A future full of hope!

There is much curiosity about Katya's past and the circumstances that lead her to Podolsk Orphanage.

Katya was born in Podolsk, Russia in 1995 to an unmarried 21-year-old woman. Katya’s mother died when she was 13 months old, leaving her in the care of her grandmother in Belarus. In 1999, Katya’s grandmother died, leaving her an orphan because there were no other relatives. Because Katya was born in Podolsk, she became a ward of the city, so she was sent to live at the orphanage in 2000.

The courts know the identity of Katya’s biological father, but there are three contributing factors that determine why he cannot claim guardianship. First, he was never married to Katya’s mother. Second, he is a convicted felon and third, the potential for guardianship is legally impossible because the authorities classified her as a true orphan to ensure he will never attempt to claim custody. Once Katya leaves Russia, the records are sealed and he will not be able to locate her nor will he be given any information pertaining to her whereabouts.

As far as Fred and I are concerned, we would prefer not to dwell on her past, but on her bright and happy future with us! Some say life begins at 40, but for Katya we think life begins at 12!

Why Oregon?

After posting on Friday's blog that our adoption agency is located in Oregon, I received several emails asking why we chose an agency on the west coast, especially since we have so many reputable agencies within a 50-mile radius of Annandale. The answer is simple - not all adoption agencies work in the Moscow region of Russia. For instance, the Datz Foundation, an outstanding adoption agency about 4 miles from my home facilitates adoptions in Russia, but not in the Moscow region! The requirements differ greatly from one region to the next, so it would be difficult for an agency to work in the entire country. Agencies in the United States must have satellite offices in the regions they represent, consisting of an attorney, admin support, interpreters and translators. From everything I’ve read, the Moscow region has more requirements and stricter medical guidelines to follow, so I’m grateful Dove Adoptions knows the specific requirements for the Moscow region and makes sure we have all of the necessary paperwork completed and completed correctly! In a future blog I’ll tell you about our final medical requirement of EIGHT doctor visits!

How I got involved in Russian Orphanages

Photo:
The birthplace of a dream - on the roof of the Owens Family home in Clintwood, Virginia. Randy is on the ladder wearing the baseball cap.

In the summer of 2001, I was fortunate enough to be partnered with a wonderful man, Randy Jones, while participating in the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) in Clintwood, Virginia. Randy is from West Virginia, in fact he's from Summersville, my birthplace! All week, while replacing a roof of a trailer in 95-degree heat, Randy shared his stories about his mission trip to the orphanages and really encouraged me to get involved. Since seeing a documentary on television in 1989 about orphanages in Eastern Europe, I was haunted by the children’s faces and was determined to one day help in any way I could. Shortly after returning from ASP, Randy generously presented me with a way to become a part of this worthwhile endeavor so off I went to Russia for the first time in December 2001! I fell in love with the children and not only made a commitment to return every year, but also to get more people involved and to raise funds to help the orphans. Since 2003, I have helped 18 high school and college kids become Russia missionaries, many of whom have returned multiple times. The children at the orphanages love our visits and we have forged long-lasting relationships with many of them. The kids especially appreciate the gifts as well as the much-needed toiletries, knitted items and other essential supplies that we take over year after year. I have journeyed to Russia six times and will continue the good work of the Russian Orphanage Project as long as I am able.

Oftentimes God has plans for us that really take us by surprise. Last December, the director of Podolsk Orphanage suggested I adopt a then 11-year-old-girl who has been living at Podolsk since 2000. I thought it was a fantastic idea and my husband wholeheartedly agreed, so we will be the proud parents of Katya Grace Buoni by the end of September 2007, God willing. I thought I had been abundantly blessed by my work with the Russian Orphanage Project, but little did I know until now the true abundance of my blessings!

A day well spent

I attended an all day workshop entitled: It's All About YOU: Be The World Expert on Your Body, presented by Dr.'s Oz and Roizen. Dr. Oz is often featured on the Oprah show, and I'm a big fan. (No pun intended!) Dr. Oz received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and obtained a joint MD and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Wharton Business School. Dr. Oz is professor and vice-chairman of surgery, Columbia University. He is medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Pretty bright guy! Dr. Oz brings body parts to his seminars so you can see "healthy" body parts and compare them to diseased body parts. He has a brain, aorta, testicles, omentum, prostate and a uterus with attached ovaries! He allows you to actually touch the organs, with gloves of course! We were fascinated, to say the least.
I love the fact that the seminar combined western medical philosophy with what some might call "new age" philosophy. Mind over matter, the healing power of your mind and spirit, etc. It all boiled down to common sense, eat right and EXERCISE, focus on the positive and be a good and decent person. Make a contribution, do the right thing, be kind. They delivered these common sense guidelines in such a way that it seemed fresh, fun and so easy. Easy may be a stretch, but it was a great day and I look forward to learning more from Dr. Oz. The day ended with a quiet time, a time to center yourself and think about what truly matters; to remember what should always be your primary focus:

Just for today, do not worry.
Just for today, do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to everything.

