Keep Calling!

Here is an update from JCICS regarding the Child's Right Campaign:

Joint Council is pleased to announce that the letter from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption to Secretary Rice regarding intercountry adoption and child protection in Vietnam has received over 130 Congressional signatures.

Given the visit to the United States by the Prime Minister of Vietnam over the next few days, it would greatly benefit our collective effort if additional calls to Members of Congress were made immediately.

While many families and adoption service providers are not directly involved with Vietnam, we urge all families and service providers to participate in A Child’s Right Campaign by calling your Congressional Senators and Representatives today!

Please take a moment now and contact your Congressional Senators and Representatives and ask if they have signed the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) letter to Secretary Rice. If they have, please thank them for their support. If not, please ask that the Senator or Representative add their support and signature to this important letter.

So good to hear so many congressmen have signed on. Keep calling. Lets add some more signatures to that letter. Thanks!

Birthdays

I am back, and I am 30, plus a couple days. It started sinking in today. Normally I don't get upset about getting older, but I'm realizing a gap between the reality of who I am, and the picture I used to have of myself when I would be 30. I don't have it all together, and I am not very wise.... I remember in my early 20s getting asked why I wasn't in school. I looked like a high schooler for so long, and now I never get such comments. Strange huh? Just a little dose of reality.

Keith took me to a cute little (I really mean little) cabin near Mt Ranier. We drove through some of Mt Ranier National park, visited the museums, went on a few short hikes (most of the trails are still under snow), took lots of pictures, got to see some wildlife, relaxed and read a book, and spent some time in a hot tub on a creek. It was nice to get away and relax, but Koen is sure punishing us for leaving him behind. He had a great time with his Grammi, but is out of sorts know that we're back. Little "Mr. Tantrum Royale" visited today - it's the maddest I've seen him. He cried so long and so hard that his face got little red polka-dots. Nothing makes you feel more like a mean parent!

As part of the Child's Right Campaign, Keith called our senators today, and left messages with both of them. The goal is to continue to encourage them to sign a letter to Condoleezza Rice, urging her to act to keep Vietnam open. Our state rep had already replied to our email that he had signed the letter. We are very thankful to him for that.

Please continue to pray for this campaign, and for the rights of the children in Vietnam. Every child has a right to a loving family.

Here's pics from our getaway:

A friendly coyote (or is it a fox?) that wasn't at all afraid of us.

Standing on the short of a lake - that's the most of the mountain we saw in the background

Posing atop a waterfall

Great shot, huh? :) (That is a dear rear)

A friendly dear in the park - very interested in the camera

Our little cabin

Important, Please Join the Campaign

Our agency gave us more info on the Child's Right Campaign for Vietnam. The JCICS (Joint Council of International Children's Services), several adoption agencies, and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) are initiating this Campaign.

"It is through this advocacy group that we are can get word to Congressional Representatives and Senators of the urgency of the situation in Vietnam. This Campaign consists of families making contact with their Senators and Congressional Representatives urging them to support the Campaign and the continuation of adoptions in Vietnam."

The campaign is asking all adoptive families and anyone else who is concerned to participate in this Campaign by contacting your Congressional members. Holt International set up a program that will allow you to make this contact. All you have to do is go to this link, http://capwiz.com/holt/issues/alert/?alertid=11402851. Go to the issues and legislation tab and you will see the “Contact Congress Now” page for this Campaign. You can modify the text of the message and put in whatever you wish to convey. Once you put in your name and address, the email will go directly to your Congressional members. Feel free to call their local offices as well to convey your concerns about adoptions in Vietnam being at risk and that you are asking for their support for this Campaign and for the continuation of adoptions in Vietnam.

*8 Months

It's another adoption anniversary today. It has been exactly 8 months today since we were DTV (dossier to Vietnam), and put on our agency's waiting list. We were told to expect 10-13 months wait when we started. It's all up in the air now, but we do have some hope that we will get a referral this fall. Please join the Child's Right Campaign and help make this possible.

Last time Vietnam closed it took 2 years to negotiate a new agreement and reopen US/Vietnam adoptions. We can't let that happen again! Too many orphans needs homes and families need children!

We are getting closer!

*Important: Campaign for Vietnam Adoptions

Sorry about the change in layout. I was a little overexcited to update the blog's background, and not really knowing what I was doing, messed it up. We'll work on getting it back in shape, but it's not high enough on Keith's to do list.

Just checked out Adoption Integrity's website, and they had info from the JCICS. JCICS is putting together a campaign for Child's Rights in Vietnam and asking us to contact our congressmen in their support. The effort is to give children in Vietnam the right to be adopted, and to clean up the system, without Vietnam closing to US adoptions. It gave me a lot of hope to read it. Please join in this campaign, and pray for it's success. Do so quickly, as it is time-sensitive. Here's the link: Voices for Vietnam Adoption Integrity and the Campaign : JCICS Child's Right Campaign

And on this Memorial Day, I am so thankful for all the men and women who gave their lives for me and this nation. What an amazing and honorable sacrifice! And thank you to all who are serving in the forces currently. We are in debt to you, and pray God's protection over you.

Thank you!