Adoption Update

For those of you that went on the International Adoption journey with us to Guatemala, you know that these kinds of journey's are just that...a long, tedious, bumpy, winding, emotional journey. But in the end, our Guatemalan journey ended in the happiness that we so desired!!! We are praying that our Ethiopian journey will result in the same manner. Let me explain!

We've been rolling along our path of document collection, notary signatures, references, social worker visits and all that jazz. You know, all of the stuff that comes with adoption! We're good with that! Fine and dandy! Naturally, along with all of these time consuming and nit-picky activities, we forked over a few thousand! Also an expected part of the journey!

One hitch...one of the "fees" in these payments was called a "supplemental fee". Yep, like we're not paying enough to build a family, but we get to pay a supplemental fee! So we complained to the executive director, she bit our heads off, la-de-da-de-da, we paid the freaking fee! What's another bill?!?!?!

Definition - "Supplemental fee" = "keep the agency above water during a bad economy" fee!!!!

Well, the state of MI, thanks much in part to the media, feels that the "fee" is not really a fee and it is a contribution...where it is illegal for adoption agencies to accept contributions from families who are in the process of an adoption!!!!

Definition of "fee" by agency does not = definition by state & media!!!! WHOOPS!!!

Result of disagreement of definitions...state of MI investigation and a 6 month license for the agency to conduct regular business and fix their problems.

Result for the Knight family...Confusion!!!! We are unsure if the agency will be a viable company in 6 months as their license could be revoked after that point! We are unsure if we can get our money back if they go under!! We are unsure if we will bring a child home with this agency because of this silly "supplemental fee"!!!

So now what...
The State has 1 1/2 weeks to respond to the agency regarding their license. At that point in time, we will be nearly ready to send our dossier to Ethiopia and have our named placed on the waiting list to receive a referral of a little girl. We are hoping and PRAYING that this has been blown out of proportion by the media!!!! At this time, we are planning on continuing with the adoption with this agency. We do have an email into the MI A.G. to check on the status of the investigation just to cover our backsides...money is one thing, but bringing home Baby Ella is another!!!!

I'm sure you are all confused as ever right now...sorry...here is the link from the Grand Rapids news to make this as clear as mud!!! :)

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/Adoption_agency_cited_for_violations

Just hope and pray that this is just one of those bumps in the journey...one of those forks in the road!