Article 5

The Article 5 letter has been received by the agency in Bulgaria. They will translate and legalize it this week and could have it to the MOJ by next week.
We are missing our son and cannot wait until the day he is home forever.

U.S. Embassy interview

We just got word today that our embassy interview in Bulgaria was successful. For anyone who does not know, the agency in Bulgaria sends a representative for us to be present for the interview. So we were not there in Bulgaria this week.



We do not know details of what next. We do know that they are waiting for the embassy to issue the Article 5 letter. They'll need to translate and legalize this information and then will present it to the Ministry of Justice. We do not know a timeline from there as of yet.



We will keep you posted. Thank you for your prayers and all your support.

I800 news

Today we received the provisional approval for our I800. It took exactly 3 weeks to get here from the day they received our application. One more step closer.

We don't know the process fully, but the next step is for the Bulgarian agency to meet with the US Embassy to submit documents. From there, the US Embassy will issue a letter that will in turn be translated, legalized and sent to the Ministry of Justice in Bulgaria to give consent to continue on with this adoption.

We are excited to be moving forward with the process and pray that all will go smoothly.

We also received $70 more for our adoption in the mail today as well. Thank you, Jesus for Your provision and encouragement!!

Paperwork is done!!

We've been back from our first trip to Bulgaria for a month now and have jumped right back into the swing of things. We do miss Andrew terribly and our best treatment is to keep ourselves busy, which is not hard to do. We usually do alright until we see a picture of him or begin to daydream about going to our favorite places with him.

Once we got back we started filling out our I800 form. We needed some documents from Bulgaria and in a little over a week they arrived. So, we mailed in the I800 almost 2 weeks ago now. We do know they received it and are processing it. Hopefully, it won't be too long before we hear something.

Since getting back we have received around $1,300 from various people. Only $10,000 or so to go. We are so blessed to have friends and family supporting us in our adoption. It is amazing to see God provide to bring our son home through so many people. We applied for 2 adoption grants prior to our first trip, but were denied. Since returning we have applied for one more grant and are waiting to hear from them. So maybe we'll get some good news in the next month or so. Either way, we know God will provide all our needs. He called us to adopt and He is faithful. At this point He's already provided $26,000. What's another $10,000 when our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

We did want to mention how much we enjoyed Bulgaria and how we really cannot wait to return. Not only are we in love with our son, but also we have fallen in love with the country of his birth. Bulgaria is now a part of us and our family. We are now 1/7th Bulgarian! While we were there we asked as many questions as we could about their history and culture which is now a part of our history and culture as a family. We hope to return many times in the future.

We also wanted to mention how amazing the agency in Bulgaria is and how efficient they are. They have and continue to work tirelessly for the families in their care.

Our translator, Maria was amazing as well. She went above and beyond every day. Not only did she translate for us, but she became our tour guide as well. She even kept track of the time for us and made sure we were where we needed to be at the right time. Maria was the perfect match for us in that she was willing to walk all over Sofia with us when time permitted instead of taking public transportation. At one point she even paid our cab fare because she felt responsible when we ran out of time.

We were amazed at her wisdom during our time with our son. She was mindful to make sure that we were the first ones he saw when we arrived and not her. Whenever our son asked her for help, she pointed him to us. Maria worked well with us and knew what to translate at the appropriate times without having to ask.

We are missing Andrew and want him home now, but we are trusting in God's perfect timing. Scripture is full of exhortations calling us to remember the works of the Lord. As we look back, we realize just how much God has worked every detail together in his plan. The fact that our home study took a year to complete was necessary to bring us to the only moment we could have found Andrew. Even while we were in Bulgaria, the comment was made to us that it was amazing how things had "lined up" perfectly for us. Whether we ever understand the timing or not, we know that God is trustworthy and works all things together for the good of those who love him.

Last Day

Today we signed official documents to move forward with the adoption of our son Andrew. We had the visa fee on hand, so we were able to pay that now while in the agency office. That fee is now required before the 2nd trip. This is the most exciting paperwork we've ever needed to have notarized!

We arrived at the orphanage today with gifts for the staff in tow. We set them down inside and went out to greet our son. One of the caretakers brought him over to us and we immediately walked back to a secluded sandbox in the shade on the back of the property.

