What's Going on with Our Adoption

I keep getting this question (and I'm glad that people want to know!), but I'm not sure I have too much of an answer. Here's what I do know:

1. We're still waiting. Surprise! I'm pretty sure whenever we do get our referral, you won't have to check the blog because you'll hear us celebrating! As little as we have to go on as far as specific timing, it seems that it is very likely that this will be our year - to at least get a referral and make our first visit (which happens pretty quickly after the referral is received). It also seems that it might not actually be our year to bring him home because with as slow as things are moving over there the time in between trips is stretching into 3-5 months (as opposed to the 1-2 months we were initially thinking). We're thinking there's a pretty good chance that our referral could come any time between this summer-fall, but really it's mostly based on some educated guesses. It could happen next month and just as easily as it could happen next year.

2. Things ARE moving over there! A family using our same agency just returned from their first trip and shared a letter with us about their experiences. Another family from our church is actually in Bulgaria right now making their first visits to their two little girls (in two separate cities). Some of the information shared has been helpful (which airports need longer layovers because they're hard to get through, money issues, etc.) and encouraging (very helpful and informative translators/guides, positive attitudes from the caregivers, good experiences with the children), while other information raises even more questions. Each of the experiences with the three children has been very different. In one case, the orphanage was very strict - not even allowing the couple to take pictures or videos of their new daughter - and the visits were restricted to a playroom within the orphanage. In another, the orphanage let the couple's new daughter leave with them during the day to go around the city and hang out in their hotel! They faced hardly any restrictions at all. The third child actually lives with foster parents, and they opened up their home every day so that the visits could occur there. It just all leaves me wondering more about where our little boy is and what our visit will be like.

3. Things have changed in Bulgaria, and we're all waiting to see what that means.There is a new Minister of Justice (the former MOJ is now the Vice President). The MOJ is responsible for appointing Deputy Ministers for various departments, including international adoptions. The new Deputy Minister for adoptions is believed to be someone who will act in the best interest of the waiting children and families. She is also an adoptive parent, so hopefully she'll be more sensitive to adoption issues. Our agency's attorneys in Bulgaria know her and have met with her. The information that we've been given is that she seems very positive and has said that she will do her part not to be an obstacle in the adoption procedure.