I was reminded by a friend this morning that it has been awhile since I have posted anything. Why? I don’t really have any updates…
The only kind of update that I have isn’t positive but I am not really letting myself worry about it either. We received an email from our agency letting us know that there is a possibility that referrals will be slowed down due to the fact that the US and Russia have both signed the Bilateral Agreement on Adoption and are waiting for Russia to ratify it. This will most likely occur sometime after Russian elections are held in March. After ratification, they are expecting that the MOE (Ministry of Education…who is responsible for adoptions in Russia) will develop regulations to implement and execute the ideas put forth in that agreement. This will be time consuming and may well slow down the adoption process over the next few months.
Goodie.
God is in control though, and again, was not surprised by any delays that may come as a result.
So, we are hanging in there and trying to go about our normal life in the meantime. Worrying and stressing over it will not do anyone any good. God will bring us to Russia to bring our child home when the time is right.
I am though getting more edgy when people ask me for an update. I KNOW they just care and are genuinely invested in our lives, but I don’t have an update and it hurts me to tell a million people a million times a day, “Nope, no update! It could be tomorrow, it could be a year from now. God is in control. Thanks for asking.” I wish it didn’t bother me to have to answer that way, but I wish I could just not talk about it. I can feel myself being short with people and almost blowing them off, and I don’t mean to be that way…but I guess I just get tired of having to give the same answer. Anyone else in the same boat as me get annoyed when people ask for updates? Tell me I’m not alone here… :)
You are definitely not alone. Me, and I know for sure Stephanie, are right there with you!
ReplyDeleteStill praying for Stephanie!
DeleteYou have enlightened me once again Lisa. I continue to pray for you daily.
ReplyDeleteI'm all about educating. :) Thanks Shonda!
DeleteYou are not alone. I felt exactly the same way. Even when we had a pretty good idea of when we would travel people would ask for updates and I would give them the same answer again and again.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you and hoping there is movement very soon!!!
(HUGS)) to you Lisa - I know the waiting and uncertainty of when is so very tough.
P.S. Sorry I have been so slow in responding to emails, I have gotten so behind on correspondence and am hoping to catch up soon.
I have thought it would be great to just have the response typed up on a little business card or something and when people ask just hand them the card. :)Thanks for the prayers and the hug!!! No rush...you are just a teeny bit busy. :)
DeleteRussian elections are Sunday, I believe. It seems like that always makes things stand still there. I think our whole contingency of people going on this trip this summer are waiting for the election, too. It's affecting Russian passports and visas. We may have to go to the consulate in Houston to get Alex a new one. Didn't see that coming. Remember There is no Rush in Russia!
ReplyDeleteYou're such a wealth of knowledge Jennifer! :) Did you guys decide to go on the trip!!? If it works out...??
DeleteWe have decided to go, but our travel agent has been very silent the past couple of weeks. There was a group of families in New England who needed passports for their adopted children. They did not want to spend any more money by going to NYC to get them and apparently there was going to be a contingency of Russian diplomats in Boston last week to process passports. I have not heard how that went. You can, apparently, get a special visa stamped in a US passport, but I am just not sure how that will really turn out. I am very nervous about boarding a plane without the required paperwork. The most legal thing to do is for the Russian citizen to travel into the country on a Russian passport which can only be processed in person at your local Russian consulate, which happens to be for Alabamians, in Houston, TX. We have wonderful friends in Houston, but I had no plans on traveling there anytime soon. I may have to anyway just for our peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteI see the elections took place and they are now dealing with protests. Things will calm down soon.
I would be very nervous as well to not have the correct paperwork...you don't want to be stuck in Russia. Unless...if you are stuck for awhile, can you please go find me my child and bring them to me?? Thanks. :)
DeleteYou have permission to punch me in the arm as hard as you can if I ask about your adoption progress. I mean, hard.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I will hold you to that. :)
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