We brought new toys and he was content for sometime as we played. At one point he began to walk away from us to head for the other children. We called for him and he looked over his shoulder and took off running. Jen pursued, scooping him up and bringing him back to our bench. Another tantrum, although not nearly as severe as yesterday's. Jen held him on her lap and continued to say to him, "I love you" in Bulgarian. Aaron brought out the laptop and began to play videos we had taken of the three of us. This seemed to do the trick. So we spent some time watching them and holding him.

When Andrew was done with the videos he got down out of our lap and began to dig in the sand with some other toys we had brought. Aaron joined him and the two of them finished the morning on a high note.

When we returned in the afternoon, Andrew came out to meet us and immediately went to the bag to find the toy he had been digging with this morning. However it was time for presents and so we asked Andrew to hand them out to each of the women who have cared for him since birth. He absolutely loved it!

As we walked outside holding his hands, we passed a gated area where the other children were playing. He observed them but otherwise showed no interest in being with them. We returned to our bench. Andrew got right to the sandbox and Aaron joined him. As Aaron displayed his finest skills as a sand pile builder, Andrew copied every move.

Once again Andrew grew tired of the game and began to head towards the other children. Jen called for him and when he ran, she chased him down and brought him back to the bench to sit out another fit. Aaron brought out the laptop for more videos. The tantrum died down even sooner. We sat close holding hands and stroking his head while the videos played. We let him pick the videos out and press the play button. When the videos finished we gave him a snack and played another round of "ask nicely".

Jen left because she had the opportunity to see Andrew's crib, bed, shower and general living area. We have really had the chance to connect with the staff at the orphanage. They even told us to stay as late as we wanted to. Jen was able to talk with some of Andrew's caregivers about his time there. In talking with all those involved, it has really been the hand of God clearing the way before us, everything from volcano ash to the fact that if he hadn't been on the special needs list we never would have found him, to the fact that the decision had been made to take Andrew out of his program (special needs) and make him available for domestic adoption if international parents weren't found in the next few weeks. Praise God for his faithfulness to the fatherless!!!(Ps 146:9)

While Jen was away Aaron and Andrew spent some time together. Just the two of them. All week long the workers were asking Andrew to talk more. They would tell us that he does not stop talking about mommy and daddy. We weren't sure if they were just trying to make us feel good. When Jen left Andrew just began chatting away. Aaron could only understand a few words but it was wonderful to see Andrew content with no one else around but Daddy. He loves putting things away so the two of them packed up for the day.

Jen returned and the three of us continued to wander and play different games as several of the staff came out to wish us well. We stayed until 7 and we noticed that even Andrew seemed to be delaying the inevitable.

We weren't sure what we needed to say to him, if it would make sense or even if he would remember it. But when we heard him ask if we would be coming back tomorrow we knew we had to say something. We told him that we would be leaving for a very long time, but that the next time we come we would take him home with us. During the week Jen wrote him note telling him how much we loved him and will miss him. She told him how we needed to go home and get things ready for him. In it she explained that first it would have to get hot out, and then it would get cold, and then when it got even colder we would come and get him. Our translator wrote a copy in Bulgarian for us and we taped it in his photo album. One caretaker read it to him immediately with tears in her eyes.

When it was time to really leave we told him we loved him and would miss him. He then told his nurse he wanted to let us out. So, she walked with him to the buzzer to open the gate. He was smiling as he let us out, blowing kisses the whole time.

We will miss him terribly, but we know that leaving him now means we are that much closer to bringing him home.

What an amazing week! We are so blessed! Thank you, Jesus!

Day 4 with Andrew

Our 2nd walk went well. Again this rarely happens so we are so thankful for every new experience we get to share with him. Today's was a business walk as we went to a photo shop to have Andrew's picture made for his visa when we return after the adoption is finalized.



As we left the director instructed us to hold his hand tightly as he would be afraid of the cars. We both took his hand and followed one of the caretakers to the shop. As cars passed Andrew didn't even flinch. There wasn't even any body language that suggested any anxiety over being outside on the road with us.



