I emailed the US Embassy in Kyiv on Friday. I asked if they knew if Bill 2562 was law. Had the Ukrainian President signed the bill yet?

Turns out they still don't know either. But at least they were prompt in replying.

And don't you love the "elderly foreign citizens" phrase? The older that I become, the less that I appreciate the "elderly" label.

From: "Kyiv, Adoptions" KyivAdoptions@state.gov... more

It is unlikely that you will get receipts for all of your adoption expenses while traveling in Ukraine. I had difficulty in getting receipts for housing and driving services. And I never asked for expedite fees receipts.

Several Ukrainian service providers became worried or hostile when asked for a receipt. And yes there were times that I didn't get a receipt.

There seemed to be two different thoughts going on.... more

I am still waiting on clarification from someone at the US Embassy in Kyiv about Bill 2562. Has it been signed by the Ukrainian President? Is it really the law of the land?

I know two adoption facilitators who say it is. But I cannot find anyone else who is saying this.

I went through current ... more

This evening I started poking around Verkhovna Rada's web site. Bill 2562's information has been updated.

I would love for someone to tell me that I am wrong. Someone please tell me that I am wrong. But I believe this bill has become law. The key phrase is the following.

Останній етап: Закон... more

During Natasha's (adopted from Ukraine in December 2000 at 3.5 years of age) first year home I kept a journal. I started this writing because it felt like my days were filled with constant power struggles. The journal focused me on Natasha's positive developmental growth rather then negative behavior.

Last week I was re-reading the journal. I found a jewel of a story. So for Love Thursday here is my journal entry.

November 2001

Natasha and I played... more

I find it humorous that Ukraine's Parliament has a poll on their front page. The poll started on April 22, 2004 and has never closed. The poll question is, "Are Verkhovna Rada's activities open (transparent)?"

87% of the votes are "no" or "not at all". I translated the Ukrainian to English with the help of the Babylon application.

Can you image the US... more

Back in April I mentioned that Ukrainian Adoption Reunion Season had started. One of my favorite gatherings (that I still haven't managed to attend) is the Father's Day weekend at the Ukrainian resort (Soyuzivka) in upper state New York.

The majority of people who attend have adopted from Ukraine. But preadoptive parents are welcome too.

I know people who went last year and greatly enjoyed... more

Will Ukraine pass bill 2562 and make it law? This will make single "foreigner" adoption illegal. And it requires the age difference between the oldest adoptive parent and adopted child be 45 years or less.

Sitting here in America, it is hard to tell. So I keep looking for Ukrainian sources and their opinions. Mr. Karasyov has a pithy synopsis that explains why the "political crisis" has been mostly a "war of... more

Prior to my adoption I read Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew (TAKWTAPK). I read blurbs about the book like:

voices of adopted children are poignant

I thought the book just plain sucked. You see I have relatives and friends who were adopted or fostered. Not one of them had ever expressed the thoughts in this book.

But I read the book again... more

UPDATE: I am doing a happy dance. My first thought and information was this second reading will have no impact. The bill cannot become law without the President's signature. But several Ukrainian sources were saying the President was going to sign the bill.

Turns out this was wishful thinking on their part. My first thought was correct. The President has NO plans to sign anything that comes out of this Parliament. If he does then it means his decree to dissolve Parliament become... more