Summer Fun

Today we enjoyed a beautiful day outside. It was rather windy, but that didn't stop us from being outside. Rachel decided to wash the car and the neighbor's car as well. She had to pay him back for teaching her how to parallel park and change a tire. I'm glad she knows how to change it because I don't. I worked on finishing up the mowing I started on Thursday. As I was mowing, Rachel's friend came over to hang out and two of the neighbor girls and their friend also came over. I laughed because two of them wanted Rachel to spray them with the hose. And she did!! I was thinking that this is how I remembered summers when I was growing up. And then I thought how fun it would be to teach them how to play kick the can. I have fond memories of playing that game when I was growing up. I talked to my neighbor and she agreed that we should get all the neighbor kids out some night and do it.

Water, Sand, Moles and Ground Squirrels

Okay, enough already! I just have to say that I have had enough with the water and the sand in my basement. I can't take it anymore!! I want my basement back!! And if one more person asks me if I have flood insurance, well, let's just say that I will try to hold my tongue and be polite. I actually found out today that flood insurance doesn't even cover seepage, so it wouldn't help me anyways. Not that flood insurance would help me get the basement cleaned up either. If anyone knows if there is flood insurance available that does cover seepage, I would be overjoyed to hear about it. It won't help me now, but in the future it would be helpful.

If that isn't enough, I have a mole or moles and ground squirrel(s) that are making holes and tunnels in my yard. Granted, I really don't have great grass growing yet, but that doesn't give them the right to make a mess of my yard. The moles have even made tunnels in my flowerbeds that I spent a lot of time weeding and mulching last week (2 trucks full of mulch to be exact). That was a very exhausting job and now they're making a mess of it. UGH!!!!!!!

Well, now that all of that is off my chest, I can go finish cleaning the garage so I can put more things from the basement in it.

US/Vietnam Relations Update

From today's joint statement issued by the White House:

"The President expressed his commitment to continue the development of intercountry adoption cooperation between the United States and Vietnam that ensures the best interests of the child, respects his or her fundamental rights, and prevents the abduction and trafficking of children. The Prime Minister underscored that Vietnam shares these goals and stressed that Vietnam will speed up preparations for an early accession to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions. The Prime Minister also welcomed U.S. technical assistance in facilitating this step."

This sounds promising. Now I just hope we see some action. It is great for them to say this, but here's hoping this means we will see more referrals coming as well as traveling for those who already have referrals.

Adoption Video

I came across this video a couple of weeks ago. It moved me to tears. I keep thinking how much I would like to show it at church sometime. It speaks to how important it is that we as the bride of Christ, who have been adopted into His family, should be on the forefront of adopting orphans. Why should we not do what God has already done for us? I know that not all of us can physically bring a child into our homes as one of our own children, but certainly all of us can give out of the abundance that God has given us so that those who can and want to bring a precious child into their home can do so. I hope that all of you will watch and pray for God to move in the hearts of His people.

JCICS Update

Yesterday the following was posted on the JCICS website.

As of today, Monday, June 23, 2008, the letter from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption to Secretary Rice regarding intercountry adoption and child protection in Vietnam has received over 130 Congressional signatures! Given the visit to the United States by the Prime Minister of Vietnam over the next few days, it would greatly benefit our collective effort if additional calls to Members of Congress were made immediately. While many families and adoption service providers are not directly involved with Vietnam, we urge all families and service providers to participate in A Child’s Right Campaign by calling your Congressional Senators and Representatives today! Maintaining children’s services including intercountry adoption and providing needed family and child protections, is obviously of critical importance to the families and children of Vietnam. And it is equally important that our community demonstrate that we can provide needed reforms, provide additional protections and ensure the right of every child to a safe, permanent and loving family. Please take a moment now and contact your Congressional Senators and Representatives and ask if they have signed the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) letter to Secretary Rice. If they have, please thank them for their support. If not, please ask that the Senator or Representative add their support and signature to this important letter. Our thanks to everyone who has helped make A Child’s Right Campaign a success for the families and children of Vietnam.

It is my hope that each person reading this will take a moment to call you senators and representatives and pray. I know that ultimately it is in God's hands and that He is able to exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or imagine!

Priorities

This morning Rachel sang special music at a church different from our own. The pastor asked us to consider what our priorities are. He said you could tell what your priorities are by asking yourself the following three questions:
1) Where do your idle thoughts go?
2) How do you spend your free time?
3) How do you spend your money?

