End of a year. Beginning of a new one.

Its 31st December 2012. So, much snow outside that even the 'For Sale' sign outside our house is fully covered in snow! They say it has snowed so much in the past 3 weeks that it is more than what was the total snowfall over the past 3 yrs, here in Ottawa.

This year has been an interesting ride. January saw us experience spending a night in a very luxurious yet obv cold Igloo at the Ice Hotel in Montreal. March and April, we spent in India, celebrating the 1st birthday of my darling niece, in a huge bash attended by more people than might attend some weddings here. The summer saw us taking quite a few trips, the 1st being one I took solo to Las Vegas to meet my good ol' friend Rohini, who came for a trip to the US from Australia. Meeting her in Vegas for a few days and spending time with her and her gorgeous daughter Amelia and hubby Mani was awesome. June 1st was also a big day for us as we started our home study! After years of trying to convince Dee, he finally saw that he was only afraid of things that are ok to be worried about, but he had nothing to be afraid of. If he could love my lil niece to pieces, to whom he is not related to by blood, he could love any child who came in our life and became part of our family. So, we have Nini to thank for this big step, in a way. :)
We also took our annual Europe trip and had a wonderful time in Scotland and England, before coming back to Canada to continue our adoption process, trips to Toronto ensued for our PRIDE training that is mandatory for all adoptive parents here. A visit to my family in California was just what we needed in August when we were invited to attend a beautiful wedding in Napa Valley of Dee's friend at work. To celebrate our anniversary we took a trip to our favorite Couples Resort in Algonquin (perhaps the last one for a few years at least!)

This is not so much to share with the whole world, but to remember myself when the next year ushers in a very very exciting phase in our life. 3 trips to Kaz coming up hopefully, if all goes well. A new home (and hopefully our current one will sell soon and relieve me of my stress!), family coming over to meet our baby, a whole new life for us in a way. I am SO ready for this phase of life, and SO looking forward to everything 2013 has to bring. All I can ask and pray for is that give me the courage to handle any obstacles with a calm mind and a patient virtue, that my family remain safe and healthy and part of my life. Everything else will just be gravy.
Oh Little Baby! The new year is about to begin and never again will you spend a new year alone!
Cannot wait to meet you and hold you in our arms!
Love,
Mama.

Russia and US: Adoptions no more?

Read the news today:

Russian lawmakers could move to ban Americans from adopting children from the country -- which is one of the top sources of international adoptions to the United States.

A bill to block adoption to the United States passed the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, on its first reading last week and it will be considered again Wednesday for a crucial second reading.

This could affect hundreds of American families seeking to adopt Russian children. From 1999 to 2011, 45,112 adoptions to the United States came from Russia, second to only China. However, the number of adoptions from Russia has waned in recent years after a peak in 2005.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/19/world/russia-adoption-u-s-ban/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

If these countries could resolve their differences, and people were screened better (I know its already pretty tough so I wonder how someone slips through the cracks) to avoid the very very few incapable/unwilling parents doing this for the wrong reasons slip through the cracks to avoid hurt and harm to the innocent children, so many lives can continue to be positively affected by adoption.
I do hope they are able to resolve their issues and not deny families coming together through this method. All the thousands of families touched positively by adoption can attest to the fact, I am sure, that this is a tough process but is positively life changing for everyone involved.

UPDATE:Very sad news. On 27th Dec, read the news that Putin has signed the law that bans the adoption of Russian children by US Citizens. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/world/europe/putin-to-sign-ban-on-us-adoptions-of-russian-children.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
This is devastating news in the world of Adoption. Parents who were ready to bring home their children, those who were adopting from there will all be affected by this. As will all those innocent children whose lives would have changed dramatically. Very sad news. I hope this doesn't affect adoptions to Canada. US/Kazakhstan adoptions still continue to be suspended. I wish politicians would not put politics before the needs of families and children.

Date in January with the Ministry

Latest update is that our in-country co-ordinator has to go in person to the ministry as its the first international application for adoption, so they will like to talk face to face and discuss the new process. This will happen in the first week of Jan probably. So, till then, we wait, we try to find a buyer for our home, we enjoy Christmas (Yes, of course we celebrate it, whats not to love about Christmas! :) ), and we enjoy the season and welcome the new year with a bang.
The ministry is going to be making so many dreams come true, hope they are quick with the process and understand how difficult it is but also how it is so rewarding to everyone. Lives will be changed forever, in a good way.

Cannot even begin to imagine how our life will be in the new year, our little Kaz baby in our new home, everyone welcoming her/him with open arms and an open heart. To 2013!

File in Aktobe. 1st in Line, we're told, after Kaz re-opened for International Adoptions this year.

Hurray! The file has reached our agency co-ord in Aktobe! Now she will attach all Kazakh translations and send it on its way. In a week the file will be in Astana. Apparently we will be the first in Kaz to submit the file to the Ministry of Education. Dont know if that's a good thing but perhaps that means that they will work on it quicker as there aren't any other files pending to work on for them.

Our house needs to sell soon so that we are prepared to leave anytime after end of December. Its been 5 days since the house got listed, have had 8 people come in for showings, and they seem to like it but we dont have any formal offer yet. Pls Universe! Pls!