When we reached the photo shop the caretaker stayed in the one roomwhile the translator went in the other with usand helped. At this point Andrew did begin to be a little uncertain of things. New place, new people, weird equipment all over the room. Jen asked the translator to explain to Andrew what we were going to do. Andrew still wasn't ok with everything so Jen took her picture first and the photographer showed Andrew. Then Jen lifted Andrew up to the seat and the two of them took their picture together. The last time Jen stepped out of the picture and Andrew sat still though still not completely at ease. Usually Jen will have to ask if she can hold him, this time when the pictures were over Andrew lept for he arms. Her "mother-bear" instincts kicked in and she was somehow able to carry him all the way back to the orphanage. She loved every minute of it and didn't care that her back hurt or that her pants were getting filthy.



Once we were back at the orphanage Andrew only wanted to play with the other children. He again began to throw a tantrum. Jen was able to have him ask nicely to go with the kids, but of course we were disappointed, yet content to enjoy what he was able to give us. We can only imagine what must be going through his mind right now as so many changes are happening or are about to happen. So we sat down in the same area where he was playing and tried to coax him with the red backpack. Nothing seemed to work. Some of the caretakers brought him a piece of candy. Not helpful. We tried a few more items but he was still resolved to do as he pleased. Finally, the caretakers just told us to leave and comeback later. "He's just tired" they told us.



He did have quite a morning. The caretaker that went with us had only started working there a couple of days before we showed up, and our normal translator was not able to make it for our morning session. The caretakers, we later learned, don't want the potential parents to dislike the child and not proceed with the adoption so they will often run interference. For our part, it is awkward to be "not-quite parents" to Andrew. We as parents have a procedure for handling situations, but until he's fully ours, where does our authority begin and end?



This afternoon we got there a little early while Andrew was still sleeping. When he woke up they sent him out with a cup of water and a snack, still groggy from his nap. We tried to talk with him, play with him and get him interested in the red backpack. No response. He wanted to go inside so we followed him. He wanted to go back to the other children, we didn't let him. Another tantrum. We decided maybe if we could get him outside around the playground that that would spark something. As Jen picked him up he flung his head back into a door jamb. More screaming.



Fortunately one of the caretakers that knows him came around the corner, calmed him down and carried him outside. We followed her to a bench where she sat him down and told him to spend time with mommy and daddy, they love you. She then told us that he was stubborn and we were to be just as stubborn and not let him win. Those were just the words we needed to hear. We then reassured her that we were in this for good, and that we knew we would have to face these battles at some point. She told us that she was glad that we were so well prepared and were not scared away by his fits.



As soon as she left, Andrew again wanted to be with the kids. We told him he had to stay with mommy and daddy. Then the fits began. Jen picked him up and walked to the furthest point in the yard away from the building. He kept crying "There, there, there.!" (In Bulgarian, of course)pointing back to the building. Jen just continued to hold him and tell him she loved him. He refused to stop screaming and crying. Finally Jen sat down on a bench holding him while he continued. Jen moved to the ground with him still in her arms kicking and crying.


At some point we noticed that the crying changed. He wasn't trying to get away anymore. He actually stopped a few times and would be distracted with something. He would start again but now more whining than crying. Jen brought out some of the blocks we had brought but Andrew was still not interested. Our translator remembered us playing with the blocks and knocking them over. So she tried. Quiet.


The rest of our time together from that point on was delightful. Andrew sat in Jen's lap content. He showed no interest in going anywhere. We gave him a water bottle to drink from. He loved opening and closing the lid. Every now and again the lid would get stuck so Jen would ask, "Ishkash li promosht?" (Do you want help?). Andrew would say "promosht". Then Jen would say "Mozhe li" (Can I please? - Telling him to ask nicely) and he would say "mozhee" (Can I please in a toddler way ). Jen would help him open it and before he could take a sip she would say "merci, mama" and he would say "merci" and then take a sip. Every time he would say a word he would get a huge grin on his face. We did this for quite some time and loved every minute of it.


