A Detour

So todays appointment didn't go as hoped!!

We were picked up by our driver Sergei and our facilitator/translator Svetlana this morning and taken into Kiev to meet with the SDA.
After a few minutes of waiting we were taken back and introduced to Maria, who is a social worker for Ukraine. We introduced ourselves and explained how we met Olena and that we wanted to adopt her. Maria then looked for and found the paperwork on Olena and her sister Anastasia, who we found out has some developmental delays.
We were then told that Maria needed to make some phone calls to the regions the girls are in and make inquiries into the separation and other things which we were not sure of.
After a few minutes of intense waiting, Maria came back to us and spoke to Svetlana. We were then told that they could not give us a referral at this time! :(  The reason for this is that Ukraine has a policy that you can not split up sibling groups, and our home study report only states that we have been approved for 1 child. We knew this, but were told that they do allow it on a case by case basis. Because of Anastasias development issues, our facilitators believed it wouldn't be a problem and have done it in the past a number of times. They were very surprised by what happened today.

So, our next move!

What they want us to do now is prepare an addendum to our home study that states that we are approved for 2 children. That way they can give us a referral for both siblings and then we would only accept Olena and continue with the separation process. The problem is that this DETOUR, as Mike is calling it, will probably add another week to our trip and we won't get to see Olena until we have the referral.
So today, once it is a decent hour in Utah, we need to contact our home study agency and have them prepare 2 copies of the addendum. Then we need to have someone pick them up and take them to the Lt Governors office at the capital building and have them apostilled. Then they need to be mailed off as quickly as possible to arrive here ASAP!! So more time and more money!! Oh the things you do for those you love!!

Please pray for us! We will continue on this journey with our heads and chins up! We get time in Kiev to do some sightseeing and a temple visit, while we wait for our new paper work to arrive here. I was really upset and frustrated that we had hit another bump, but I know that everything happens for a reason. I know that whatever the reason, and however frustrated I am, it is all worth it. Because Olena is worth it.

OH, if you haven't already voted for Olena, or you haven't shared her picture so that all your friends can vote, PLEASE do! Visit here for instructions on what to do. I know there are others in the competion that maybe look like they need the work more than her. But I can assure you that this would change her life and we really need the help!!