In Matthew 10, Jesus tells us that if we love mother, father, son, daughter, etc. more than Him we are not worthy of Him. Jesus isn't saying that we shouldn't love anyone else, He is simply asking us to make sure our priorities are straight. As I think about this, I am certain that more often than not, my priorities are not what they should be. I could justify it by the fact that I am a single mom trying to keep it altogether but it just doesn't cut it. We all face many things that can occupy our attention, time and money. The question is, "Will we keep our eyes focused on Jesus or will we bow to those things?" I am saying tonight that I want to keep my eyes focused on Jesus. I want Him to be the top priority in my life. I am also praying for forgiveness for the times that I have failed in this matter.

Saying Good-bye

Well, as I expected, saying good-bye to Mari-Liis was difficult. After all, she had become a part of our family. She was like a daughter to me and a sister to Rachel. I don't know about the girls, but heading down to the IHOP for breakfast before going to the airport, waves of sadness would wash over me and I had to fight the tears from starting to flow. We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare and spent time in the airport gift shop and just talking before it was time for her to head through security. As we walked toward the gates, she said she didn't feel like she was leaving to go home. She felt she was just going away for a day and would be back tomorrow. She would wake up at our house. But then when the two girls hugged, the tears flowed for all of us. Mari-Liis said she didn't think she was going to cry. When she hugged me she told me I was a good mom. If I hadn't been crying before then, I was certainly crying now.

It was a quiet ride home because neither of us wanted to talk much for fear the tears would start all over again. And they did, even without talking. After we got home, I found Rachel sitting in the closet in Mari-Liis' room. It is hard to go in there and see that room so empty. It's not supposed to be that way. But I keep telling myself that it won't be empty for long. Sometime soon I believe that God is going to bring a special little girl or boy into our lives who is going to fill that room and our house and our lives with much joy and laughter. One chapter in our lives has closed and now we await the unfolding of a new chapter. Right now we don't know what it will look like but we know it will come. Until then, we will hold on to the great memories from our last chapter with Mari-Liis and wait patiently (or not so patiently at times) for the next chapter to begin. We will fill our lives with driving practice, cleaning out the basement, finishing up the summer reading program at the public library, and just enjoying time with family and friends over the summer.

Farewell Party for Mari-Liis

Tonight we had a farewell party for Mari-Liis. It is hard for us to wrap our brains around the fact that she is leaving tomorrow. She didn't cry tonight because she said she doesn't feel like she is leaving tomorrow. Rachel was a little teary-eyed when Mari-Liis took one of her suitcases out to the van before our guests arrived. I have a feeling that tomorrow and the next couple of days are going to be really difficult for her. Mari-Liis has been like the sister she never had but always wanted. I can only hope that our time for a referral and travel will not be long in coming. We will certainly covet your prayers tomorrow.

The Latest From JCICS

Here is what was reported at www.jcics.org/vietnam.htm today! It seems like it is a positive thing on behalf of the children of Vietnam and the families waiting here in the States.

Joint Council's Child's Right Campaign has been well received, and the letter to Secretary Rice, advocating for a new MOU for Vietnam, is now circulating to all of the congressional offices.

Joint Council is asking families to call their elected officials on Thursday, June 19th and Friday, June 20th, in support of the campaign. Joint Council has previously asked for your support, but the next two days will be crucial in obtaining the support of Congress for this important bill. Joint Council has received overwhelming support for this campaign, and we appreciate your phone calls and e-mails on such short notice.

So once again, please CALL your senators and congressmen and follow up with an email now that the actual letter is circulating and people are more in the know than the first time. It is really going to take perserverence to get this program back where it needs to be. PLEASE call! Every phone call will make a big difference. The calls need to be made tomorrow and Friday.

Email this to anyone you know, everyone can help make a difference!

Church Picnic

Tonight we had our first church picnic of the summer. It was a great night to be out and there was a great turnout. As usual, the food was bountiful and delicious and the fellowship was sweet. I had a chance to connect with some people I haven't been able to talk to for awhile and to get acquainted with some new people that have just recently started attending our church. I was really glad that Mari-Liis was able to go and enjoy herself so much because in two days she will be leaving us. I won't think about that tonight.

