About Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is in central asia. It was once part of the Soviet Union. It is nestled to the south of Russia and northeast of China. The national language is Kazakh but the common language spoken is Russian.
Lilypie

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

first month home











So, here I am! I have not dropped off the face of the earth- but honest to goodness Lori was right when she posted that you really don't have any spare time for luxuries like blogging and other stuff. I've regularly checked in on other families at various points in their adoptions and am joyful for some, sad for others, and prayerful for all. I may not have ever met any of these families but feel a bond to all of them. This truly is a gut wrenching, faith testing, journey and we are so thankful that for us so far we have 2 incredible children home with us. I feel in my heart that a child still waits for us in China, but we are truly blessed with Sasha and Masha in our lives.

5 comments:

rightbrainedamoeba said...

what sweet babies :) Hope things are lovely this week :) tell them both priviet from me!:)

Kari J said...

I most certainly will. Oh, you and your wonderful mom can come up and play with them anytime!!!!!

Vonda Kaye said...

Kari & Dave,
So glad you had time to post so we can see those SWEET smiles again! They seem so perfectly content. I understand the time crunch though. Would love to hear how they are doing with their English, eating, etc. when you have time. Our two will be in their new home in 3 weeks!
Blessings and Happy Holidays!

aultfamily said...

Wow, look at those beautiful smiles! So great to see new pictures of Sasha and Masha.

Lori @ Five of My Own said...

Somewhere around 6 months it seemed like things started to feel routine/normal and it got better every month after that. Now coming close to a year it i hard to imagine a time before Nina. If I think back it was pretty much the same with the adition of each bio kid too.

The kids look like thay are thriving...they have such gorgeous smiles and now so much to smile about!

Timeline to Kazakhstan

  • July 28, 2009: Gotcha Day
  • June 17, 2009: Court in Ust-K
  • May 21, 2009: left for Ust-Kamenogorsk
  • May 7, 2009: received LOI and region assignment to Ust-Kamenogorsk
  • March 12, 2009: dossier approved and sent to Kazakhstan
  • Feb. 26 2009: dossier sent to Kazakhstans DC embassy
  • Jan. 23 2009: updated documents apostilled and fed-ex'd to AA
  • Jan. 20 2009: received FBI clearance
  • Jan. 7 2009: Re-did the Re-do of the FBI fingerprinting (Kari) and sent for clearance
  • Dec. 19 2008: Re-did FBI fingerprinting and sent for clearance
  • July 11: Dossier authenticated and Fed-ex'd to Adoption Ark.
  • June 21: received I-171h
  • April 19- received fingerprinting notice in the mail
  • Feb. 13 went to Sherrif dept- got black fingers (fingerprinting) for FBI clearance
  • Feb. 8: received dossier packet via email from AA (Adoption Ark)
  • February 6: mailed contract and initial paperwork
  • 2008