It's interesting to me how GC and RT can be such authorities on our adoption journey when they have not spoken to ME. I know whats being said in regards to our families inability to move forward and bring our girl home.But the last I knew her homeland required BLIND REFERRALS so even if after you read through the following emails, you are not convinced there NEVER was a submitted dossier...Referrals are given after we travel to the MOE, NOT at dossier submission.
I have seen it written and received the calls, some telling me what others are saying, others asking, if we are now NOT ELIGIBLE to adopt L. And why would that be?? Our family has done nothing but work our fannies off for the past 2 years to get her home while an agency had us jumping through hoop after hoop like a circus dog.
I also have heard some of the ridiculous rumors of how our family is being given kickbacks for referrals and have raised more money than it should ever take to bring a child home. Well, I wish the kickbacks were true, but they are not.
As far as the mountain of money we have gone through to continue to fight for L, in that I agree. Our total to date is $71, 726.51. That total is mind-boggling. We have paid, and paid, and paid...We are emptied every bank account, retirement account, every college fund set up for our other children, our savings, and we have sold most of what we own...and we have a few amazing friends who have help us financially to continue this fight. Every penny of that has been paid out to agency fees. We do not expect to see one penny of the FSP that is held for L. At this point we remain $8k short to make our first trip, but we are confident once our current paperwork is submitted and reviewed we will be invited to travel and given the opportunity to accept her referral. When that happen, the funds will be there. We know God's got this.
Truth be told, most every one of you reading this would have given up on L long ago. Many of you have PM'd me and told me so. But this isn't about our family doing a good and heroic thing in "saving" her. It isn't about being easy or convenient. It's about following Jesus in complete obedience. Those of you who read my blog should know by now... We see this through very narrow vision. We do not have the option of quitting. Following Jesus is inconvenient. It's expensive. It calls us to give up things the world, and our American society hold sacred...when what we should all be focusing on is COMPLETE SURRENDER to Him.
So, our family will continue to fight forward to bring her home. We have people working hard right now to make that happen.
Many of you have also shared your "knowledge" of our adoption of 3 older girls on the verge of aging out. That is so. We are in a 6 week count down to travel for them. We need $27,000 for that to happen. Fundraisers are running. We are confident when travel dates come, we will be funded. That's all there is to that. Nothing "fraudulent". Nothing underhanded. Just a Christian family determined to not allow 3 girls, one of whom spent Christmas with us, to become statistics of the human trafficking tragady that is rappent in our world.
Here's the emails... judge for yourself.... and count your lucky stars that, even with most of the dramatics that adoptive moms in process post, your journey NEVER compared to OURS.
Sent: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 9:35 AM
Subject: RE: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Subject: RE: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Hello Diane,
My understanding from our telephone conversations was that your dossier had not been registered in the Adoption Center and is still in the hands of the Small World staff. If this is the case, our staff would be unable to locate it. I thought the next step was going to be that you would e-mail me a summary of what had happened – but what I primarily need is a copy of your homestudy and the information on the child you want to adopt (name, location, etc.). Did you already send this to me?
From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 7:31 AM
To:
Subject: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 7:31 AM
To:
Subject: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Kind and helpful unnamed person,
Just wondering if your team in St.Pete was able to locate our dossier? Where they able to get any information as to if the registry had knowledge of our family? I was hopeful that your team would find it and we would be able to put things in order to be submitted by the 24th when the registry reopens to new submissions. I have gotten no response from Small World Adoption Agency.
Thank you so very much for your wisdom, support and guidance. Hope to hear from you soon.
In Christ,
Diane Higbie
Sent: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 9:35 AM
Subject: RE: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Subject: RE: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Hello Diane,
My understanding from our telephone conversations was that your dossier had not been registered in the Adoption Center and is still in the hands of the Small World staff. I thought the next step was going to be that you would e-mail me a summary of what had happened – but what I primarily need is a copy of your homestudy and the information on the child you want to adopt (name, location, etc.). Did you already send this to me?
From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 3:04 PM
To: kind and helpful person that will remain unnamed
Subject: Re: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 3:04 PM
To: kind and helpful person that will remain unnamed
Subject: Re: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?
Said Person,
This is the STRANGEST ordeal I have ever been witness too...
I got an email from SWAF last Friday saying they will be submitting our dossier on either one of 2 dates, Monday Nov 14 or Monday Nov 28. Please redo 3 documents as they expire the end of Nov.
Then I got a call from them today and they tell me they have received information there is a second agency we have contracted with that who's coordinator has contacted their coordinator and informed them that they also are ready to submit a dossier for not only L but A as well. They told me they were assuming it was Hand in Hand but we have had no contact with HIH as Susan never returned my calls even though I left multiple VM.
I did tell them that after not getting replies from the several emails or phone calls I placed I did speak with another agency to seek advice on what to do. I was told if at all possible to stick with SWAF as we don't want any red flags attached to our adoption process. I also told them that agency was going to "very gently" try to check on L's welfare and if anyone had heard of our family or adoption petition. I also them the "other dossier" does not exist.
