Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Big News in my blogworld 11/30/2004

I have lots to blog about - thanksgiving, family visits, emotional craziness, and more. Hopefully I’ll get to all that, but there is big news elsewhere that I thought I should share:

• Julie, who has been unusually silent, has evidently been busy having her baby!
• Getupgrrl’s surrogate is pregnant!
• The Young Boston’s have left for Cambodia for two weeks.
• There is a lot going on in Ukraine that is noteworthy. I’ll try to get up a list of links to the latest news, but until then you can always go to Google News or the Wikipedia for current, accurate information.

Adoption Process - Week 16 11/27/2004

Our adoption paperwork is 99% complete. We are awaiting medical forms from my doctor. Once that is in, our dossier is complete.

However, the news in Ukraine is not good right now. We do not know whether or not the upheavel following the elections will have an effect on our adoption or not. It might have no effect at all or it may lead to Ukraine closing its doors to foreign adoptions for awhile.

We pray that whatever happens, it becomes clear soon. Sending off our dossier is such a significant step that we may have to hold off on sending it in until the results of the election and any direct consequences are worked out. The thought of further delays is definitely not appealing to us, but it seems wise to not make the next level of commitment given the instability of the present circumstances, especially since our financial outlay increases significantly at each phase.

Please pray for us and for Ukraine and for our LT right now!! We will be seeking the Lord a lot regarding these circumstances.

Adoption Process - Week 15 11/21/2004

Two Steps Forward…Ten Steps Backward

The Good news:
Our USCIS Approval finally came in the mail. Our criminal clearance letters were also completed and received.

The Bad news: Our entire dossier except for the above was sent to the Secretary of State of Arizona to be authenticated (apostilled). However, there was a problem with the notary stamp on about 80% of the documents, so it was sent back and ALL of the incorrectly stamped items have to be redone.

What this means: We are in the process of redoing everything. The hardest part is contacting both our doctors and getting them to fill out the medical forms again. These forms are quite detailed. In addition, the doctors are asked to provide a copy of their physician license and testify to its authenticity. Both of our doctors have agreed to complete this paperwork tomorrow. If they complete it all correctly, we will really only be a few days behind our original schedule.

Tomorrow is a very important day for us. Your prayers are appreciated!!

I’ll post an update soon…

Adoption Process - Week 14 11/14/2004

I spent a lot of time this week just being anxious - worrying and waiting for these last few items to come through. One item has come through, but the other two have not. Another of them, the Immigration approval, has supposedly been mailed to us. We expected it in the mail yesterday (Saturday), but it did not arrive, so I’ll be coming home at lunch on Monday to check the mail and make sure it arrived. Then, we (Cheri and me) will probably be aggressively pursuing the final documents - police clearances for Steve and me. Cheri is hoping to get everything apostilled (authenticated by the Secretary of State) this week as well and sent off to Ukraine once it is complete!

Basically, this week was just full of a lot of waiting and worrying and hoping. Next week may very well include the huge accomplishment of the completion of our Dossier!! My personal goal is to be less stressed about it all and start focusing on the upcoming holidays.

They say the past will come back to haunt you… 11/12/2004

On a random whim I did a google search for a girl I knew back in Jr. High and High School days, to see if she still lived in Arizona. The only result page I found had pictures from my year in the 8th grade!! Oh this is so embarrassing… but I’m in the picture with the cheerleaders. I’m on the floor in the middle…yes, the one with the dirty socks, Oh my God! Who knew this stuff was out there for the entire world to see!!?? And why am I perpetuating the horror by linking to it here!?

Ok, so long as I’m tormenting myself, I may as well show you this page also. I’m in the Songleader picture this time (bottom row, far right) and the Gymnastics team (I’m the littlest one).

Somebody get me some mind-altering drugs and memory therapy, please… NOW!