Quick update

Just so everyone knows...the dossier is going to be submitted to Alex's home country government next Thursday, March 29th. Not today. :-( But next Thursday is a sure thing!

More later....

Blog going private again

Hello, everyone. It's been recommended we put this blog on private very soon, for reasons that have nothing to do with Alex, but a couple of situations in his country. If you were reading the blog before when we went private, you'll still be able to do that (although you may have to sign in). If you were out of the loop, just send us your email and we can add you as a reader. We will add anyone we know.

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The Jeopardy Theme Song

You know it, right? The one they play when you're waiting?

It's our background score these days. We're waiting--for any more news if possible about Alex's institution, about the special needs list getting registered, March 29th (the dossier submission date) if noting else works...waiting about everything, it feels like.

In the meantime, we're building beds...one from a kit (for our littlest) and one connected to our oldest's loft (for Alex). Jerry is assiduously learning Russian, and I just feel stupider and stupider at it.

Jerry is still fasting from sweets and desserts, and says that continues until we hear good news about Alex. We're all praying.

We're making sure we're techno-outfitted there so we can be in contact with home folks, and can use Google Translate English-Russian when need be. Haven't bought anything yet.

I'm planning to start packing (I kid you not) this week--why not, is my feeling, and when we do get a travel date, a lot of things happen fast.

I have to admit, we're just tired at this point and are trying to put things in order, enjoy some time with our kids, stay sane. It helps that we got news that Alex is in a somewhat better institution than we had feared, although we still don't know much at all. It feels a bit surreal. But we'll continue to wait.

Thanks for your support, everyone.

Peace, Susan

News about Alex's institution

The team in Alex's country confirmed today that he is in the same institution as another child listed on Reece;s Rainbow, and that child's description offers a little more information on the institution:

Laurel has arthrogryposis — and look at that beautiful smile!
She’s already 15 years old, and has less than 6 months (from January 2012) to be adopted, or she loses all hope for a future.
Laurel is blessed to be in a very good older child orphanage for those with mostly physical disabilities.  Her orphanage has been supported by many humanitarian aid groups, and offers child sponsorship programs and trips for these children.  Laurel does face transfer to an adult mental institution SOON, and at 16 she will no longer legally be able to be adopted at all. We simply can not let this happen to her.
Our facilitation team has met Laurel…she is very smart and friendly, and she SO wants a family of her own.  Laurel is in a region which often waives the 10 day waiting period! 

 So, based on this description, and the picture (bed in background, etc.), it sounds like Alex is one of the better institutions. Thank goodness.


No other news, no movement on the travel date. Please continue to pray for Alex...and pray for Laurel, too, okay? That girl really needs a family.

We hope...God's word for Alex.

Interestingly enough, this verse was also prominent at our wedding--the one song we really wanted sung was John Foley's "A Song of Hope," based on this scripture.

*****

In a related note, Reece's Rainbow is running their "21 Days of Hope" campaign right now.  This three week campaign funds the running of the organization--which truly operates on a shoestring--and has helped place 650 special needs children in families in a mere 5.5 years, growing every year.  If it weren't for them, the people running these orphanages wouldn't be seeing people seeing post-adoption pictures of these children thriving.  They wouldn't be seeing adoptive parents tearing up with joy at the first sight of their children.  They wouldn't have begun thinking "maybe there is a better way."  Reece's Rainbow is not connected with a particular church or institution--this began as a labor of love and justice by a mom of a child with Down Syndrome, who saw the need for special needs adoption advocacy, especially internationally.  RR says if everyone who supported them offered $21, they would be funded for the entire year.  I encourage you all to give, even if it is only $5, to help them out.  They have been incredibly helpful to us in the process.  And if it weren't for them, we wouldn't know about Alex.