The back story ...

There’s not much new to post. Got my immigration approval (actually a change of country, since I had prior approval last fall). Ordered apostilled (not certified!!!) birth certificates and started my doctor on the med. forms (always a slow process). I continue to produce and fill out the many forms required by Kaz. law and I'm pursuing FBI fingerprinting and clearance.

It’s a strange feeling, living in two parallel worlds. One where I do all the normal things (work, grocery shopping, cleaning, paying bills, talking with family and friends) and one where I’m in a perpetual, uncertain, paperwork-filled limbo. It’s a little disturbing and often leaves me feeling a bit out of sync.

Anyway, I’ll post more progress as it comes to me : )

A little of my personal backstory, while I wait ...
Why adoption? For my first 30 years, I just assumed I'd have kids of my own, complete with hubby, house, 2 dogs and cool job. (sweet youthful dreams). Instead, I have the house, a cool job, five fantastic nieces and nephews to spoil and two adorable felines. Not a bad haul, so far. But, though the ticking of my biological clock has slowed to a near halt, I still harbor dreams of having my own family.

I explored adoption at a local informational seminar over fifteen years ago, well before I had any real intention of following through on this plan. My friend Mary, bless her heart, coerced me into keeping her company while she explored the possibilities for her own family. We split up to cover more ground, she to international adoption topics and I to domestic. We learned that choices for single women are fewer than for married couples. (And if you’re a single man, good luck.)

I began to think about international adoption as the most likely path to my future family. As the years passed, I avidly read magazine articles and books about international adoption and single parenthood. I engaged in a constant and low-level debate with myself. Can I do it? Should I? What will my family think? Finally, I gave myself a deadline.

So, here I am. Hoping to find Baby J in Kazakhstan, a country of great beauty and diverse culture.