To catch you up to speed on the adoption front ... On February 5th, Tom DiFilipo, President of Joint Council on International Children's Services led a small delegation of three waiting parents to meet with Kyrgyzstan government officials, NGO's and media to advocate for the processing of the 65 pending US and Canadian adoptions. The timing for this trip is especially important because Parliament is due to discuss the IA situation the week of February 15th. We are hoping that the meetings will help them to open their minds and hearts. Please continue to pray! We have also learned that President Bakiev is now aware of the situation and involved, which is huge. The three mama bears are headed over with a letter addressed to him and to the new Prime Minister, requesting the speedy processing of the pending cases. This letter has been signed by the waiting families, Joint Council, and National Council For Adoption. Two cover letters will accompany it, one signed by US Senators and one signed by US Representatives. Suzanne, Lisa, and Teresa - you are in our thoughts and prayers this week. May you have the strength to move the mountains that need moving!!
We know as of a couple of days ago that the 3 lovely ladies in Bishkek were granted access to the baby houses, and more specifically to the BBH. We are anxiously awaiting new pictures and some updates on A. We haven't gotten any updated information in a long time, to be honest I think actually before my trip last March even. We did, however, receive pictures in December ...
In other news, Ryan has been offered and accepted a job on the east side of the state as the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac. He has already moved and started the new job as of January 1st. I'm still residing in Rice Lake, and will remain here until our house sells. Unfortunately, it's a pretty shitty market to be selling houses. The good thing is that I am still working so I can at least maintain my income as long as I am here. I really do enjoy my job, so that isn't so bad. It just really sucks to be so far away. I'm also usually pretty independent, but with all health/physical issues I've had in the past year it's been pretty hard with all the limitations: I shouldn't shovel; I shouldn't be carrying loads of laundry; I can't move boxes, furniture, etc.; I shouldn't be vacuuming (apparently the back and forth motion is bad for your spine) and the dang thing is fricken heavy, so I have a hard time carrying it up and down the stairs. Other than that things are going pretty good living single!
I'm still in Physical Therapy and should be wrapping it up in the next couple of weeks. I took some time off in October because my hip was getting really sore. On my "off-time" I fell down the outside back steps when we had a crazy ice rain in October! I had to get a new MRI for my back and it turns out that I have an annular tear on my lower spine (L5, S1). I have since started back PT where they have been working on my back and hip simultaneously. I'm continuing to keep myself busy here. I'm still running the after school program in my classroom. I'm also working all the home basketball games at the High School. I've started selling stuff on eBay again, hoping to get rid of the old stuff, and to help lighten the load for the move. I also found a fantastic fundraiser that will help us personally and an orphanage in Africa! We'll use the money for our travelling funds to pick A up. It's gourmet roasted coffee, and it's actually pretty awesome!
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