Here's the Deal....

Interesting as lawyers are, I felt like I was on "Let's Make a Deal" (Am I dating myself??). The countries that the agency would like to do business in are not exactly the countries we would like to adopt from. Ukraine is too unstable, Kazakhstan is too long (2 trips, 1 for 5 weeks!), and the "A" country next to Iran and Turkey. Based on the uncertainty in the Middle East and our ethnic background, I don't feel safe over there.

So, my curiosity is satisfied we decided we don't want to go to any of these countries unless the fees were reduced to $0.00 (which they are not). So back to the drawing board. SoFlaDad and I are pretty sure which way we would like to go but we will save that for another time when we actually send the check. Interestingly, the CCAU, read posts in July, are interested in adopting a child. I guess SoFlaKid had a great impact on them. So, maybe, with 2 families adopting, we can get a family discount???

SoFlaMom

Interesting Phone Call

Since we are back into the investigating stage, we thought we knew what direction we were heading until after we met with our SW. The agency that the SW works for only performs domestic adoptions. We liked the fact that there is no conflict of interest and that the SW has performed many homestudies for various countries, including domestic. Each time we meet her, she always asks if we would consider a domestic adoption. Domestic is not our first choice, however, if an unusual situation occurred, we would consider it.

Here is where the fun begins. The owner of the agency called us and asked us to meet him in their office this week. SoFlaDad and I are pretty busy over the next few days so we proposed a conference call. The owner said it would be worth our while to make the trip to their office. So you know what I am thinking....There is a birth mother somewhere looking for parents. But no, that is not it at all. The agency is looking to start an international adoption program and is looking for parents to "test the waters". We are far from experts in international adoption, but we are pretty educated on the pros and cons overall. This triggered a red flag big time. But, it is also pulling at my curiosity.

We decided we have nothing to loose at this point except time, so we are going to meet with the owners next week to see what they have to say. I don't know if anything will come out of this but at least my curiosity will be satisfied. The countries they are targeting are Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and one of the "stan" countries (I forgot what he said). If you are familiar with these countries, I am interested in your experiences, hearsay, sources, etc. Like they say, a little bit of knowledge is dangerous!

SoFlaMom

Labor Day!

It's Labor Day, a time to think of all things I have labored through. I labored through school, marriage, work, birth, parenthood, and finally adoption. Of all the laboring I have been through, some through passion, some through necessity, the most endearing is the labor of adoption. Most of the world does not understand the frustration, emotions, and turmoil of adoption. They just think oh, sign a few papers and viola', a child. However, those of us who have been through the perils if infertility, joys of meeting a child, loosing the child, getting back on your feet to start all over again are a small community of pre-adoptive and adoptive families. The Labor of Love that we have endured to get our children can never be understood unless you live through the pain and happiness.

Wishing all my friends who just finished court (you know who you are) and very happy journey. May the labor of parenthood bring you the greatest joys in life as it has done to mine! I am looking forward to seeing family pictures as the years go on. And as I always say, "Lets meet in Disney World!"

SoFlaMom