Coming Home For Christmas

Immigration -- that is where we are now and in a holding pattern at this point.  BUT we found out that Roman will be here for Christmas!  He has been approved to be here through New Horizons hosting program.  Roman will be here from December 18 - January 15 :).  Since our plan to have him permanently home at Christmas has been pushed back, words can't describe how excited we are to get to see and spend time with him for the little bit of time we will have at Christmas!   


Another great accomplishment! For a couple months now, we have been calling and talking to Roman once a week to keep him updated and just to see how he is doing.    We always tell him that we love and miss him before we get off the phone.  Last week is the first time that he told us he loved us back!!!  That just melted our hearts.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

Its been a while...  I wanted to post a THANK YOU to everyone who has donated their time, money and efforts to make it possible to bring our son home.  It is great to know that there are so many people out there praying and supporting us along the way. 

Update

Sorry! It has been a while since we posted. Life has been very busy lately. We had our last home study teleconference with our social worker. We have some paper work to finish and she is going to work on our report. We almost have another item we can mark off of our to do list. Once we have everything to our social worker we can start immigration paperwork.

To prepare for Roman to come home, Kenneth and I have been working very hard to prepare a room. His room is what we used to call the "workout room/storage room" Everything that was previously in that room is now in every other room in the house... Most of it needs to go into a building that we do not have or in our yard sale pile! I guess we will figure that out sooner than later - I hope ;)!

Kenneth went to IKEA and purchased a bed and a night stand. One day after I got off work, we headed to Lowe's to purchase a few things. We ended up finding a rug that goes very nice with the room. I mentioned chalkboard paint to Kenneth and he got pretty excited. Sooo needless to say one wall is painted in chalkboard paint which I have to admit it is pretty awesome. The other walls we just repainted white. We decided we would let Roman decide if he wanted to paint them a different color when he gets home. Thanks to my brother Andrew who helped me paint while Kenneth was helping clean a park in Mooresville.

The next purchase we will have to make is blinds. Man, the blinds currently hanging in the room were there when Kenneth bought this house almost 8 years ago. So they are old and need to be replaced. I am hoping to start with Roman's room and purchase the faux wood blinds.

Kenneth has the photos of the room on his phone, as soon as I get them we will post before and after photos.

A Much Better Day

I received an email from the social worker conducting our home study on Monday night!  It was much more encouraging!

She has requested that we read a book called The Connected Child  by Kayrn Purvis.  So I immediately downloaded the book tonight from Books a Million when I got home from work. I read the first chapter so far.  She also requested that we take a few online courses.  She also asked for our plans for schooling, doctors,  therapy, etc.  We just found out that a friend of the family has graciously offered her services to tutor Roman!

I am hoping that all though we had to clear a few road blocks our efforts to complete all the tasks that have been given to us will show that we are willing to do what ever it takes to bring Roman, our son, home!

I had a nice long chat with our adoption coordinator tonight as well.  She is such a sweet lady.  She answered a lot of questions that I had and eased my mind.

Please remember that we are planning a yard sale around September.  Please search your garages, attics and bedrooms for items you no longer need that you would be willing to part with  :)

Also don't forget our other fundraisers that are to your left in the sidebar. 

If you have any other ideas or suggestions for fundraising please comment and let us know.  We are open to all suggestions. 

~Tiffany

TODAY WAS A LITTLE TOUGH

Today after church we received a call from the adoption coordinator.

Tiffany and I both felt like the home study we had on Friday went very well.  We felt like we were prepared for any questions the social worker may have and afterwards we thought it well and we had answered her questions with well researched and thought out answers.

Back to the phone call today; Tiffany was speaking to the coordinator while I drove us home from church.  Two things stood out in the conversation. One, Tiffany is not old enough to be on Roman's birth certificate in the Ukraine (the age difference must be 15 years).  This little piece of information was devastating to Tiffany and so ensued the tears.  We have already been afraid Roman would feel like the baby was Tiffany's child and Roman was mine because of the timing, so this just made Tiffany feel that much more out of the adoption loop.  Then we found out we will get a new birth certificate in the US and she will be on that one. 

