Excited but Cautious

Yay, looks like we will be seeing more of Ukraine. We accepted a referral today of a young girl. We are excited but Very Cautious. Ukraine has been known for saying yes then in the same breath saying no. A Ukrainian couple did request this girl for foster care, and she declined them. We are not sure if she said no because she wants to be adopted or because she wants to remain in the orphanage. The Great News is she appears to come from a very good orphanage that has taken care of her. 

In Ukraine once they go into foster care they cannot be adopted in till the foster parents put them back in the orphanage and get another child. People have told us they get paid a lot of money and mostly couple's foster for the money. It is encouraging that older children can decide not to go with them, however our hearts go out to those that will not be given the chance at a secure home. 

As for now it looks like we will be taking a ten-hour train ride to the orphanage. We hope to see her Friday however; we might have to wait. On Monday we will have an appointment with the inspector, who will quiz us on our family and why we want to visit this child. If the inspector likes us then we will have an appointment with the orphanage director. The director will tell us about the child, ask us questions and if she thinks that we will make a good match for the girl then we will finally be able to meet her. 

We are a long way from being in the home stretch. In Ukraine anything can happen at any point. We will only be able to celebrate after the judge has said that she is legally ours!