CHANGE OF COUNTRY

I haven't written here for a while because things have been a bit up in the air.

I decided last year to change country from Bulgaria to Ethiopia.  My declaration was updated in October and my pack sent shortly afterwards to Ethiopia.  It wasn't an easy decision but I'm sure it's the right one.

On the 4th of December I received a referral for a little girl who was 10 months old.  She is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait until she's here with our family.

The news of referral arrived on my birthday and I couldn't have asked for a better present.  My whole family is anxiously waiting for her arrival.  Her little cousins are especially excited and very impatient.    Chistmas was only a few weeks later and the number of presents for my little one continued to grow under the tree with each passing day.  Even Santa left her a little something! 

I'll update again when I have news of my travel and court dates.

REFERRAL STATISTICS FOR BULGARIA FROM JANUARY 2010 ONWARDS

MONTH	2010	2011	2012
01. JANUARY	34	34	35
02. FEBRUARY	25	31	30
03. MARCH	17	36	44
04. APRIL	32	34	29
05. MAY	30	31	41
06. JUNE	24	38	34
07. JULY	57	31	43
08. AUGUST	0	0
09. SEPTEMBER	24	33
10. OCTOBER	28	55
11. NOVEMBER	28	50
12. DECEMBER	42	35
TOTAL	341	408	256

RE ASSESSMENT

Those of us who hold a Declaration prior to 1st November 2010 now need to undergo a reassement in order to extend our Declaration which will expire on 31st October 2012 - this extension is for a period of 12 months only.  Currently there is no option for a further extension after this date so if we haven't completed our Adoptions by the 31st October 2013 I don't know what will happen.

For the reassessment - we will meet with our Social Worker again and complete the following documents:

Updated Financial Statement
Updated Medical Report
Updated Garda Clearances
Updated Health Board Clearance

It's actually not as daunting as I thought it would be, but it's still back to form filling and waiting again!   Will it ever end?

Happy Baba Marta 1st March

All over the world people meet spring with joy and new hope but in Bulgaria it is saved as an ancient custom.

Walking along the streets in Bulgaria on the 1st of March you will see many smiling faces and people who have decorated their clothes with Martenitsas - they may also even decorate their dogs and cats. In the small villages in the mountains people decorate their domestic animals: lambs, kids, young horses. Houses have their own martenitsa, as well.

Happy Baba Marta!