Just did some updating to the list. Added court dates, moved people from paperchase to wait list, etc.
It is a pretty big job to keep all the info on there up-to-date, and with everything I've been doing here in my "real life," I have been struggling to keep up with the constantly changing and evolving body of information associated with the list. Laura has been a great help, but I know that she is busy and will soon be adding another to the mix.
So, this is my invitation to you... please email me if you know that info on the FBI needs to be updated; include the updates/revisions that need to be made. Or, if you are interested in helping keep the list up in a more permanent fashion, let me know!
yellow_grace at yahoo dot com
I am working on a post about thoughts at the 3 month home mark (Christmas Eve for us:) But if I had to sum it up, I would say that we have officially entered the really fun stage of toddlerhood. I'm loving it!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Changes
Okay. I got your feedback and I made some changes. I added a new column on the Wait List page and some info in the FYI section.
Let me know what you think... and check my work!
Let me know what you think... and check my work!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A Sensitive Topic
The heartbreaking news that Ethiopia will be limiting single-mom adoptions left me speechless. It was not a surprise that a change was made in policy, but this particular change was not what I was expecting. Single parent adoption is, obviously, something I "believe in." The same way that I "believe in" transracial and transcultural adoption. The same way that I "believe in" not limiting adoption based on gender, religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical disability, economic status or any other of those "non-discrimination" circumstances that we are legally and morally bound by in the US.
(And yes, I did list sexual orientation there- I didn't miss Becca's post- or the controversy surrounding it. I have lots of thoughts about this that I intend to share once my courses are over for the semester!)
Of course, I respect that the culture of Ethiopia- and their standards and expectations for their children- are different than the US. What option do we have but to accept that they believe single moms to be a "last resort" for their children? It is the way their culture is. They aren't American and they do not hold to the same values and morals (for instance, they also prohibit adoptions by homosexuals and single men based on their cultural norms/values.) It's heartbreaking for the women who are in the process and faced with these delays, but I also feel like there is not much else that can be said or done. It is what it is. I am so sorry for the women who are left waiting, but I am also so happy that the option of single mom adoption from Ethiopia still remains viable.
This is where I am about to (maybe, but I hope not) step on some toes. Most of my readers know that I keep up this little list. Since the list was designed to give Gladney families a picture of what the process/timeline is like for other Gladney-ites, I feel like I should somehow separate out or mark single moms on the list, since their timeline will, obviously, now be different than married couples. Should I make a "Couples Waiting" and "Singles Waiting" page? It is my understanding that once a referral is given, the process is still the same, so from referral on (and even in the paperchase stage) there is really no reason to separate out the singles and couples. At the same time, I don't want to be offensive or "discriminatory" towards singles. I just want to provide accurate, insightful information that is easy to find and access.
I'd really like some feedback on this! Thanks in advance!
(And yes, I did list sexual orientation there- I didn't miss Becca's post- or the controversy surrounding it. I have lots of thoughts about this that I intend to share once my courses are over for the semester!)
Of course, I respect that the culture of Ethiopia- and their standards and expectations for their children- are different than the US. What option do we have but to accept that they believe single moms to be a "last resort" for their children? It is the way their culture is. They aren't American and they do not hold to the same values and morals (for instance, they also prohibit adoptions by homosexuals and single men based on their cultural norms/values.) It's heartbreaking for the women who are in the process and faced with these delays, but I also feel like there is not much else that can be said or done. It is what it is. I am so sorry for the women who are left waiting, but I am also so happy that the option of single mom adoption from Ethiopia still remains viable.
This is where I am about to (maybe, but I hope not) step on some toes. Most of my readers know that I keep up this little list. Since the list was designed to give Gladney families a picture of what the process/timeline is like for other Gladney-ites, I feel like I should somehow separate out or mark single moms on the list, since their timeline will, obviously, now be different than married couples. Should I make a "Couples Waiting" and "Singles Waiting" page? It is my understanding that once a referral is given, the process is still the same, so from referral on (and even in the paperchase stage) there is really no reason to separate out the singles and couples. At the same time, I don't want to be offensive or "discriminatory" towards singles. I just want to provide accurate, insightful information that is easy to find and access.
I'd really like some feedback on this! Thanks in advance!
