Big News from Bulgaria

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Published on June 12, 2009 at 12:30 PM BGUpdated on June 13, 2009 at 5:07 PM BG
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Bulgarian Parliament adopted new family code
The new family code is a fact after Parliament adopted the texts of the new Family code on second reading. An amendment is the introduction of pre-nuptial contracts that regulate which of the spouses will have to pay alimony in case of divorce. The pre-nuptial contracts however do not regulate matters in case of death of one of the spouses. Parliament also adopted changes to the process of adoption. The amendment gives the authorities the right to put a child up for adoption in case biological parents have withheld contact for six months. The biggest disagreements were on the subject of cohabitation. Cohabitation will not have the same legal footing as marriage. Its recognition as the legal equivalent of marriage was backed by one of the ruling coalition partners, but lacked support of other parties.

USCIS responds

That was quick! USCIS emailed me back today to inform me that our homestudy only has to be updated when we need to request an extention for our I 600a (I 171 h approval). So it is 18 months. So we got started a bit early, but that is alright because our social worker said she wouldn't write it until September for us. Then in September we will send in to USCIS and request an extention for our I 171h approval. You can do this 90 days before hand but not sooner.

Chris still has to have a physical at his doctor's office for the homestudy, at least we aren't in a rush this time. Our fingerprints for USCIS expire in August so will have to do that soon. Isn't is so hard to plan life when you aren't sure when your little one is coming home? My husband's family is trying to plan a family vacation for next memorial weekend and it is hard to know how many rooms to get etc, when you aren't sure if you will have another little one with you. Chris is trying to finish up Seminary as quickly as he can before our little guy comes home. He is hoping to be done this time next year. Otherwise, life goes on today as it did yesterday.

Met with the social worker

This morning our social worker came to visit and asked us if we have had any changes since our last home study. No we are boring, thankfully! Chris still has the same job, we are still in the same home etc. This is a blessing!

I have a question, does anyone know for sure when a home study is supposed to be updated? When we were in the Ukraine program I remember reading somewhere it had to be updated after 12 months. My social worker is thinking if it is for USCIS then it doesn't need to be updated until 18 months later when you request your I 171h to be extended. Does any one know for sure. I sent an email to the adoption department at USCIS (it seems to be the only way to actually get an answer) but wont hear back for probably another week.

So my doctor signed off on my perfect health, and the girls' doctor signed off on their 'very good' health. Chris on the other hand has to go in for a physical before his doctor will sign his form. I told Chris he needs to change doctors. Every time we have had to get something from them they take forever to get anything back to us! Always the runaround. But I guess we aren't in a hurry if we don't need our home study updated right away like I thought we did.

I am done cleaning my house, done with laundry and ironing and now we need to pack for our vacation. It is raining again today! I got an oil change, transmission fluid flush, took Cathryn to gymnastics and stopped by the library. I just want to take a nap! The girls want to do a 'girls night' so Caroline says. So we got Sleeping Beauty and will watch that tonight when daddy goes out. Can we start the movie early so they go to bed early? Just kidding, I am so ready for bed.

Thanks for the comments and encouraging words about all this updating stuff. Yes it is worth it, but I knew you would understand I needed to vent a bit about the paperchase. It never ends, I guess even when we have our little ones home there will be post adoption paperwork to. If you hear anything about referrals from your agencies, please post it helps the rest of us see that things are moving.

UPDATING OUR PAPERWORK....ALREADY!

We started our adoption March/April of last year and now I have to update our homestudy for USCIS. The updated homestudy doesn't go to Bulgaria, it is for the American government.

I called our social worker and we will be meeting with her in our home Thursday morning to go over our old homestudy and see if there are any changes. No there aren't any changes! Then we have to get new medicals for us and our kids and clearances for Chris and I.

Once our homestudy is done we then send it to USCIS with a letter requesting a no charge extension to our I600A and we need to request to be re fingerprinted again for USCIS. Thankfully this time around there is no charge (except for the updated homestudy).
FYI homestudies are good for 12 months, fingerprints are good for 15mths and your I171h is good for 18 months. We need to do our fingerprints by August!

I asked our caseworker if any young boys have been referred from Bulgaria, she said yes a few 3 and 4 year old boys that are healthy have been referred to some other agencies. Good to hear, I am really praying that we will have our son home before we have to update our homestudy again because it will be extra money we haven't planned for.

It is raining still on and off, it is June now, where is the summer weather? We leave for our family vacation to Alabama to see my family next week. The girls are excited to go camping (one night in a tent) and do smores and maybe some horse back riding. Then we will be going to the creation museum in Kentucky/Ohio border. Can't wait. Continually praying for our children in Bulgaria!

Have you heard that the MOJ of Bulgaria is visiting Oregon June 21? If you live close by they are having a picnic to meet her. Go to Tree of Life Adoption Center and email Kay for info if you ar interested in attending.

Over due pictures

Caroline's soccer team (this was their last game this past weekend). Chris was the head coach, he is the one on the far right and his assistant was Jerod on the far left and then 2 dads assisted when needed. Caroline is in the middle back. She loves soccer!

Cathryn and her gymnastics coach at Gymnastics Unlimited - superstar!

The quilt that belonged to my husband as a child, that I repaired for our son in Bulgaria. The top picture is the top side and the next picture is the beneath.

Coming soon will be pictures of the newly painted furniture for Caroline's room. Yes I still have to start it, it has been raining again on and off. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain and I will be going on Caroline's last kindergarten field trip! Pray for sun.

Life is short...

I have been reminded this past week that life is too short and that we (adoptive parents) must not live for the future (planning for when our adoptive children arrive home) but we should experience the present. Not that it is bad to plan for the future but not to forget to live for today and enjoy today.

A friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer, he has had it removed and is undergoing radiation. He is my age with young kids and it makes you realize that it could be you! Also our neighbor is in the hospital with lung cancer and then today we found out that someone we know at church had a heart attack and died, he too has a family with some kids still at home. I was shocked to hear he had died, and it made me think I could lose my husband just as quickly and where would we be. I know this man is with our Heavenly Father but it is very hard for his family and friends not to have him here and the way he died was so sudden.

So with all this going on, I have been reminded life is short, you might not have a tomorrow so experience today and don't wish it away. Patience for tomorrow (future when our son comes home) but living for today (enjoying my kids now). Sorry for the rambelings.
Have a blessed week.