Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Update on the contest 1/14/2005

Hi all! With regards to the Jelly Beans in a Jar Contest, we have decided to extend the deadline one week to January 21, 2005. We are doing this for several reasons:

1. We know of several people who haven’t guessed yet. We had intended to do a deadline reminder to give them all a chance. This will be the only extension. 2. We wanted to inform everyone, so you’re all on equal ground, that our dossier has not yet been submitted, and we do not know when it will be. It is likely that there could be further delays, and wanted to allow the opportunity for any who wish it to adjust their guesses accordingly. 3. We also wanted to respond to some comments we received regarding the prize money. Some have expressed a desire to contribute to a fund for LT rather than receive a prize. So what we have decided to do is this: we will prime the pump and put $25 towards the prize money. Anyone else who wants to contribute to it can do so using this link. Whatever is in the “pot” at the time we get back goes to the winner who can do whatever he or she wants to with it. You can take it and throw a party, buy yourself something special, or donate it – all or in part – back to LT. There is no pressure or expectation from us either way. We were happy to contribute to this as a fun way to involve family and friends and express our appreciation for your support during this process.

Remember, you have to be on the right date to win, so be sure to use all THREE guesses you’re allotted. Also, realize that the date you are guessing on is the date we finalize the adoption, not the departing travel date or returning home date.

And we may as well play along as well, since we have no more clues than anybody else!

Here is the link to the contest calendar. Happy final week of guessing!

I simply must know how this story ends 1/12/2005

This family might still be in Ukraine, hopefully completing their adoption, or maybe heading home soon. Boy, I sure hope they do a follow-up story. I love reading the experiences that others have had regarding Ukraine adoptions.

I hope this family did not experience closed doors like we did during this same time period. They shouldn’t have, since they had a scheduled appointment, but I can’t help but wonder. I think I need to read about the outcome for further reassurance that it can still be done.

in all things rejoice… 1/11/2005

Well, the news came today and it is not good. The Adoption Center is open and running this week and accepting dossiers on Wednesday. I know that all sounds like it should be good news. HOWEVER, they are only accepting dossiers for families who are looking to adopt children age 10 and above. Wha?

They’ve already gone almost 3 weeks refusing ALL Dossiers. What happens when they finally say they’ll take them again? All of a sudden they’ll have a huge influx of dossiers including our own that have been waiting for the door to be open to them. How does holding off the inevitable make it easier for them? Part of me fears that this is some kind of ploy to stave off this influx until there has been some sort of change of command. But then that doesn’t seem to make any sense either. My ever-logical brain just can’t grasp whatever thinking it is that leads to these bizarre and seemingly arbitrary decisions.

Anyhow, as for how I’m handling it all, I’d say I’m doing pretty well. I had most definitely not been doing well, but starting last night started to get clarity again. God is good. He is faithful. His timing is perfect, and there is a child waiting for us to claim him or her when that right timing comes.

After we got the news today I was reasonably calm. Tonight there were tears, and lots of them; but also a lot of Truth, and everything makes so much more sense when clothed in Truth.

I am discouraged in one sense and excited and encouraged in another. I refuse to give in to the self-pitiful lie that this whole adoption thing is going to have the same sad ending as all our attempts at conception. I have been very tempted to go down that path, but hope in God’s grace I can stand firm and remain encouraged that we truly will be parents and all of the difficulties we are experiencing are a part of the orchestration of God’s perfect timing.

Furthermore, I was reminded that the journey of life as a christian is far more about God and our relationship to Him than it is about me or the circumstances of life on earth. “…that now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or by death.” (Phil. 1:20) It’s really about Him, not me. And of course the strangest part about all that is when I walk in that truth, there is peace and joy. I can’t wrap my brain around that, but fortunately, I can wrap my heart around it. And hold on tight, ’cause it’s obviously going to be a long and bumpy ride.

Chewy… 1/7/2005

More really good reading about Ukraine’s past, present, and potential. Enjoy!

Adoption Process – Week 22

No news. Silence. Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Nechevo. Diddly Squat even.

No news is…well, no news. News regarding our dossier could just as easily be bad news as good. Next week, I expect we’ll be getting one, the other, or both.

On the homefront, I’ve been a really odd mixture of emotions. In a matter of seconds they will alter dramatically. The cycle is so fast it’s almost indiscernable. I seem to start out feeling utterly discouraged and full of self-pity – I mean, really, isn’t five years of pain, loss, heartache, and ultimately waiting for a child quite enough already!? And just as I feel on the verge of giving in and screaming or pitching a royal sobbing fit, I’ll feel this inexplicable wave of intangible optimism. Intangible because as soon as I try to clarify or harness it, it dissipates. So short-lived, yet so powerful. Sort of like waking from a dream and knowing it was a really good dream, but not being able to remember why or what happened.

Hmm, maybe this experience is somehow akin to Marla’s Sohmerslichsusse.