Re-Adoption
I am the only one who keeps calling the peeps in my county about how to do this re-adoption thing and keeps getting the run-around?
Seriously, you would think they have never heard of an IR-4 visa. Ugh. I can't deal with this until after finals.
(This makes me feel like both a bad mom and a lazy mom. But finals are next week. So really, what's another week and half of delays? If I get it done within the first 3 months home, I should be good, right?)
Seriously, you would think they have never heard of an IR-4 visa. Ugh. I can't deal with this until after finals.
(This makes me feel like both a bad mom and a lazy mom. But finals are next week. So really, what's another week and half of delays? If I get it done within the first 3 months home, I should be good, right?)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Prayers for Travis
As most Gladney Ethiopia Program families know, Travis Norwood, one of the in-country reps for Gladney, has been having some serious battles with his health. I thank God for the opportunity he had to be in the US and get the great care that the US health care system offers.
Please keep the Norwood family in your prayers during his continued therapy and recovery time. Please also pray for the rest of the staff in Ethiopia who are carrying the weight of the Norwood's work while they are here in the US.
If you would like to participate in a group prayer time, on Sunday, November 16 from 7:30-8:00pm EST, join with others across the nation as we pray for Travis, his family, the doctors treating him, the in country staff who know him so well and are acting in his absence in Ethiopia and all of those who have been or who are touched by Travis's presence in their lives...
Our children and each of us are better for having him work with Gladney.
Please keep the Norwood family in your prayers during his continued therapy and recovery time. Please also pray for the rest of the staff in Ethiopia who are carrying the weight of the Norwood's work while they are here in the US.
If you would like to participate in a group prayer time, on Sunday, November 16 from 7:30-8:00pm EST, join with others across the nation as we pray for Travis, his family, the doctors treating him, the in country staff who know him so well and are acting in his absence in Ethiopia and all of those who have been or who are touched by Travis's presence in their lives...
Our children and each of us are better for having him work with Gladney.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
You, too, could be a winner!
This little guy is.
So is this little girlie.
This little girl soon will be.
If you are home with a little one that spent time in the older baby/toddler room at the Gladney Care Center anytime from May-September, 2008.... you too could be a winner!
Just email me at yellow_grace at yahoo dot com to claim your fabulous prize*!
* Fabulous prize is an email from me discussing the intricacies of Anna stool pattern. Seriously, wondering if anyone else has any ideas?
So is this little girlie.
This little girl soon will be.
If you are home with a little one that spent time in the older baby/toddler room at the Gladney Care Center anytime from May-September, 2008.... you too could be a winner!
Just email me at yellow_grace at yahoo dot com to claim your fabulous prize*!
* Fabulous prize is an email from me discussing the intricacies of Anna stool pattern. Seriously, wondering if anyone else has any ideas?
Motherletter
I wrote a Motherletter.
"And then I see my fair-skinned, blue-eyed 6 year old protectively hug her molasses-skinned, midnight-eyed sister in a crowd of children who look at them with questioning eyes. And I know there is so little that I really need to teach them. Because God has given them the gift of each other. And they will teach each other more than I ever could."
Will you write one, too?
"And then I see my fair-skinned, blue-eyed 6 year old protectively hug her molasses-skinned, midnight-eyed sister in a crowd of children who look at them with questioning eyes. And I know there is so little that I really need to teach them. Because God has given them the gift of each other. And they will teach each other more than I ever could."
Will you write one, too?
So Glad
It's over.
Anna was a total doll the first have of the post-placement visit, and a total brat the second half. Someone really needed a nap.
But at least my house was clean:)
Anna was a total doll the first have of the post-placement visit, and a total brat the second half. Someone really needed a nap.
But at least my house was clean:)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Alien
It appears we have an alien in permanent residence here at our house.
YIKES!
If you don't get my joke, I'm just trying to say that Anna got her permanent resident alien card from USCIS.
Now I just need to get crackin' on that re-adoption stuff. You know, once I make sure I am not going to fail out of my final semester of college.
More Halloween pictures are up here.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Post
So, on Saturday, we have our first post-placement visit.
Hmm.
What kinds of questions should I be preparing for? What will she want to know or see?
Hmm.
What kinds of questions should I be preparing for? What will she want to know or see?
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