February 14, 2005 Update
Last week we received a copy of our Homestudy. Every step from here forward depended on getting this report completed. Although there was no concern, we have it in writting now that a professional social worker has granted approval for us to adopt one or two children.
This weekend we went to Louisville for the 2nd week in a row. We attended the annual fund raising banquet for Hopeful Hearts Foundation. It was a formal occassion. Prior to the dinner there was a silent auction. Steph really wanted a beautiful tea set that was from Ukraine. It seemed to be the most popular item at the auction. We really enjoyed going back to the table with the tea set and raising the bid every time someone over-bid us. We did not find out until the end of the dinner that we won the bid and we got to take the tea set home. We also bid on a couple of water color paitings of the city of Kiev. Unfortunately, we did not get these. We were bidding for my parents as well. I thought that I was going to get the best of the two paintings. It was a winter scene painted by a Ukrainian artist. I placed a bid of $200 on this painting as the lights went off indicating the auction was over, someone sniped us after the auction ended. Still we got a beautiful tea set, 22 piece, hand painted from Ukraine. Steph and my mother are sharing the tea set. We dispayed two cups and saucers on a shelf at mom's and we have the serving tray, pitcher, creamer, two cups and saucers and sugar bowl sitting on our antique music cabinet.
The dinner was great. They served spinach stuffed chicken breast, steamed carrots and a side of grits. Yep, grits--we were south of the Ohio river you know. There were about 400 people there. The program included a new video from the orphanages in Ukraine. Hopeful Hearts is taking on another 3 orphanages in Ukraine, one of them being for older children. A comment from the program that sticks out in my mind is that one Orphanage Doctor told the group from Hopeful Hearts that the medicine that was provided by Hopeful Hearts saved many children who would not have made it through the winter. They do not have hot water and have limited heat, children suffer greatly during the cold winter months. I was please to learn that over 89 cents of every dollar that is donated to Hopeful Hearts goes directly to help the children.
We were seated with a couple who has adopted two children from Ukraine, in addition to the one from Russia and one from Guatemala. We asked a lot of questions about what to expect when we travel.
Steph and I stayed at the Seelbach Hotel, downtown Louisville, where the function was held. The rooms were small but quaint, it is a very old hotel and holds a great deal of historical significance to the city.
Now we wait on an appointment from the INS to get fingerprinted for an FBI background check. After that we wait on INS approval. Then we send our documents to Ukraine for translation and submission to the Adoption Center.
More later.....
This weekend we went to Louisville for the 2nd week in a row. We attended the annual fund raising banquet for Hopeful Hearts Foundation. It was a formal occassion. Prior to the dinner there was a silent auction. Steph really wanted a beautiful tea set that was from Ukraine. It seemed to be the most popular item at the auction. We really enjoyed going back to the table with the tea set and raising the bid every time someone over-bid us. We did not find out until the end of the dinner that we won the bid and we got to take the tea set home. We also bid on a couple of water color paitings of the city of Kiev. Unfortunately, we did not get these. We were bidding for my parents as well. I thought that I was going to get the best of the two paintings. It was a winter scene painted by a Ukrainian artist. I placed a bid of $200 on this painting as the lights went off indicating the auction was over, someone sniped us after the auction ended. Still we got a beautiful tea set, 22 piece, hand painted from Ukraine. Steph and my mother are sharing the tea set. We dispayed two cups and saucers on a shelf at mom's and we have the serving tray, pitcher, creamer, two cups and saucers and sugar bowl sitting on our antique music cabinet.
The dinner was great. They served spinach stuffed chicken breast, steamed carrots and a side of grits. Yep, grits--we were south of the Ohio river you know. There were about 400 people there. The program included a new video from the orphanages in Ukraine. Hopeful Hearts is taking on another 3 orphanages in Ukraine, one of them being for older children. A comment from the program that sticks out in my mind is that one Orphanage Doctor told the group from Hopeful Hearts that the medicine that was provided by Hopeful Hearts saved many children who would not have made it through the winter. They do not have hot water and have limited heat, children suffer greatly during the cold winter months. I was please to learn that over 89 cents of every dollar that is donated to Hopeful Hearts goes directly to help the children.
We were seated with a couple who has adopted two children from Ukraine, in addition to the one from Russia and one from Guatemala. We asked a lot of questions about what to expect when we travel.
Steph and I stayed at the Seelbach Hotel, downtown Louisville, where the function was held. The rooms were small but quaint, it is a very old hotel and holds a great deal of historical significance to the city.
Now we wait on an appointment from the INS to get fingerprinted for an FBI background check. After that we wait on INS approval. Then we send our documents to Ukraine for translation and submission to the Adoption Center.
More later.....
posted by Baldwin at 12:39 PM
5 Comments:
Joe! I hear my name has been used in vain! Ha ha! I am so thrilled for you and your wife!! Have friends who are going and have gone through the same experience. I will be praying for your child and his/her quick and gentle transition into your lives!
Love and prayers,
Christi (Geible) Shomaker
Dang Joe, you have a blog....lucky!
Vote for Pedro and all of your wildest dreams will come true!
Here you go...you guilted me into commenting! ;)
We're so excited for you on this journey. We pray that our baby and yours will arrive around the same time! :) Isn't it exciting to think about being parents at Christmastime this year?
Good to see you both this weekend. You're in our prayers!
This blog thing is cool
God pathways and how other people are used simply amaze me everyday. When I read the about the Dr. and all the Hopeful Hearts did, I wonder if maybe your child was saved this winter.
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