The second thing and admittedly much more damaging for both us of, is that the social worker told the coordinator she didn't think we were old enough to adopt a 15 year old boy.  We did not have a good reaction to this.  We have struggled with our own fears about diving into parenthood and this was less than reassuring.  What we do have to assure of this being the right thing to do is the fact that this a calling from God, for us to bring our son home.  Some people I have spoken to are having trouble with that concept.  I will try to explain it the best I can.  My own personal experience is this; I know I was commanded to go to the Ukraine to get my son and bring him home.  The understanding I have to full fill this command is as natural as eating when I am hungry or sleeping when I am tired, it is just one of those things you don't have to be reminded to do, you just do it because you know you have to.  Until it happens to you, it is very hard to understand coming from someone else.  I have never in my life had a feeling like this.  I am so positive that this is God's will that I promise you I will stake everything on it, I have never had this kind of faith in God before.  I thought giving the tithe when I was flat broke and didn't get paid for another week was living in faith, but let me tell you, this is a whole new level for me.  For those of you who know me, you know I am very methodical, practical and I will not do anything without a great deal of planning, preparation and research. 
Now, I just pray and listen to God and try my best to do what he commands. 

All we can do now is pray that God will speak to the hearts of the people that make the decisions in this adoption process and hope they listen.

-Ken

New Ways to Help

Over in the sidebar there are some new ways to help.  Our friend, Lisa Morgan, is a Scentsy consultant and brought this opportunity to us as a way to help.  Scentsy offers so many great options, I'm sure you'll find something you like.  Just follow the link and start shopping!  Orders need to be in by the end of the month.

And for those of you out there like me, who can not start your day until coffee has crossed your lips, we have Just Love Coffee.  This company was started by an adoptive family seeking news ways to raise funds for their adoption and now they are helping others do the same.

The web links for both are dedicated links for our fundraisers, so feel free to share them.

And last but not least, we plan to hold a yard sale in September.  So, if you have things you'd like to donate just let us know.  We'll be collecting the entire month of August.  Once we set a date in September, I'll let you know.

Ready, set, go!

Sending Him Back :(

So Thursday morning Roman was put back on a plane headed to Ukraine.  It was inevitable, but devastating nonetheless.  You can read that story here.  But now, we move forward.  Every day matters, more paperwork to be done, more money to raise, more prayers to be prayed.  Thank you for continuing to share in this journey with us!

Donations

Thank you for those of you who have contributed to bringing Roman home.  I know that not everyone has a paypal account.  If you would like to donate without having to set up paypal please check out this link  Bring Roman Home

You can use a credit or debit card to donate if you would like

Thank you
Tiffany

Our Journey

Thank you all for following our story!  We are pretty excited and can't wait to start our home study on August 3rd.  We have lots of paper work to fill out and turn in before then. Kenneth and I are still really new to the whole process so we will keep you updated as much as we can.

For those of you interested in donating I thought you might like to know what your donations will be used for.

The First step is the Home Study.  This usually consists of 3 or 4 visits from a social worker.  As I said before we have a lot of paper work to fill out!  This process usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks to compete.

Next we sign our contract with T. (she will be assisting us with the adoption).  She will assist us in getting our application to USCIS (US Immigration Service). We will have to complete form I-600A  (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition).  We will have to provide proof of our marriage, our birth certificates and a copy of our completed home study. 

While we are waiting for the I-600A to be approved we start to prepare the Ukrainian dossier paperwork.  This process can take 3 to 4 weeks.  Before we head to Ukraine we have to have our dossier translated and authenticated in Ukraine and the submitted to to the SDA (not sure what that is).

We are planning on making two trips.  The first trip Kenneth and I will both have to go.  We will be there through the referral of the child through the Court proceedings.  This will take about 3 weeks to complete.  We will return home for a couple of weeks and Kenneth is planning on taking the second trip.  He will finish and tie up and loose ends which includes picking up the court decree, obtaining a new birth certificate for Roman, a passport and a visa from the American Embassy in Kyiv. 
Kenneth and Roman will be heading home!

Estimated Budget

1). Home Study - $1,500

· Usually consists of three visits

· If you’re not sure who to use, ask T. for a recommendation

· Make sure that that T. reviews H.S. BEFORE Social Worker issues

Takes around 4 -6 weeks typically – a lot of timing depends on you; get paperwork done as soon as possible!

2). Application to T (Adoption Process Simplified, LLC) $250

· Fill out application/contract for Adoption Process Simplified to have T.  facilitate your adoption

· Send in application with $250 check

3).Send Application package to USCIS - $890

· Check for $890

· Completed Home Study

· I-600A Application 

· Copies of Marriage Certificate

· Copies of Birth Certificates for husband and wife

· Divorce Decrees if applicable

Takes around 40 days to receive USCIS approval

4). During USCIS approval process – Prepare Ukrainian dossier paperwork  - $1,700

· Send T.’s 1st half of fee $1000

· Sign contract, send translation fee $ 500

· Apostille dossier $ 100 (can be< or > depending on state)  

· FedEx dossier to Ukraine $ 100

Takes 3-4 weeks to prepare (overlaps USCIS)

5.) Final Steps before Traveling –  $4,000

· Dossier gets translated and authenticated in Ukraine, then submitted to SDA

· Send in 2nd half of facilitation fee $1,000

· Prepare to Travel – you will receive travel date, packing list, Embassy forms and TIPS

·  flight reservations, 2 people $3,000 (semi off season)

Note – estimating flights cost is the HARDEST to predict, depends on season and advance notice and just luck!

