This was posted on JCICS's website yesterday. It probably wouldn't hurt to still email your senators and house representatives today.
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption has invited the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to conduct a briefing of Congressional staff on issues related to intercountry adoption in Vietnam, Guatemala along with issues related to intercountry adoption in general. The briefing is scheduled for this Friday, August 1, 2008 in the U.S. Capitol Building, LBJ Room at 10:00 a.m.
Given the pending suspension of intercountry adoption and related services in Vietnam and the continuing issues of concern in Guatemala, Joint Council urges participation by all Congressional staffers. It is critically important that staffers participate in the U.S. Government’s role in international children’s services, specifically intercountry adoption. Given the impact of current issues on children and families, Joint Council urges 100% participation by Congressional staffers in this very important briefing.
In order to gain the largest possible participation, please contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators' offices and urge staffers to participate in the briefing.
-
Contact information for U.S. Senator’s offices can be found at www.senate.gov.
-
Contact information for U.S. Representatives offices can be found at www.house.gov.
If you choose to contact your representatives, please do so today by email or phone call, and request that they send staff to Friday’s briefing.
This briefing follows
the briefing conducted for Congressional Staff last Friday, July 25th
by child advocates and experts including Joint Council.
These briefings and
continuing participation by congressional offices in the ongoing issues
related to international children’s services is
critically important to the
continuation of intercountry adoption as a viable solution for children
in need.
So I posted all my decorating pictures around 9 am this morning, then about four hours later the agency called. The agency called to tell us it didn't look like we were going to get matched unless some kind of miracle happens. It looks like we are at an impasse with Vietnam and will have to discern where God is leading us next.
We still haven't heard anything from our agencies. We will let you know as soon as we hear something.
I decided to post the pictures of the rooms we painted. Overall the painting was easier compared to other projects we've done. Even better, we used left over paint from our master bedroom, so we didn't have to buy that. There are still a few more things I want to do with the living room and dining room like curtains and a rug for the living room, but it's mostly finished. Our next big project will be painting the other half of our downstairs (kitchen, breakfast area, bathroom, utility room) and hopefully redoing the floors. We will keep you posted on that project, too. :)
So, I've been thinking about my last post which a friend described as "apocalyptic." I was just trying to express some of my emotion, but I realize it was pretty doom and gloom. It happens. :)
We still don't have anymore information or insight into our situation. We are still waiting to find out which news we get - a Medical Eval and matched to a child or no match. Either way we still have to keep living each day. Sometimes I have wished things would stop progressing while we wait, but that can't be. So what's a girl to do? Redecorate. :) I have decided to infuse turquoise into my living room and dining room. Don't worry, I took out all the yellow-gold. Now, we just have to paint the dining room and one wall of the living room. We can't paint the whole living room because it has a 20 foot ceiling which makes for a lot of wall and a lot of work. Besides Scott's not that tall; he would need a ladder which we don't own.
Anyway, admist my busy redecorating, we have gotten lots of encouragement and prayer support from friends and family. It is comforting to know that we have a reliable support group. I just wanted everyone to know that we are listening and not so gloomy all the time, just for the last post. :)
The end is coming. Right now it's pretty much a toss up, we will let you know which way it goes.
So, I was talking to a casual acquaintance yesterday, and they asked how the adoption was going. I mentioned that we hadn't been matched and probably couldn't be matched until the end of July. She commented, "Well, I'm sure they are busy getting ready for the Olympics." :) I almost let it slide, but I couldn't. I just said, "We are adopting from Vietnam." I'm sure though that there is a Vietnamese team preparing for the Olympics. :)
I also have a message t-shirt (found on http://www.cafepress.com) to share some of my sentiments. Enjoy! :)
I think I have honed my skills at being glib, sarcastic, and deflecting pain. As we face this next obstacle in our adoption, I wish I could ignore what I am feeling, but I can't. After a phone call with our case worker yesterday, we now know that we have to wait until the end of July to possibly get matched. (Our agency went through the whole month June and were unable to match any families. They are hoping they can match families at the end of July.) This may not sound so bad except that we only have the month of August to get all our paperwork in order before Vietnam closes to international adoption on September 1. I am not going to lie this stresses me out. I tried to put off the reality of September 1, but now it is more real than ever. I feel like this is our last chance to get matched because after July there is no time to wait just another month.
So, this past Thursday, our social worker was not as hopeful neither was she pessimistic. There are a lot of steps in the process of matching a family to a child. Some months this process takes longer than other months because of the steps in addition to any outside factors. These outside factors and steps seem to be working against us, but everyone involved is doing their best. We just have no clear picture of how much longer our wait will be, but it is becoming clearer that September 1 is only 8 weeks away. I think that deadline puts stress on us and the agency. I know it puts stress on me. :) I will definitely update when/if we hear something. Just keep praying for us. Thanks!