At the picnic, I learned about a new game (at least, it is new to me). It is called Ladder Golf. Rachel says she has played it before. It looks like a lot of fun! I didn't play tonight, just watched. Has anyone else ever played this game? I'm thinking I will have to make or buy one of these before the 4th of July. We are planning on having a picnic with our friends at our house.

Grandfather All Dossiers Petition

Hi everyone!

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I
recently signed:

"Grandfather All Dossiers Logged In by July 1st 2008"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Grandfather_All_Dossiers?e

I am in the process of trying to email as many people as possible about this but in case I don't get to you, here it is.

In short, this is a petition being submitted to the congressional
coalition on adoption chairs to encourage them to use their influence
to convince the department of state to allow all dossiers logged in by
7/1 to be processed and matched.

As you are all probably aware, things are really up in the air with
adoptions in Vietnam. Right now, unless things change this summer,
anyone who does not have a referral by September 1st will have their
dossier returned to their agency. Adoptions will be closing between
the two countries unless a new Memorandum of Agreement can be drafted
and agreed upon. Because we already have our dossier logged-in in
Vietnam, we have a chance of receiving a referral. If this petition
goes through, we would definitely be able to go ahead with adopting a
child from Vietnam even if we do not have a referral by September 1st.

NO DONATION IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT YOUR SIGNATURE!! The signature is
already recorded by the time you see the donation page. if you choose
to make a donation it will go to support the petition administration
site and WILL NOT go toward any type of adoption related humanitarian
aide. Just FYI.

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage
you to add your signature as well. You would be helping us
tremendously. It only takes a minute of your time. If you feel led,
please feel free to forward it to others on your email list that you
feel would be willing to sign.

Hanging Out

As I sit here updating my blog, the girls are hanging out drawing and making paper outfits and giggling. I am so enjoying listening to their interactions. It makes me sad to think that at this time next week, I will no longer be able to hear this interaction because Mari-Liis will be leaving to return to Estonia.

As we sit here, with the windows open, because it is not storming and not hot and humid, we feel the cool air and smell the campfire from our neighbor's fire pit. What a great night!! I thank God for His indescribable blessings upon us!

Driving Lessons

Wow! That's all I can say! On Tuesday Rachel got her permit. Now, she wants to drive everywhere! It is quite an experience, I have to tell you. It is really testing my patience and my teaching abilities. Thank goodness she has to drive at least 9 months (50 hours). I'm hoping that grandpa and some of her "adopted" dads will help out. They might have some insights to share with her that I am missing. For the most part, she is doing a good job. She does have to work on turning though.

I know it has been a long time since I have posted. A lot of things have happened since we got word that our dossier was received in Vietnam, which has prevented me from finding time to write until now. So, let me go back to the last post and explain. As many of you are aware, at the end of April we got word that USCIS was starting DNA testing on all relinquished children. Then, shortly after that, we received word that adoptions from Vietnam would be ceasing as of September 1, 2008. Any family that did not have a referral by then would have their dossier returned to the agency. I figured we would be okay but was told that our likelihood of getting a referral before then was slim.

Then, on my wedding anniversary date, we found that we had water in our basement. Even though we knew we were in what would be considered a flood plain, others who have built out here told us they have never had any flooding because they build 4 feet in the ground and 4 feet above. So, that's what we did! But with all the snow this winter and rain this summer, the water table was so high that the water seeped in. Four of our neighbors also have the same problem. At present, we are still waiting for the water to go down in our basement. It was almost dry Memorial Day weekend and then Sunday night we had 3-4" in a short amount of time and we were back to where we started. At least our basement wasn't finished. My brother-in-law who is an engineer had an idea of how to clear up this problem so that it doesn't happen again. I can only hope that it works and isn't too expensive.

In the midst of all this drama, we had the anniversary of my husband's death, the ending of the school year with some drama at the middle school, and the start of Driver's Ed. for Rachel and the Summer Reading program for me. But praise God it is finally summer and I can spend time trying to solve some of the many problems that have arisen here lately.

Next week Mari-Liis will be leaving us. We are sad to see her go. She has become a special part of our family and will always have a special place in our hearts. Rachel is already making plans to travel to Estonia her senior year (well, the summer afterwards) to visit her.

Please continue to pray for the situation between the United States and Vietnam to be worked out so that adoptions can continue. There are so many great things that the agencies do over there besides facilitating adoptions. It would be a tragedy for those to cease as well as children have to remain in orphanages longer.