Time Line

January 2012 -- I first contacted WACAP regarding their "Waiting Children" list.  I discussed with her my 3 main obstacles to adoption...1) my age- I am a single mother  and have already raised 3 children, so I am older than the typical adoptive parent.  2)  I am on a very limited income, so my financial resources will be stretched to make this happen.  3) The largest issue is that I have Epilepsy and will need a country that would be willing to let me adopt with this condition.  I asked for an exception to their normal application process.  I did not want to send in money or invest myself fully emotionally into this process if it was not possible for me to adopt.  My reason for adopting, is to provide a loving home to a child that normally would not have a big chance of being adopted by a family. Through process of elimination, it seems Bulgaria will be the only country that may accept me as an adoptive paren.  They have quite a few "waiting children" in Bulgaria with various disabilities that make them at high risk for not being adopted.  If they age out of the system, their future is bleak, many times prostitution is their plight.  My original information was sent directly to Bulgaria for review and they said the would not decline me based on above information, so I should proceed with the application if I am interested.  I completed the application and requested information on several waiting children, all with various levels of disability.

February  2012 -- I got an e-mail asking me to consider an 8 year old girl (she was not on my request list).  The message said this is an urgent need as they were trying to find her a family before she was moved to an older child institution.  Her caregivers are trying to delay her move because they are concerned she will not do well there.  It describes "Natalie" (made up name) as having an "uncertain gait" and mildly delayed in development.  WACAP has agreed to reduce their fees by $4500 and the Bulgarian agency will reduce their fees up to $5000 in order to place her quickly.  I asked to see her file.  I forwarded a requested letter from my neurologist stating I would be physically fit to parent. I received the medical file along with pictures and videos.  I forwarded her medical file to a pediatrician that specializes in international adoptions from Eastern Europe.  I also started my required education classes, my home study and the long process of filling out the necessary paperwork.

March 2012 -- I AM CHOSEN TO BE MOM!!!  I found out that "Natalie" is really Monika and her birth date is 10-20-2003.  I received more complete medical information.  I was officially "matched" to Monika by Bulgarian authorities and she has been removed from the adoption list, meaning she is "locked" in to me pending complete home study and required documentation. 

April 2012 -- PAPERWORK, HOMESTUDY & EDUCATION CLASSES.......that is all I have to say about this tedious month

May 2012 -- Home study is complete and I am officially accepted into the Bulgarian program and now am preparing dossier documents.

June 2012 -- Completed immigration forms and received instructions to go to Atlanta for FBI fingerprinting required for immigration approval.  I am told that to complete my dossier I will need to have immigration approval.

July 2012 -- I received immigration approval in record time.  Now my dossier should be ready for Bulgaria so that I can get my legal match and invitation to travel for my first one week visit to meet Monika.  BUT---COMPLICATION WITH FINGERPRINTS-- I am informed that the FBI fingerprints from immigration will not be enough to satisfy Bulgaria and that I should go get another set of electronic FBI fingerprints taken.  I went to a place in Cleveland, TN and had these done.  The prints were rejected by Bulgaria because they say the prints were taken by Tennessee and sent to FBI for verification.  They want it to come from the FBI not TN.  I was told to go again for electronic prints but go to an FBI "channeler".  Went to Chattanooga to get these prints and once again Bulgaria rejected the prints.  It is not in the format they prefer and I am advised to complete ink print cards rather than electronic.  I am told that I can go to a police department for these prints.  Very frustrating, I have now paid for 3 sets of FBI fingerprints and still do not have what is needed.  Oh well, push forward.

The Starfish Story

By City Year

A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.

She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,

“Well, I made a difference to that one!”

The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

I have heard several versions of this story but they all have the same meaning.  I feel like the little girl.  There are thousands of orphans in the world.  I became very aware of this in my teen years with the Vietnamese baby lift and the news reports on the horrors that Romanian Orphans endured.  At that time, I felt strongly I wanted to do something about it.  This desire has burned inside of me since that time.  But, as life would have it, I got married, had three great kids and the circumstances to try to make a difference never seemed possible.  Now my kids are grown and supporting themselves and I find myself living in Tennessee in a home with plenty of space and a peaceful country setting.  The whisper in my ear has gotten louder until I can no longer ignore the call.  It is time for me to act.  I can't help all the orphans out there, but it seems God has opened doors for me to help one of them.  This blog is to share our story as it unfolds and perhaps in doing that, it will encourage others to open their eyes to help some other little ones out there that are so desperate for someone to stop and see them and give them the love they so desperately need.  Not everyone is meant to adopt, but all can help in some way.....financially, through prayer, by donating time or items needed, giving parents of adopted kids a needed break.  There are way too many things to list, but you can use your imagination or contact your local foster care for ideas or an adoption agency for ideas.