He wanted to play with all the toys. He was very loving and affectionate. Near the end of our time we asked him to help clean up. He loves to organize things so he was excited to help. He opened the bag to put some things in and noticed a package of wipes that did not belong. So he called to Jen saying "mama" and handed them to her. This was the first time he called her mama without being prompted to. He gave us hugs and kisses goodbye, but something was different about today. Where before he had to be instructed to do so now there was a willingness about him.


Tomorrow is our last day with Andrew and we don't know how we're going to be able to leave him for so long. We are pleased to know that at least three of the staff have known him since he was a baby. He has been well loved and taken care of. We have been very impressed with the care he has received from the staff. He's actually one of the favorites and has been able to do many things outside of the orphanage. We're alos glad to know that they have kept records of his milestones which we'll have access to when we pick him up. The home is very nice and has many toys to play with. The yard to the orphanage is quite nice as well and they do spend a lot of time outside in the fresh air. If he had to be in an orphanage we are pleased that it was this one.


On a side note: Yesterday we were being tourists and were approached by a man asking for money for a child with cancer. Our translator told us he was paid to do this job and that not all the money always goes to the cause, so we walked away. As we did, he told us in English, "Don't be like the Germans." We laughed. We asked the translator what he meant and she said she had no idea.

Day 3 with Andrew

Today we brought Andrew the photo album we made filled with pictures of our immediate families. During the morning we had wandered around the grounds a bit following Andrew and trying to find something that he was interested in doing. At one point he saw some lilac flowers in a tree and began to point at them. Jen asked our interpreter to ask him if he wanted Mommy to help him reach it and he said yes. So, she got to pick him up and hold him while they picked the lilac. He was smiling the whole time.

At one point Aaron sat on the ground and asked Andrew to come sit near him to see what was in the red backpack today. At first we showed him a small plastic container of dinosaurs. After asking politely he tore the container open, dumped out all the dinosaurs and then began to play with the container! Well, its a good thing we had those dinosaurs. Otherwise what else would we have had to pour out of the plastic bucket and put back in again!

After losing interest in the plastic dinosaurs, Andrew again went for the backpack. He asked for the puzzles and Aaron invited him to sit on his lap. He did so without hesitation and sat there as we went through a couple of them.

As soon as we noticed him getting bored, Aaron reached for the photo album. Andrew frantically reached to open it and as the first page fell open he became perfectly still. Aaron began to point out each person, "Mommy, Daddy, sister, brother" We had taken a picture of us with Andrew on our first day together and our translator had it printed out for us. Andrew's face lit up with a grin as we turned to see his picture with us in the album.

For the rest of our time together that morning and then later that afternoon, he would not let that album out of his sight.

When we returned after lunch we showed the album to the orphanage doctor. She was delighted to know more about the family she would be giving Andrew to. She also was very impressed that we had printed out the Bulgarian words of our family members and taped them alongside of the pictures. As she finished Andrew came around the corner and saw the book. He ran towards the doctor and pulling him up next to her she began to "read" the pictures to him.

The afternoon we played different games with Andrew. Other children were playing nearby but everyone recognized the importance of the three of us having as much time as possible together. So we were a little more on top of his wandering on a whim. At one point he began to throw a tantrum, but Jen scooped him in her arms and began to run around the yard with him. Andrew laughing and giggling the entire time. Distractions work well with him for now.

Our very last moment of the day he had another tantrum and Jen was just able to simply hold him until he was able to ask politely. While she was holding him she just kept repeating "Obiechem te" (I love you). The tantrums may sound like an awful experience, but first of all they weren't that bad, and second, they were major bonding moments, as godly discipline always is.

When we left today he gave us hugs and kisses again. We said obicham te (I love you) as usual and his nurse told him to say it to us like usual. This time he actually did tell us he loved us for the first time. He blew kisses at us like he does everytime we leave and he always looks back one more time and blows one more kiss.

We are so excited because our agency told us we need to take him to get pictures made for the next steps in the process, so we get to take him with one of the orphanage staff out of the orphanage gates again. We may walk or take a taxi, so it will be another time to bond with him as we explore the city.

On a side note. Many women here, especially older women) have blue, red, or purple hair (we're talking really crazy colors) and we've been told it's not on purpose. Obviously there is a problem, maybe with the hair dye?