The Beginning - Post #3

Fast forward a couple of weeks. The kids are back home in the Ukraine and Chuck & I think our hearts are safe. But guess what? Now we are on the email distribution list! Oh Joy! Another string of emails.


So an urgent plea, via a group email, lands in my mailbox. It asks all to consider adopting a 15 year old girl who is about to turn 16 in a few days. I looked at the picture of this sweet looking, blonde, fair girl and promptly deleted it. I DID mention it to Chuck over the next couple of days and we again agreed it would be a huge life style change but interesting to contemplate.

The next week, what I thought was the same email coming back around, lands in my mailbox with a subject line of, "You may have already seen this..."

I didn't open it but called Chuck at the office and told him it came back around. I was just feeling it pull me this time. We agreed to talk about it that evening. Well, that evening I had a deacons meeting at church so before I left, I said something along the lines of, "Ya know, if we are gonna go this, we HAVE to be on the same page. It can't be your idea or my idea. It has to be OUR commitment." Obvious, I know, but it had to be out on the table. I left for the meeting and said, we need to make a decision this evening because the initial paperwork has to be filed before her 16th birthday or it is too late. She can turn 16 and be OK as long as their petition is filed before then.

I come home a few hours later and ask, "Did you have a chance to think about this."

I am expecting (hoping?) to hear “NO!, just not doable.”

Chuck answered with, "Yes...................(pregnant pause)".

"OK," says I, "and what do you think? Should we go for it?"

To which he answers, "Yes...........(pregnant pause)"

After a stunned silence, I shakily croaked, “Who are you? And what have you done with my husband?” (I am thinking alien abduction? Brain drain? SOMETHING dramatic!)

Once the shock wore off, I opened the email and read it, looked at the picture, got the contact, info, etc. Guess what? NOT the same fair-haired cutie named Lilyiana but instead a dark haired beauty with deep, soulful brown eyes named Alyona. Could she possible pass as my child? Was this the one meant to be? Fanciful questions or the hand of God? Does it matter?

At that, my friends, is how our journey started. This was Wednesday the 11th. I had to run around and get initial paperwork, etc. to the post office by Friday (the 13th - YIKES ) for delivery to USCIS. I had delivered overnight, delivery confirmation, etc.

We then contacted a Home Study Agency, because you have to have 3 required visits. And they are suppose to help with getting a dossier together. A dossier, by the way, is nothing more than plethora of paperwork. And God forbid the US and the Ukraine except each others SAME freaking forms!!

The fun begins in earnest now. I knew it couldn’t be so easy. Stay tuned for the next adventures.