After a lot of thought, we decided it was time to move our blog to a new site where we could password protect some of our posts. We aren't exactly sure who logs on to read our blog every day and with Ella getting closer to home, we decided it was time for a little more security.... if you would like the password to continue reading, please send me an email at stollmyheart @ gmail . com. We hope you continue to read and follow our journey.
January 4th - exactly 4 months ago today, we saw Miss Ella's face for the first time. It's a moment I will never forget. When we opened the email and saw her face, our lives were forever changed. As hard as this wait is, we know in our hearts that she's coming soon!
We spent much of my day today preparing for the little miss. We went and bought the carseat, pack-n-play, baby food, biodegradable diapers (yay) and ... BOTTLES (yes, I finally made a decision on the bottles). Now, I'm going into her room to find a place for it all :)
Here is to a hopeful and happy week. I have a few very close friends who are at the top of the waiting list eagerly awaiting referrals...the wait is hard and it's even harder knowing there is so much uncertainty surrounding the world of adoptions right now. For you girls (you know who you are...), please know we are saying our prayers and that you are ALWAYS in our thoughts! Keep hoping for the best!
well, today is day 20 of our official I600 wait. I know that it's techincally not really day 20 because the US Embassy staff have taken a few days off for Vietnamese holidays, but I'm still counting....
(again, hoping these showers bring us a may baby)!
Ed's mom and sisters threw me an amazing baby shower this weekend (yes, that makes 4...we're so blessed and very well stocked!). It was perfect. Great company, great food. Of course, it was centered around our adoption and the very lovely Ella, it was also at the same time, a welcome distraction from the crazy and sad world of adoptions right now. A few pictures of the day!
[This next gift below, was a big shock. It was from Ed's aunt Sue. As you may know, our Ella is named after Ed's great grandma Ella. I've spent many nights with Ed's family hearing about her life and the old farm where she lived and raised and raised Ed's grandpa Art. I've also had the opportunity to see the old farm house, which is just amazing. You can literally see so much beauty and history there. Ed's aunt scanned and printed pictures of great grandma Ella, the farm house, and Ed's grandpa and grandma and put them into a great antique pink frame for us and for our Ella. She also passed along a beautiful handkerchief that was Ella's. It says Ella at the top and then 1917 State Fair at the bottom. Totally brought me to tears (but don't worry...I didn't stain use it to mop up my mascara mess!). Great Grandma Ella is in the lower right corner with the dog. Ed's grandma and grandpa are on the left side of the handkerchief and the farm house is the big white house...]
We are so blessed...I can't say it enough. The kindness, generosity, support and encouragement are endless and for that we will be forever grateful!
It's been a long time coming and there has been endless speculation about the future of the Vietnam adoption program. The official statements have been posted and the verdict is in. The Vietnam adoption program will be closing it's doors to the Unites States on September 1st. While it remains possible that a new agreement between the governments can be established, it will likely take a good amount of time to see it come to fruition. Here is an excerpt of the statement made today by the US Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.
"On April 25, the Government of Vietnam announced that it will allow adoption to be completed in cases where prospective adoptive parents have been matched with a child and received an official referral prior to September 1, 2008. It further stated that in accordance with Vietnamese law, the DIA (Dept. of International Adoptions) will suspend the acceptance of new dossiers on July 1, 2008. On September 1, 2008 any dossier that has not received a referral will be closed and returned to the Adoption Service Provider. In view of the processing time required in Vietnam from placement to the Giving and Receiving Ceremony, an adoption process begun now cannot be completed before the current Agreement expires."
Click here for the entire statement.
Although we haven't completed our adoption yet and "shouldn't" have any problems doing so, we feel very fortunate to have been a part of the rather turbulent Vietnam adoption program.
I have thought a lot about the "triangle" of adoption that is referenced often in the adoption world. The triangle signifies the birth parents, child, and adoptive parents. I can't help but wonder if a star shape would be more appropriate.... to include the local and foreign governments (or the agency for that matter). While I understand the complete necessity and obligation to regulate adoption cases so that corruption and illegal measures are not being taken, the governments have also been successful in instilling an incredible amount of fear and panic into the lives of thousands of innocent adopting parents.
Adoption is a beautiful experience and something we will do again without second thought, but I can't say that so much of the joy hasn't been lost. I am sad that Ella's first sibling will not be from her birth country. My heart breaks for the families who will not be able to complete their adoptions, but more so, for the children who won't have the opportunity to meet these incredible families. It's really a tragic situation. Please keep them in your prayers.
FINGERPRINTS ARE UPDATED!
nope. no approval. but, another family from our agency DID get their approval and her son is at the same orphanage as Ella, so things are definitely moving (they waited about 30-35 days)!!
How big is your ecological footprint?
CLICK HERE to find out (well worth the few minutes)!
Happy Earth Day!
[photo: a recent solar array that ed (and co-workers) installed on top of a local university building]
the green minute is back :)
until next time...think green!
Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it. (Albert Smith)
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and support while I get over this slump! I feel so much better knowing I'm not alone while having this bizarre out of body feeling! The comments (and stories...) have meant so much to me! I have to share how my Friday continued...I came home, still feeling weepy and emotional and Ed came into the house to chat with me. Tears started flowing again...
me: "we need to go out for a drink" (as I'm crying - and fyi...I very rarely drink if you're now concerned!)
ed: "oh my god, are you okay?"
me "yeah" (but in the whimpering/crying voice)
ed: "did something happen?"
me: "no" (again, in "the" voice)
ed: "then what's wrong?" (now utterly confused)
me: "I don't know. I just can't stop crying. (insert ed trying really hard not to laugh right now!!!) I just need this to be over. I'm so overwhelmed trying to get caught up at work in case we leave before the end of the year, trying to get our crap together at home, and then my obsession to get our approval, etc! I'm loosing my mind"
ed: "give me a hug, it will be okay. We're getting our approval on Tuesday, I told you. Then she'll be home"
me: "okay, I hope you're right. thank you...you can go back to cleaning your truck. I know you don't know how to react to me right now so I'm going to sit and cry for a little while while you clean your truck and then your taking me out to dinner so I can get wine"!
ed; "okay, we'll leave at 5..see you in a few"
*it was really quite comical as we recapped this odd exchange. I'm happy to report I'm feeling better and almost back to myself again. It's true...a good cry does really help! I just hope the approval comes fast so the next round of tears can be out of total joy!*
thank you again.
The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears. (John Vance Cheney)
