Cassidy's Room

FINALLY!!!! We finished putting together Cassidy's bedroom. We still need to put the finishing touches on, but the furiture is done and it is just WONDERFUL!!! I hope she loves it!

Happy Monday

Happy Monday everyone. Another week has passed, and while we have no news of a court date, so much has been happening for our friends! We have heard that many of our friends have been getting court dates, travelling, and getting referrals.

We continue to pray for a safe journey for them and their families.

Have a GREAT week!!!!
Stephanie

Still Waiting....

Hello friends and family - (Ciao Amici e Famiglia , Privyet друзья и Семья )

Yes (si, da) - I am trying to brush up on both my Italiano and Russky. I was reading a book the other day and it had a lot of Italian in it. Or at least the Italian I heard a lot of growing up (most of which cannot be typed on this page HA HA HA), but it got me thinking, second languages are a part of our culture. Growing up in a large Italian household, there were just some things that were common place. We don't have dish towels, we have mopina's. We don't put sauce on our pasta - we put gravy on it. And anyone who was at my house while growing up - well, you know what Grandpa's jumbot was. We laugh about it now, especially when we get those email that go around - You know you are Italian if.... Well, the sad part is - they are true. Sunday is family day and yes, dinner starts at at 1-2pm.

But this leads me to a more important issue. One I can use some advice on. I have grown up being Italian and doing/saying Italian things. I hear myself saying things like mio dio or telling the boys venni qui , or che cosa fai - they understand it because that is all they have even known - How will Cassidy adapt to it? Not only are we going to ask her to adapt to an American culture, but also to an Italian family. I am trying to find ways to preserve her Russian heritage. Let her be proud to be from Russian heritage, but how do I blend the 2 (russian & italian)together?

Has anyone else had or felt this way? I could use some suggestions.

Update - There is none. We are still waiting for a court date. As soon as I know, I will post - I am READY!!!!!!

Have a great day, and please continue to pray!
Stephanie

No News

Dennis and I have not forgotten about everyone - we just don't have any news. We know that our documents are suppose to be in Russia, but that is it. We did find a glimmer of hope through our friends the Aker's, who should be getting their travel dates soon. They are travelling to the same region as we are.

Good Luck to all the family's travelling!!!!!!!

We will update you as soon as we hear anything.
Stephanie (and Dennis)

1st Day of School - 2008/2009

Another summer has passed us by and the Smith Boys are back at school. Max and Ethan were very excited to begin the school year. Max is starting 3rd grade and Ethan is starting 1st grade.

Can you believe it? It feels like only yesterday that they were baby's. Look at them now - Ready to take on the world (or the 3rd grade & 1st grade at least)

Our bus stop has 13 kids - Yes, you heard me right, 13 kids!!!!!! We filled 1/4 the bus.

I hope that they have a great day!!!!

Documents in St. Louis

Good Morning Everyone!

I feel much better this week since I know that my documents have arrived in St. Louis today. Hopefully they will be in Russia by the end of the week and maybe we can have a court date by the end of next week.

Please continue to pray for us, and those family's waiting.

Have a great day!!!
Stephanie

Off to Trenton, NJ

I am off to Trenton to get copies of the boys birth certificates and the adoption documents Apostilled. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to visit Trenton for a very long time.

Wish me luck!
Stephanie

One Day Glitch

We have a one day glitch. It seems that our documents sent in April (to Krasnoyarsk) are no longer valid for our region. Hence, my documents were wrong and I could not get to Trenton yesterday. We are hoping to have them tomorrow and then off to Trenton we go for Apositlling (s that even a word?)

Anyway, in the meantime, we have been BUSY!!!!!!!!!

Keep your fingers crossed we get the docs tomorrow.

Another Step ....

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars, 1939, translated from French by Lewis Galantière

Another Step taken. We have received our paperwork from our new Home study Agency (HAPS) and hopefully we will be in Trenton, NJ getting everything Apostilled. I am hoping to keep to our timeline (1) Tuesday 26th, drop off docs to get Apostilled, (2) Wednesday 27th, pick up Apostilled docs, (3) Put Apostilled docs overnight into UPS mail to CHI, (4) Thursday 28th, CHI receives and reviews, (5) Friday 29th, CHI put in mail to Russia!!!!!

Each little step that we take keep bringing us closer and closer to bringing Cassidy home. I have a running joke with our CHI rep (Anna) - I keep reminding her that my wedding anniversary in on August 30th, and a really good gift would be a court date. So, everyday I sent her a little email with the new countdown reminder!!!! HA HA HA.