6.) MONEY TO TAKE WITH YOU TO UKRAINE-

· $9,000 Balance for Facilitation Fee

· $100 Ukrainian cell phone and internet aircard usage

· $1,000 orphanage donation (prepare and give in a nice card to Orphanage Director)

· $1,050 Food ($25 daily X 42 days-extra just in case)

· $1000 Internal Ukraine travel (on high side – depends on region traveling to)

· $700 difference if region has expensive (OLD TYPE) passport for child

· $1,550 Lodging (Kiev Apt $70 x 5 nights=$350) + (regional apartment $40 X 30 nights=$1200)

· $300 clothing/personal items for children/Souvenirs

· $230 at the Kiev American Embassy (must be new cash correct bills - no credit card)

· $2,000 extra cash to have in case some unexpected delay happens

· $650 Plane tickets to come home including one child

Meet the Family

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”  ~Isaiah 1:17

Tonight, I am writing a guest post for my brother and my sister-in-law.  Tiffany works as a paralegal in Mooresville, where Ken serves in law enforcement.  I am writing, because they are far too busy with all of the wonderful and exciting new things that God has blessed them with.  Most of you reading this post already know Ken & Tiffany, but for those of you who may not here is a quick introduction.  While they have only been married a few months, their relationship began almost a decade ago.  They both told me they couldn’t wait to get married and start a family!  I was thrilled!  Honestly, I’ve been dying for my brother to get some payback, for my kids to have cousins.  I had hoped that they would get pregnant right away and we’d have a new baby in the family before their first anniversary.  In the meantime, my own family was called to a mission project of sorts (you can read all about it here www.mommasmonkey.blogspot.com if you like).  We were being called to host an orphan from Ukraine for 5 weeks this summer.  His name is Roman and he is amazing!  I restarted my blog with the stories of our mission with Roman.  This is where “my story” ends and Ken & Tiffany’s begins. 

Ken & Tiffany are parents-to-be!!  That’s right, you heard me, future Mom & Dad, in more ways than one.  Now pick your jaw up off the floor.  Let me clarify, for those of you that dozed off a little in the middle.  Ken & Tiffany are going to adopt a 15 yr. old boy, named Roman from Ukraine AND they are expecting the birth of their first child!   “WHAT?!?  How did this happen?” – I hear you all screaming.  Well, be patient and I will tell you.  Remember I told you that Ken & Tiffany have been together for nearly a decade and that they hoped to start a family right away.  Well God had such an amazing journey planned for them and gave them both His blessing!  Kenny knew almost immediately after reading my first blog post that God was calling him to be a father to this boy he had never met.  He wrestled with whether it was right or if it was even something he wanted, but was overwhelmed by this feeling that this is what he MUST do.  He admits that he knew Tiffany would be his biggest obstacle, not knowing how she felt about adoption.  Tiffany was looking forward to meeting Roman (but did not have any expectations) and invited our family up to celebrate Kenny’s birthday.  We all had a wonderful time, but it was getting late and we needed to go.  I had all the crew loaded in the van and was saying goodbye when Roman hopped out of the van.  He ran over and hugged Tiffany & Kenny.  And that was it, one hug and she was hooked.  She cried all the way to work the next day.  They both prayed about it individually, still not knowing how the other felt.  By the time they had a chance to talk, God had planted seeds so deep in both their hearts that they were certain of His will.  About a week later, they found out that they were expecting!  We aren’t allowed to share too many details about Roman, but I just have to tell you, that Roman and the baby could share a birthday!  I am one excited Auntie!!  Please join me in praising God for bringing this family together.  Please pray for them also, they will have a LOT to do in a very short amount of time.  They will also need to raise funds to bring Roman home.  Here is where you can help.  Every little bit helps, so if you can, please donate.  Also, would you please share their story with your friends, coworkers, family, and church?  Ask them to pray, to donate, and to share as well.  We can’t wait to bring Roman home and to tell him about all the people that helped to make that possible.  We will update here as we meet deadlines and fundraising goals so you can follow our progress.