Gosh, where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday - I waited in the baby house director's office to meet the little girl whose face I fell in love with. Yesterday, I scurried around town from craft shop to paper shop - seeking out the perfect paper and ribbon to make her wedding invitations! I know my mom always said the older you get - the faster time goes -but my goodness - can I pause it just a bit?

I know many of you don't know me -- but I'm not the best public speaker - so I've even written my "toast" in hopes to tweak and practice it in the months to come - so I can stand and say it without passing out or crying.

Dear family & friends,

I’d... more

The home study unnerved me the most during my first adoption – after all I had looked at this person as the “one” who would say I was fit or unfit to parent a child. I think EVER inch of my house was cleaned and my yard looked picture perfect. During my second and third adoption – I had the amazing experience of a wonderful social worker who talked and worked as a team with my husband and I! I guess the use of the Internet really paid off in that case (I had posted and asked about a local home study coordinator) and was directed to this wonderful person.

There are a few things everyone needs to remember about the home study --- your agency may have policies and procedures in place... more

I hope with it being Adoption Awarenes Month – I could help shed some light on some comments that I as an adoptive mom find insensitive. Through the years – I have had many insensitive remarks made to me during or after our adoptions. But the one that bugs me the most is:

How much did “they” cost?

The process to bring my children in to our lives is what cost. Home study, adoption agency, immigration paperwork, airfare, dossier and in country expenses – never once do I see us paying for our child – I see us paying for the process of adoption. Just as anyone pays to have their child brought in to their life. Most all make a monthly insurance premium payment and... more

Trust me - once you are on the adoption journey awhile - you'll start understanding all the abbreviations and "lingo" that goes along with adoption. You'll also get used to the "amount" of paperwork that becomes part of your life during your adoption journey. I have heard that some agencies are requiring adoptive families to now use "dossier" services - which may be an option - but also an added expense I'm sure.

One of the very first forms that you will have to complete once you decided to adopt internationally is the I-600A. As my husband likes to tease - he was happy to "let me" take care of the paperwork. If you are working with an adoption agency at this point - they should... more

I tease that I have lots going on and now even my doctor wants a piece of me. I go this Wednesday for a biopsy of a tumor on my lung. Most likely NOT cancerous because of the shape and location of it – but the choice to monitor it for two years or just go in and take care of it – just seemed to make more sense to take care of “it”. Plus if it is cancer – we give it the opportunity to spread. A little pain for a piece of mind – seems worth it to me.

But did you ever notice when you think about taking time “off” from life – you realize just how busy life is? Okay – I know my family is saying – you’re always at full speed ahead – that is your “mode” – but honestly – more so than... more

Part of me feels guilty for even writing about this process – since we personally did not do all that well with this! But I know – it is an IMPORTANT step and I hope anyone considering adopting from Kazakhstan does their research. Please remember in today’s day and age – you do not have to adopt from an agency that is within your state – you can email, fax and mail so much – so do not limit yourself to your state in your search. We worked with out of state agencies and that portion was NEVER an issue.

As with any business, you have people who are ethical and those who are not. And although some agencies are “non-profit” they still have a “business” to run – and as much as they’d... more

From the desk of: Susan Saxon VolunteerAdministrative Executive Director Kazakh Aul of theU.S., Association for American & Kazakh Families

The Kazakh Aul of the US's summer camp host site, the Geneva Point Center on Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire just informed me that they had a group cancel a week in July 2007 and they offered this week to our group.

This is exciting news for our Aul because many families across the U.S. are unable to come during the previously reserved August week because their children return to school during that time. The opportunity to hold Zhailau during July means that many more of our members and other... more

I read this article this morning from Gauhar Abdygaliyeva and found it an interesting read. With BORAT in the news so much - I thought comments from someone who knows and loves Kazakhstan should be in order......

My 'glorious nation of Kazakhstan'

By GAUHAR ABDYGALIYEVA

I'm a Muslim Kazakh woman who arrived in the United States two months ago to work on my master's in public administration. Almost every time I meet people and tell them where I come from, they ask me about the "Kazakh journalist" Borat, "the sixth most famous man" in Kazakhstan. I answer that Borat is a satirical fictional character who has nothing in common with... more

I've written many blogs about my daughter Becca and have given a brief "overview" of the bumps along the road with her as a teen. I really should put a picture of my earned gray hair here - but instead - I give you my LOVE THURSDAY picture.

This picture is from this weekend when Becca, Jordan and Cali came to visit. Cali is my grand-daughter and is in the picture with Uncle Max - her smile makes my heart melt!

Cali brought the daughter I know and love "back" to me. I spent a week... more

As I’ve said in many of my blogs – I’m constantly learning in life and through those life experiences – I am growing….

I learned many things about adoption through raising Becca – especially during her teen years. She did the required school heritage report in 7th grade and no longer wanted to be “Albanian” – it broke my heart. I still remember feeling so lost when I tried to have her see my view of Albanian. We discussed adoption and the journey to her openly through her entire youth – she shared her story and her heart with those around her.... more