Anyway, this weekend my mother and I continued our quest for the CUTEST clothes for Cassidy. We are slowly building her closet up (as you can see below). We found a pair of pink Uggs - How cute!!!! I hope they fit her -


I will continue to keep you all in the loop. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Stephanie

Another Pebble avoided....

Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain. ~Author Unknown

WOW - another pebble passed, unfortunately, many more are on the horizon. Today is our Homestudy update (with a new social worker). We had to start fresh with a new social worker and a new report (due to our old agency closing down). HAPS assigned us a new social worker last week and already we are scheduled for the meeting. HAPS is really on the ball. They said we would move quickly and we are. As a matter of fact, they said that we should have our paperwork completed by the end of the week. I am so happy that things seem to be going along well.

What does all of this paperwork mean? Well - It means that as soon as this documents package is back to Krasnoyarsk we can get our Official Court Date. That is hopefully the next "BIG" news that I can post.

Until then, keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Stephanie (and Dennis)

When it rains......

IT POURS!!!!

We just found out today of another glitch in our adoption process. Our homestudy agency (Adoption House) closed it's doors 2 weeks ago - and NO ONE BOTHERED TO CALL!!!! We only found out by accident because I was emailing with our local social worker. As if that was not enough, we were in the middle of homestudy update. Our new CHI rep Anna has been looking into everything for us. She is trying to get the nitty gritty on what Krasnoyarsk will need from us with this change.

But, for every rain shower, there is a rainbow. And for us, that rainbow comes in the form of Homestudy & Adoption Placement Services (HAPS) in Teaneck, NJ. They are going to be taking over our Homestudy and see what he can salvage from the old files. Dennis and I are both looking forward to working with them.

We will continue to keep you posted.
Stephanie & Dennis

A quote to end today's post -

Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; Hold fast; Hold Out. Patience is genius. (Comte de Buffon 1707-1788)

Lots of Prayers....

We ask that everyone say lots of prayers for our friends adopting in regions close to the Georgia borders (especially Astrakhan). With this conflict in the region, we (Dennis and I) are preparing ourselves for the worst. The US Government has not yet issued any restrictive travel for the Russian Federation, however, I fear our agency will postpone adoptions (due to the conflict) because of the need to travel in and out of Moscow frequently.

We are thankful that Cassidy Mariya is NO WHERE NEAR the conflict, but it does not mean that we will not be impacted from it.

I will keep you updated as I hear anything. In the meantime, please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Stephanie (and Dennis)

Small Update

Some minor changes have been occurring. First, we are losing our CHI rep Marti. She is moving on but we wish her the best!!! She has been very helpful, and I hope that our new rep is as efficient.

Secondly - Things have been changing in our agency and they have been for the better. We found out that we are now able to speak directly to our representatives in our regions for documentation updates. This will eliminate "the phone game" with the middle man (as long as we cc the middle man). So, hopefully we will get more answers quickly. We have wonderful reps (Oleg, Dasha & Sveta) in the region.

Lastly - We are sending our package out to Cassidy today. We had a friend of mine at work translate a letter from Mommy & Daddy so that the caregivers can read it to her. We are also enclosing a bunch of stickers and small items (our package can't be over 1/2" thick). Hopefully she will continue to remember us and know how much we miss her and can't wait to bring her home!!!!!

As always, I will update as I can. Keep praying for us.
Stephanie (and Dennis)

Feedback Anyone?

In one of my comments, a friend posted a link with a recommended language tool http://www.karensadoptionlinks.com/product.html

I have looked into this and it appears very interesting. It says that it has over 150 adoption specific phrases that will help with an older child's language. It also has a CD that comes with it to help the children learn English quickly as well. It is $90 for the parent CD, the child's CD and the book.

Has anyone used this? Is it worth the cost?

I would love to hear from anyone who has used it.

Stephanie

Learning the Language

Privyet -

Dennis and I keep hoping and praying, and hoping and praying (and a little more praying) that we will get back to Cassidy Mariya soon -

However, the time we do have left we are taking advantage of - We are learning Russian. We have tried the "In-Flight" tapes, and tried the 4 hour courses with Rosetta Stone, but unless you start at the beginning, you are going to get no where.

And the beginning is with http://www.listen2russsian.com/ - All I can say is WOW!!!!!! Step by Step - I am slowly learning the necessary words to communicate with her. Right now I am working on one (1) word translations like bathroom (Vannaya), downstairs (vneezoo) etc - soon, I want to be able to work my way up to simple statements like "It's ok" or "Mommy is here". The hardest part is the constant listening and pronouncing new syllables. But, I want her to feel a little comfortable - a few words that she can remember as she gets older.

Hopefully next time, I will be able to share a few more words with you, and little good news.
pakAh, (BYE)
Stephanie