Our family story starts with my decision in August 2004 to build a family through international adoption. I had longed to be a mom, but had not yet met the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and to build a family with. I had come to realize that I could always get married and age would not be a factor. However, age would eventually be a factor when becoming a mom. The time was right to explore my options and do something if that was truly what I wanted. After thoroughly researching various agencies and countries, I chose to adopt from Russia and work with a small agency based in Georgia. After a few short months I received a referral for a beautiful little boy in Russia. I traveled two and a half months later to spend a week getting to know my little boy. It was anticipated I would return a few months later to bring him home. I hoped and prayed time would pass quickly so that we could be reunited. This was not the case. The most devastating situation occurred. While waiting for my court date, my little boy’s region stopped processing international adoptions due to a family returning four siblings back to this region just two weeks after bringing them home. I subsequently lost my little boy.
After much soul searching, I decided to continue my dream of building a family. Unfortunately after a few months of waiting for another referral, my agency was forced to close (for many reasons). Sixteen months after starting my adoption journey I was back to where I started, but now I was emotionally and financially drained due to suffering through a failed adoption.
Now what??
If I were going to fulfill my dream of building a family, I would have to find another agency. The idea of moving forward was daunting. I was emotionally paralyzed. My adoption coordinator (from the closed agency) immediately suggested I contact Elina at Adoption ARK because they were successful in bringing children home from Russia. Within two hours of e-mailing Adoption ARK explaining my story (plight), I received an e-mail from Dina on December 15, 2005 stating they could help me.
Despite my hesitation and concern about attaching to another child, I traveled December 26, 2005, just eleven days after my initial contact with Adoption ARK, to meet my future son.
My week in Russia was wonderful with twice a day visits with my little boy and a superb translator that truly cared about the children and my time in Russia.
A little over three months after returning home from trip one, I was on my way back to adopt a beautiful, smart, funny, loving, thoughtful 3 year 9 month old boy. It was still hard to accept and believe my dream was actually being fulfilled. I was going to be a mom to an absolutely amazing little boy. Blessed – yes!
As I write our family story, Shane and I have been home for almost nine months. A learning experience for both? Definitely! The most rewarding and fulfilling experience I have ever been through? Undoubtedly! Will I do it again? Absolutely!
It took some time to find my son Shane. As I reflect back I truly believe it was all part of God’s plan to bring Shane and I together. It was a necessary journey.
Thank you to the Adoption ARK team for helping me to build my family. Because of you I have been able to say to Shane every night, as I did that first week together in Russia…
Ya tvai-ya ma-ma vseeg-dah
I am your mama forever.