Lithuania Adoption Blog

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We are pleased to announce the creation of a new Eastern Europe blog.  We look forward to sharing relevant information on Albania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as general regional, travel, and adoption education resources.  Please note that the Eastern Europe blog replaces individual country blogs as of this posting.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 10:58:56 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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We celebrate with two adoptive families who recently received court dates. With many Lithuanian judges taking vacation time over the summer, the court dates were scheduled for further out than we had hoped and expected; however, we are so thankful that these families now have court dates, and can plan their upcoming trips to Lithuania. Another family recently returned home after their first court date, and because their 40 days were waived, they will be returning to Lithuania in a week to to complete the adoption, and bring home their precious daughter.

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 10:26:04 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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We were just advised by the Lithuanian Embassy that the Millennium Celebration is booked, and they are no longer accepting new requests for attendance. It is very exciting to know that there has been such a strong interest from both Lithuanians living in the U.S. as well as other Americans to come together to celebrate this significant milestone for Lithuania.

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 03:56:23 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The year 2009 is special for Lithuania and its capital, Vilnius. Lithuania celebrates one thousand years since the name of Lithuania was first mentioned in writing in the Annals of Quedlinburg (Annales Quedlinburgensis, Germany) in 1009.

Please click here for an invitation to the event, "Lithuania’s Millennium In Print", being held at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington, DC on June 10, 2009.

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 11:27:11 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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We just had our first family receive their two children's visas at the US Embassy in Vilnius since the switch from the Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. The process went well, although the family did need to wait a bit longer while at the Embassy for their appointment. For families whose I-171Hs or I-797Cs currently have Warsaw, Poland listed, the Embassy in Warsaw has indicated that they will transfer all files to the Embassy in Vilnius. This had been the case for this family as well, and they did transfer everything ahead of time. The Embassy in Vilnius is not yet set up to take credit cards, so please ensure that if travelling to Lithuania, you will have $400 in cash to pay for each child's visa.

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 07:57:40 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10th... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS AND ALL MOTHERS-TO-BE!
                               


..... although not officially on the calendar as a holiday, did you know the Saturday before Mother's Day is celebrated among the adoption community as "Birth-Mother's Day?"

A "BirthMother/First Mother" is the name given to a woman who conceives and biologically gives birth to a child who is relinquished or placed for adoption.

The adoption constellation involves many people (extended family, support, etc), but the triad consists of three points.  The three-points of the triad are: the child, the Adoptive Mother (or Adoptive Family) and the BirthMother (or BirthFamily), in no particular order.  Without one of these "points" the triad would not exist.  The relationship among the three sides is inter-related and inter-dependent.  All three sides of the triangle are of equal length.  All three should be celebrated equally!  Many Christians believe that as we are all God's adopted children, this adoption triad metaphor reflects the Trinity of our Father.

What are some ways that we as adoptive families can honor our child's BirthMother?  Internationally adopted children with little to no information about their BirthFamily oftentimes "fantasize" about where they come from and who their BirthFamily is.  In adoptive families that openly discuss the child's birth-country, BirthParents, and birth-culture, the children as adults report having a more positive self-esteem and self-worth.  Some parents encourage their children to write a letter to their BirthMom/BirthDad on these special days or even their own birthdays.  What is most important to remember is that each child has their own feelings about their BirthParents.  As Adoptive Parents, the best we can do is provide a safe and open place for discussion.

Different ways to "honor" or "celebrate" birthparents:
-Light a candle on special days.
-Say a prayer for them.
-Make a special page in the child's Lifebook to celebrate the BirthParent(s).
-Write a letter to your child's BirthParent(s) and put it aside to share with your child later.
-Write a letter/make a card jointly with your child for the BirthParent(s).
-Read age appropriate books together.
-Talk about what the BirthParents may look like.
-Celebrate unique talents that the child may have... and attribute them to the BirthParent(s).

Some adoptive families may not be comfortable talking about the child's BirthFamily or adoption.  Your child will perceive this level of being uncomfortable and may learn to be ashamed or fearful of the discussion.  In order to build a healthy relationship that is based on trust, it is important to be open with your child about their adoption.  If these discussions are open and supported from the beginning, your child will grow to learn that their adoption is celebrated, not hidden.  Your child will be proud to be adopted and will be able to honor their BirthParents with Thanksgiving!

The book I Wish for You a Beautiful Life (Yeong & Yeong Book Company; ISBN 0-9638472-3-6) is a compilation of letters from Korean BirthMothers to their relinquished children.  Each letter is very unique and provides a glimpse of the different cultures and emotions that this choice has created, related to separation and detachment that a BirthMother may experience and/or express in writing.

As a Mother (whether through birth or adoption) of a child... whether your child is with you, with God, living in Lithuania, or yet to be born ... Bethany Christian Services and the Lithuania Team wish you a warm and loving "Happy Mother's Day."  We also keep in prayer the BirthMothers that give Life to these precious children and love them enough to want for them what they cannot provide.  These women too, should be celebrated, honored, and given Thanksgiving.  Their struggles and choices are immeasurable and we may never know them, but we do know them in our hearts.  We pray that they are safe, loved and at Peace.  

*In this Blog Post, we use the term "BirthMother" to refer to the woman who conceived and birthed the child whom was then adopted.  There are other terms such as: "First Mother" or "Biological Mother" or "Genetic Mother" to name a few.  The PC world of language and adoption is sensitive and we mean no offense to any particular term mentioned or not mentioned.

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 07:37:45 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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There are approximately 143 million orphans in the world today.
Many children are older, or a sibling group. Some children have medical, physical or developmental challenges.
We aren't asking you to help 143 million orphans, but you can make a difference by being a Bethany Prayer Warrior.

Prayer Warriors will receive pictures and information of children waiting through Bethany.

We ask that you pray for the children.
Pray for families who are willing to accept the children with special placement needs into their hearts and homes.
Pray for those who will never be adopted. May someone come into their life and love and care for them.
 
Each of us is part of the Body of Christ. It is He in us that is more than able to make a difference.

If you want to be added to the Prayer Warrior group and receive emails about waiting children, please send an email to: jvandyke@bethany.org

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 09:38:06 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Here is a very fitting excellent 30-min slide show "Road to Freedom: Lithuania" by Darius Udrys (there are English and Lithuanian versions): http://blip.tv/file/1772859. Thanks to one of our adoptive families for sending this to me. I found it very moving as well as informative. There is some difficult history and pictures that may not be appropriate for young children to watch. However, it is a good reminder of what the people of Lithuania have endured to come to a place where they can celebrate their independence.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 11:47:21 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Dear Bethany Family, We regret to inform you that there will not be a Multicultural Festival in 2009. For the last couple decades, we’ve been blessed with the resources and volunteers to host this fabulous event for families across the country to unite in Grand Rapids, MI and celebrate their multicultural and adoptive families. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. We hope that your local branch offices can maintain an annual picnic or gathering of some sort. It has been wonderful to see families gather here in Grand Rapids year after year, particularly our Lithuania families. Sincerely, The Lithuania Team Bethany Christian Services-International Grand Rapids, MI

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 10:02:56 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Monday April 16th Lithuania celebrates it's Independence. Take a moment with your children to remember their forefathers that gave their lives valiantly to gain freedom for Lithuania. Some suggestions: display the Lithuanian Flag and discuss what the colors stand for. Red on the bottom is the blood shed by the people to gain freedom. Green is for the land that is cherished, and yellow for the sum and the hope of the people.

If you don't have a Lithuania flag, google it and print one off. While there you may want to also google information on some of the great people in Lithuanian history. many of your children were named after these heros!

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 12:26:23 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)