| Preparing to Adopt |
| Spring 2000: We decide to adopt. There are so many options.... Summer 2000: After much research and after much prayer, we know that we are meant to adopt from Ukraine. Now, do we use an agency or go "independent"?? September 2000: We find out about Sense Resource Center Ukraine adoption program and decide that "semi-independent" with a Christian facilitator is the way to go! October 2000: Ron and I are part of a United Methodist Church mission trip to Kiev. It is so difficult to be in Ukraine, knowing our child is out there somewhere, and not have the necessary paperwork to proceed! Of course, we make many new wonderful Ukrainian friends (as always)! November 2000: After some delays (work and family commitments -- oh, and Penn State football season, too (-: !) we finally get started on the infamous dossier. This is a collection of papers needed for international adoption, and includes a homestudy by a social worker, approval by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, police clearance, medical and employment letters, etc. These all need to be official, notarized documents. When everything for the dossier is collected, each document then needs state and federal government authentication and, finally, authentication by the Ukraine Consulate. (For great step-by-step instructions, see the Sense Resource Center website.) March 2001: The dossier is sent to Ukraine's National Adoption Center in Kiev. Within 4 weeks we get their official invitation to come to Ukraine to adopt. We are to travel the first week of June. Wow!! We're going to be parents !??! April and May 2001: We make travel arrangements, etc. We also prepare our hearts and our home as much as possible for our soon-to-be son or daughter. (In Ukraine, you get a referral to see one or more children at a particular orphanage and then, after meeting them, decide which one is meant to be your "forever child") June 2001: The Journey |
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| Lady Lion begs for mercy -- nothing could prepare her for the sudden addition to "the pack"! |
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