I heard from my agency today that the Joint Council met with Kazakhstan Ambassador to the United States Erlan Idrissov and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michelle Bond.
The good news is that the temporary suspension of dossier processing has been lifted. I am so happy! Just waiting to hear from my adoption consultant whether she expects any changes in the process before proceeding. They are saying to expect delays.
Click here for the whole statement.
Onward and upward (fingers crossed!)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The saga continues
Sorry for the lack of posts in the last month. The world of intercounty adoption can be uncertain, as I’ve found out yet again. And I find it hard to write when I’m feeling down.
Several weeks ago, word oozed out that there was a problem with adoption processing at the embassy. I was advised to hold off on my remaining paperwork until the situation was worked out. (This suggestion is intended to keep the paperwork as current as possible, datewise).
Still waiting.
Just this week a statement was released from the Joint Council for International Children’s Services (JCICS) stating that adoptions from Kazakhstan are “temporarily suspended.” Check here for the official statement.
This is very scary news, considering that this was about where I was last year with the process in Guatemala. I feel a depressing sense of deja vu. It’s like I’m standing outside of the gate, and no one will allow me in.
My adoption consultant, who’s in touch with “people in the know” assures me it’s nothing the same as Guat. and has advised me to hang in there. Apparently, it’s an issue with the Consul at the embassy here, not an issue for the Kaz. government (who are proceeding with cases and are supporting the process in country). Hopefully, this will be worked out soon.
Sigh.
*** JCICS is a “membership association of licensed non-profits, international adoptions agencies, child advocacy groups, parent support groups and medical clinics. ... whose mission is to advocate on behalf of children and to promote the highest standards of ethical practice in intercountry adoption. So they KNOW.
Several weeks ago, word oozed out that there was a problem with adoption processing at the embassy. I was advised to hold off on my remaining paperwork until the situation was worked out. (This suggestion is intended to keep the paperwork as current as possible, datewise).
Still waiting.
Just this week a statement was released from the Joint Council for International Children’s Services (JCICS) stating that adoptions from Kazakhstan are “temporarily suspended.” Check here for the official statement.
This is very scary news, considering that this was about where I was last year with the process in Guatemala. I feel a depressing sense of deja vu. It’s like I’m standing outside of the gate, and no one will allow me in.
My adoption consultant, who’s in touch with “people in the know” assures me it’s nothing the same as Guat. and has advised me to hang in there. Apparently, it’s an issue with the Consul at the embassy here, not an issue for the Kaz. government (who are proceeding with cases and are supporting the process in country). Hopefully, this will be worked out soon.
Sigh.
*** JCICS is a “membership association of licensed non-profits, international adoptions agencies, child advocacy groups, parent support groups and medical clinics. ... whose mission is to advocate on behalf of children and to promote the highest standards of ethical practice in intercountry adoption. So they KNOW.
Monday, January 28, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Photo bonus!
Three more great kids, who inspire me not only to parenthood, but to proper football attitude and attire: Jenny, Katie and Joel.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Choosing a name
How did I choose my future daughter's name?
I've always loved that my mom named her kids after family members. My own name is my mom's maiden name followed by a shortened form of her favorite aunt's name. I want to do something similar for my child.
About fifteen years ago, when I moved back to Michigan after a brief stay in Minnesota (land of 10,000 lakes), I accompanied my mom and grandma to a local cemetery. While there, I found that my great-grandmother's true given name was Tona Josina. Until that point I believed her given name was Josephine.
I loved that name, "Tona Josina." But I also wanted to use my grandma's name, Margaret (on mom's side. My other grandma, Christine, was already immortalized through Christopher and Christina).
A baby name wesite divulged the following:
Josina , a variation of Josephine, means "God shall add."
Margaret can have two definitions. In Greek, it means "a pearl." In Persian, it means “a child of light”
So, my future bobek kuz* will be named "Josina Margaret." meaning either "God shall add a pearl" or "God shall add a child of light" Isn't that great? I'll most likely add another middle name after I meet her, to honor her birth name.
*From a list of Kazakh words: Baby = bobek; Girl = kuz; Boy = bala
From a list of Russian words: Baby = ryebyonak; Girl = dyevochkee; Boy = malcheekee
I've always loved that my mom named her kids after family members. My own name is my mom's maiden name followed by a shortened form of her favorite aunt's name. I want to do something similar for my child.
About fifteen years ago, when I moved back to Michigan after a brief stay in Minnesota (land of 10,000 lakes), I accompanied my mom and grandma to a local cemetery. While there, I found that my great-grandmother's true given name was Tona Josina. Until that point I believed her given name was Josephine.
I loved that name, "Tona Josina." But I also wanted to use my grandma's name, Margaret (on mom's side. My other grandma, Christine, was already immortalized through Christopher and Christina).
A baby name wesite divulged the following:
Josina , a variation of Josephine, means "God shall add."
Margaret can have two definitions. In Greek, it means "a pearl." In Persian, it means “a child of light”
So, my future bobek kuz* will be named "Josina Margaret." meaning either "God shall add a pearl" or "God shall add a child of light" Isn't that great? I'll most likely add another middle name after I meet her, to honor her birth name.
*From a list of Kazakh words: Baby = bobek; Girl = kuz; Boy = bala
From a list of Russian words: Baby = ryebyonak; Girl = dyevochkee; Boy = malcheekee
Photo bonus!
This beautiful woman is my great-grandma, Tona Josina De Witte Weisel:
And this lovely girl is her daughter and my grandma, Margaret Weisel Kelly:
And this lovely girl is her daughter and my grandma, Margaret Weisel Kelly:
DENIED
My adoption coordinator sent me a link to a group of wonderful adoption blogs a couple of months ago. She also suggested I find a Kaz. adoption group on Yahoo to join, so I could have others like myself to talk with ...
I found three and requested to join:
- one for people in Michigan with Kaz. kids (accepted)
- one for people adopting from Astana, Kazakhstan (accepted),
- and one for people adopting from Kaz. in general; a huge group with no specific city, and recommended by a great Kaz. website (DENIED)
Of course, I'm irrationally upset that a faceless, nameless entity has denied me membership in their elitist little clique.
I found three and requested to join:
- one for people in Michigan with Kaz. kids (accepted)
- one for people adopting from Astana, Kazakhstan (accepted),
- and one for people adopting from Kaz. in general; a huge group with no specific city, and recommended by a great Kaz. website (DENIED)
Of course, I'm irrationally upset that a faceless, nameless entity has denied me membership in their elitist little clique.
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