That says it all, doesn't it?

Photo: Katya - 2005

Everyday...we wait.

Fred walks in everyday and one of the first things he says is, "Did you hear from Dove today?" Dove is our adoption agency in Oregon. What I want to say is, "Don't you think I would have called you if I had news of a court date!" Reminds me of that cell phone ad on TV (the dropped call one) where the woman screams into the phone...."WE'RE PREGNANT!" I would call Fred at work and scream, "WE GOT A COURT DATE, WE ARE GOING BACK TO RUSSIA!!!!!!" Twelve to fifteen days after the court date we will be bringing our daughter home, so we are more than anxious. We were told there is a small chance of an August court date, so of course I'm counting on August!
Tomorrow marks two weeks that we've been home. That's two weeks closer to getting Katya, but it also means we haven't seen Katya in two weeks. Very hard. I pray she understands that it’s not our choice to stretch out the process this long. I pray that she has a clear understanding that we are working very hard to make the adoption happen as quickly as possible. When we started the adoption in January, we were told it would take approximately 12 to 15 months so according to that estimation we ARE making it happen quickly! I can't wait for the day when we can have a deep, lenghty conversation without a translator! I know I'll be patient when it comes to language skills, I just wish I could be as patient with our court date!
THINK AUGUST EVERYONE!!

Photo: Katya in her bedroom at the orphanage

It's official, I'm old!

It's official, I'm old! And I'm definitely not hip. This was confirmed tonight when I was watching an entertainment show while doing the dishes and they were talking about Lindsey Lohan. I can't even name one movie she's been in! Another mug shot featured on the show tonight was Mindy McCready. I've never heard of her! My friend emailed me today and talked about her teenage daughter being into Hannah Montana. Who? Katya told me her favorite singer was Fergie. The only Fergie I'm aware of was once married to Prince Andrew! I Googled Fergie when I came home from Russia and have posted the photo that was at the top of the Google list. I'm in trouble...
I'm starting to worry that Katya will think I'm an old fuddy-duddy! The kids in Russia definitely know who's popular in America. We tour the orphanages every year and see the posters hanging on their bedroom walls. It disturbs me deeply that I've seen many 50 Cent and Eminem posters. Why must they idolize those F-word, n-word spewing rappers? Why not Josh Groban or U-2? Oops, I'm showing my age again! I think I'll subscribe to People and Us Weekly so I can brush up on pop culture. I'm going to upload some Fergie songs on my iPod so I can sing along with Katya, providing the lyrics are G-rated. Figure the odds...

Fred and I are members of the non-profit organization Families of Russian and Ukrainian Adoptees or FRUA. Because of this affiliation and my seven years of involvement with the Russian Orphanage Project, I was asked to participate in a panel to present information about the state of human rights in Russian orphanages sponsored by US Representative Tom Lantos (12th District of California). I am more than happy to talk about the improvements I've seen in Russian orphanages in the last seven years. I would love everyone to know the orphanage directors and teachers do a superb job given the resources available to them. Their dedication to the children appears genuine and sincere, and the children seem healthy and happy. (As happy as an orphan in an institution can be.) Of course there is room for improvement, but I feel it is important to acknowledge the vast improvements I've witnessed since first traveling to Russia in 2001. For instance, at Podolsk Orphanage, Svetlana is in the process of buying new furniture for the children, and workers are painting and installing new floor coverings in the sleeping quarters and improving the canteen. Svetlana tells me it is difficult to recruit good teachers because of the low pay. Sound familiar? But, she has hired and kept many dedicated and loving teachers, one of whom actually takes children home with her to spend the night! I know there are human rights violations all over the world, but it is time to shine a positive light on the thousands of directors and teachers who are working hard for very little pay to improve the lives of the children who must live out the first 18 years of their lives in institutions.

Well, after I told them what I was going to say, they recanted their offer for me to sit on the panel.

Surprise, surprise.