really hit me. He was going through the same feelings this week with his generosity being met with greediness. In summary, he said this:

Last week my melt down was when guests of the inner city food program I help with were complaining that they did not "like" the Panera Bread bread we were giving away with $50 worth of food and personal care items. I am just so thankful that Jesus screamed, cried, took a break and then went back at it. I am just so glad that He is in charge and I am not

!

Well said - and as my husband would say, 'nuff said.

note to self...

Yeast free, gluten free, wheat free, white rice bread tastes like feet.

a tragic set of circumstances

Hello all,

I have a friend who is adopting 2 children from Russia - actually, they are on the same adoption journey in Irkutsk as we are. One of the children they are adopting was diagnosed with HIV. As recently as a few months ago, they received a report that this child was doing very well, and was getting needed medical attention.

Yesterday, my friend and her husband received a call that their little boy's condition had deteriorated. He is in stage 4 HIV, has shingles and who knows what else. All she knows for sure is that he is in a lot of pain, and stuck in an orphanage, in a place that doesn't have adequate medical care to treat him.

As a mother, can you imagine her pain? Her frustration? Her anger?

Please pray for this family - and specifically for this little boy. We are praying that some miracle happens, and that the boy is allowed a medical Visa to come to the United States to receive much needed medical attention. And maybe that this family's case be heard and granted SOON!

Have you ever...

Have you ever had one of those times when you offer someone a discount, and they don't think it's enough of a discount; tell someone you are thankful to be paid for work done, and then feel like you have to fight to actually get the check; offer to pay for something to help a cause, and be told your donation wasn't significant enough; done something nice for someone annomously, and then heard they thought it was a stupid gesture; been in traffic - stuck in the wrong lane, and no-one will let you in; agreed to do a job no one else wanted to do, and then get grief for it; offered to help someone, and be told your help isn't the kind they need.

I am always grateful. Grateful for life, love, work, friends, family. I can't even imagine not being grateful...so those who aren't shock me, and 9 times out of 10 - they ruin my day.

It is so easy to get a bad attitude. I understand that people who are generally miserable can not be made happy by anything I do for them or to help them.

This all got me to thinking about Jesus. And what he must have felt like when he was trying to help people, and they wouldn't take his help. He tried to save people from themselves, only to be laughed at.

So I will continue to do the right thing...be grateful and gracious even to those who I want to smack. I will be careful about who I do business with, and who I hold as a close friend.

I sleep very well at night...I wonder if they do too.

Russian Orphans

I saw this on another blog - but was a good reminder of why Russia...here are some stats:

More than 700,000 orphans are living in 2,000 state-run orphanages. Of those, 95% have a living parent either unable or unwilling to care for them. Sadly, that does not include the estimated 2 million to 4 million homeless orphans living on the streets and in railway stations....

Of those who are nor adopted and leave the orphanage between the ages of 16 and 18:
-50% of the girls become prostitutes
-40% of the children become addicted to drugs or alcohol
-40% commit crimes
-10% commit suicide

As if that were not bad enough...
-Just 1 in 10 former Russian orphans becomes a functional member of society
-132,500 children are abandoned to the state in Russia every year, up from roughly 67,000 in 1992.
-Nearly 4,640 Russian orphans were adopted by Americans in 2005, down from a record 5,865 in 2004. The 2006 and 2007 numbers are lower (because of new regulations)
-13 out of every 100 children adopted by Russians are eventually returned to the orphanage.
-40 million children in the former Soviet Union are living in poverty.

Sources: Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation

Tell Teleflora what you think!

UPDATE: Teleflora did change the website and classification of this kind of Mom. Now, instead of 'non-Mom' it says 'adopting mom'. I will say that I still don't like this - a mom who has adopted a child is every much a MOM as one who birthed a child. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE! A mom is a mom! It is unfortunate that Teleflora had to make a distinction between the 2.

Having said that - I do, however, know there are situations where there is a woman who is a mother figure who isn't really a mom. I have a close friend who has a mother figure in her life (she calls her 'adopted mom')...so, I do see how this can be. Teleflora should call this classification of Mom 'Mother Figure' or "Filling a Moms Shoes".

I was reading one of the chat boards I frequent today, and was SHOCKED to read this!

NBC and Teleflora have this incredible Mother's Day contest going on where an adoptive mom has been labeled a "Non-mom Mom".

http://www.americasfavoritemom.com/mothers-day-2008/static/semiFinalists

Their definition of a "Non-mom Mom"?

"Grandparent, stepmom, or mom to adopted children, each one raising and loving a child. A priceless gift for everybody."

Unbelievably insulting!

Can you believe that?! Saying that an adopted mom is a NON MOM! I am spitting mad! And I plan to tell Teleflora and all of the other sponsors what I think about this insensitive comment. Horrible! What do you think?

Who Are You?

I was reading a friends blog today, and got me to thinking about my World Map. So, I looked at it and realized that there are red dots in places I don't *think* I know anyone! Looks like there are some in London, France, Iran (I'm serious), India (makes sense - hello Jilly!), Mexico City (ish), San Diego...

I am just curious who you are! I might have friends who have moved, and I don't even know it! So, if you are one of these mystery people, drop me a comment so I can say hello!

-Kathy

Mom had a heart attack...

Thursday night as I was driving home from work, I was very excited that I had 4 days off. Well – maybe not ‘off’ but 4 days with no appointments. Time to relax, catch up n laundry – maybe start working on the yard – I thought maybe I might even catch on up some filing! I can’t remember the last time I had 4 whole days with nothing to do.

So, on Friday, did some laundry, and shopped for some gifts, and we ate nachos and popcorn for dinner (I am a gourmet). As I was drifting off to sleep, was thinking about all that I wanted to do on Saturday. Sleeping in was pretty high on the list.

At 3:30am, the phone rang (which can never be good). My first thought was there was a tornado, and my brother was calling to tell us to get in the basement. It was St Joe Regional Hospital. My Mom had another heart attack.

My Mom is in her mid-60’s, and this is her 2nd heart attack. The last one was only about 18 months ago. Heart disease runs in out family, so (imo) this is nothing to take too lightly, or brush off by saying ‘whew, she’s going to be OK’.

Mom is doing well, is still in ICU – but we think she will be moved to a regular room today. Her Dr. said she will need to stay in the hospital for 4-5 days.

inspiring trust

Though one of the blogs I follow, I found this video. It is from a pastor of a church in Nashville. I am trying to fin the words for the video I want to share with you - life changing, eye opening, inspiring. I know people who have had failed adoptions, who have had suffered significant loss, who have seen disappointment with a job or relational situation...if that is you - watch this. Even if you are one of the lucky ones who has never experienced unanswered prayer, or never had a disappointment - watch this.

It is kind of long - but WELL WORTH IT! I suggest letting the entire video load (so, get it going, turn off the sound) - and come back to it so you can watch it without the video feed hiccuping.


Smith Family Story from Matthew Singleton on Vimeo.