Please know that I am so grateful for your wisdom and excellent guidance in what is continuing to be a difficult process for us. You wisdom and insight are invaluable and has helped me harness my passion for the fatherless, and my human tendency to get ahead of God, into being more comfortable in the waiting.
At this point we are continuing in this adoption process with SWAF, Praying they will indeed submit our petition in the month of Nov. as stated, and we will be one step closer to bringing our daughter home.
May God continue to richly bless you, your staff and family, and your organization as you continue His work by putting the fatherless into loving families.
In His service,
Diane Higbie
This is the STRANGEST ordeal I have ever been witness too...
I got an email from SWAF last Friday saying they will be submitting our dossier on either one of 2 dates, Monday Nov 14 or Monday Nov 28. Please redo 3 documents as they expire the end of Nov.
Then I got a call from them today and they tell me they have received information there is a second agency we have contracted with that who's coordinator has contacted their coordinator and informed them that they also are ready to submit a dossier for not only L but A as well. They told me they were assuming it was Hand in Hand but we have had no contact with HIH as Susan never returned my calls even though I left multiple VM.
I did tell them that after not getting replies from the several emails or phone calls I placed I did speak with another agency to seek advice on what to do. I was told if at all possible to stick with SWAF as we don't want any red flags attached to our adoption process. I also told them that agency was going to "very gently" try to check on L's welfare and if anyone had heard of our family or adoption petition. I also them the "other dossier" does not exist.
Please know that I am so grateful for your wisdom and excellent guidance in what is continuing to be a difficult process for us. You wisdom and insight are invaluable and has helped me harness my passion for the fatherless, and my human tendency to get ahead of God, into being more comfortable in the waiting.
At this point we are continuing in this adoption process with SWAF, Praying they will indeed submit our petition in the month of Nov. as stated, and we will be one step closer to bringing our daughter home.
May God continue to richly bless you, your staff and family, and your organization as you continue His work by putting the fatherless into loving families.
In His service,
Diane Higbie
Which was followed by this a week later......
Hi Diane,
I was in Uganda last week and when I got home I had a message from our coordinator in St. Petersburg. Here is the information she gave me – please do not share it with anyone.
“Small World’s representative, Yelena, is a good and responsible lady. She was expecting to file them on Oct 24. By November 11 some of the family documents will be expired. The child is available, everything is going OK, the only thing that slows us down is the Adoption Center Registration Schedule. Yelena is working on this family.”
At least SWAF is paying attention now. We will continue to pray that all goes well. Thank you for your kind words.
Followed by this on Oct 26,2011... I questioned how they could have blamed no submission dates available in Oct on the delay when not everything was translated and legalized.
Hi Diane,
I would like to update you on your status in St. Pete. The Adoption Center had no submission date on Monday, October 24, for a new dossiers. Next submission dates in November will be: Monday, the 14th and Monday, the 28th. Thus, please let me know when approximately I will be receiving your updated documents in here (apostilled)? We need to send them on to St. Pete for translation and legalization as soon as possible to get ready for submission. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you Diane and have a good afternoon!
Sincerely,
Katia Johnson MSW
Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com
[26.10.2011 12:56:41] Вячеслав: Хигби - официальная сдача документов в ноябре - 14-е и 28-е. Так что все документы, которые кончаются в ноябре, надо обновлять: 24-го дела в комитете не принимали
From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: 19 октября 2011 г. 11:26
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: Re: St. Pete paperwork
Sent: 19 октября 2011 г. 11:26
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: Re: St. Pete paperwork
Katia,
I am wondering about a timeline. I know they reopen on 10/24 and am wondering if we will be ready to submit our dossier or if you will wait on the updates even thought the current forms don't expire until November. Could you please get back to me as soon as you know the answer to this. Thank you so much.
Diane Higbie
From: Katia Johnson
To: 'Diane Higbie' <savinglera@yahoo.com>
Cc: 'Mary Ellen Scheetz'; 'Susan Griffith'<susan@swaf.com>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 4:10 PM
Subject: RE: St. Pete paperwork
To: 'Diane Higbie' <savinglera@yahoo.com>
Cc: 'Mary Ellen Scheetz'
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 4:10 PM
Subject: RE: St. Pete paperwork
Hi Diane,
I wanted to let you know that I have received the doctor’s letter for your husband last week. It will be going out with SWAF local family traveling to St. Pete this Wednesday.
Did you receive my email below regarding a status of your paperwork in St. Pete?
Sincerely,
Katia Johnson MSW
Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com
From: Katia Johnson [mailto:katia@swaf.com]
Sent: 12 октября 2011 г. 14:23
To: 'Diane Higbie'
Cc: 'maryellen@swaf.com'; 'Susan Griffith'
Subject: RE: St. Pete paperwork
Sent: 12 октября 2011 г. 14:23
To: 'Diane Higbie'
Cc: 'maryellen@swaf.com'; 'Susan Griffith'
Subject: RE: St. Pete paperwork
Hi Diane,
Per our phone call, I’m sending you a list of foreign country paperwork in term of expiration dates. Please find attached a check-list and application/forms that you will need to update. Each document for St. Pete must be notarized and apostilled individually please. If you have any question regarding foreign country paperwork please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you Diane and have a good day!
P.S: please let me know when I will be getting an apostilled original of Dr. letter (for your husband)?
Sincerely,
Katia Johnson MSW
Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com
From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: 15 августа 2011 г. 13:05
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: HIGBIE
Sent: 15 августа 2011 г. 13:05
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: HIGBIE
BTW...I forgot to mention our HS expires on Sept. 23. We are in process of update now. Please double check to let us know if there are other documents expiring as well that will need to be redone before that happens so we do not experience further unnecessary delays.
Thank you,
Diane Higbie
From: Katia Johnson [mailto:katia@swaf.com]
Sent: 16 июня 2011 г. 8:49
To: 'Diane Higbie'; 'hbischoff@hopeadoptionservices.org'
Cc: 'Mary Ellen Scheetz'; 'Susan Griffith'
Subject: RE: paperwork status update
Sent: 16 июня 2011 г. 8:49
To: 'Diane Higbie'; 'hbischoff@hopeadoptionservices.org'
Cc: 'Mary Ellen Scheetz'; 'Susan Griffith'
Subject: RE: paperwork status update
Good morning Diane,
Any documents including a letter of Good Standing is good for 12 months in Russia (except of Police and Medical – good for 3 months). This letter dated June 1, 2010, so it expired on June 1, 2011 (see: attached). Must be notarized and apostilled please.
Sincerely,
Katia Johnson MSW
Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com
Hide Details
Katia from SWAF? I thought you changed agencies?
From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011 7:29 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011 7:29 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...
Katia told me it would be submitted on the 14th but then contacted me about 3days ago and said that St. Pete contacted her and had a couple issues with the HS. She sent a letter and our HS update will reflect those clarifications and she said they have a submission date of the 28th. I asked if we would travel yet this Dec and she wasn't sure she would check with St Pete and let. Me know Monday.
Sent from my iPhone
Was your dossier truly submitted? What date? Would love to update your FSP.Andrea Roberts, Executive DirectorReece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption MinistryE-mail: andrea@reecesrainbow.orgYahoo Messenger: luvbama93Skype: reecesrainbowFacebook: Andrea Faris RobertsTwitter: @momtoreece and @reecesrainbow“Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down syndrome…”From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011 7:14 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...Waiting on travel dates.Happy Thanksgiving
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 24, 2011, at 12:12 PM, "Andrea Roberts" <bamaroberts@comcast.net> wrote:Checking on your progress JAndrea Roberts, Executive DirectorReece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption MinistryE-mail: andrea@reecesrainbow.orgYahoo Messenger: luvbama93Skype: reecesrainbowFacebook: Andrea Faris RobertsTwitter: @momtoreece and @reecesrainbow“Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down syndrome…”From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 7:01 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...We are hoping for submission of our ppwk on Mon 11/14....11/28 at latest. We were hoping to travel before Christmas but are trusting God and His timing. Thank you for all you do for those without a voice. Without you our sweet Lera would die inside the walls of an institution never knowing her intrinsic value. As her mama, there are no words of thanks that convey my gratitude for bringing to my attention that my daughter was missing. It is our plan to return once Lera is home to bring home Anastasia from Russia 23 if she remains without a committed family. I have not shared this with anyone online since you requested me to not. My husband remains head over heels for her. Wishing and praying there was a way but unwilling to jeopardize Lera.
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 11, 2011, at 4:57 PM, "Andrea Roberts" <bamaroberts@comcast.net> wrote:Hi Diane, it’s been a while, checking on the status of your agency change and progress on your adoption of Lera?
Hi Diane,
I wanted to let you know that I have received a request from St. Pete today
regarding your paperwork expiring in January - February, 2012 (as we have
discussed back in November).
Please update the documents as follows:
1) Picture dossier (cover letter attached) - please don't notarize or
apostille this document, just sign! You can send me a color pictures via
email, but I need the original of your signed cover letter please!
2) Promise of the Foreign Organization signed by HOPE Adoption & Family
(attached) - must be notarized and apostilled in your State please
Please let me know if you will be able to complete the paperwork listed
above as soon as possible? I would like to get everything at the office by
next Thursday, December 15, 2011. So I will be sending it with SWAF family
traveling to St. Pete the weekend of December 17-18.
If you have any questions regarding foreign country paperwork please do not
hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your cooperation Diane and have a good
afternoon!
Sincerely,
Katia Johnson MSW
Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com
-----Original Message-----
From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 8:16 AM
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: Timeline for Adoption travel
Katia,
I am wondering if you have had a chance to talk with St Pete and if you have
what is the possibility of travel before the new year?
I know we spoke of travel on Jan/Feb and just want to know if that is the
plan for our family. Of there is any possibility that we will travel before
Jan I need to set up a back up family for Nadiya, the teenager who is
spending the Christmas holiday in our home. I just want to plan to the best
of my ability so as to prevent chaos later.
Thank you for everything.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Diane Higbie
For the record.... Our prior agency is currently under an open investigation by the FBI for stringing families along and not completing adoption, and financial mishandling through the St. Louis office.
