I had a dream a month or two ago about our adoption. When I awoke, it was with the distinct impression that we needed to get all our affairs in order so that we would be prepared when our adoption goes through. I clung tight to that dream, but as the months have passed and things in Samoa have deteriorated I have lost hope.

I've heard from a few people who have a Samoan referral that the attorneys are sending new affadavits. The process seems to be resuming. We won't know anything for sure until someone has a successful adoption under these new laws. Even then, it doesn't necessarily mean anything to us since our situation is particularly unique. But it gives me a glimmer of hope.
- posted by Adria @ 12:40 PM

 
I received an email today from our agency. Our letter did get to Samoa and things are being worked on from that end. Nothing has changed, really, except that I'm going to keep hoping. If the birth family still wants to place the children, maybe we do still have a chance of bringing them home.
- posted by Adria @ 2:17 PM

 
I have emailed our agency twice for an update but haven't heard back yet. The new Samoan law says that off-island adoptions will not be permitted unless no one on the island can care for the child. In addition, all adoptions will need to be approved by the Attorney General, who does not want non-Samoans adopting the Samoan children. There are some who don't like that she has given herself so much power, but that's how the law stands at this time.

Our situation is a little bit different. Theoretically, since the judge already signed our paperwork, we are just waiting for the US Consulate to issue the boys' visas. However, the person at the consulate is disapproving of the Samoan adoptions in general, and with the changes in Samoa a whole lot of little things would have to go our way for us to bring them home.

I tell myself I shouldn't give up hope, but for the most part, I have.
- posted by Adria @ 10:18 AM

 
Word is that Parliament convened and then shut down, but no one knows what happened, whether or not the new law was passed. We haven't heard anything from our agency since mailing our letter.
- posted by Adria @ 1:53 PM

 
We sent a letter to Samoa today. I don't know if or how it will impact our case, but I hope it helps.
- posted by Adria @ 3:49 PM

 
Still waiting for the final word from Samoa. News reports from New Zealand and Samoa don't sound promising. I am still hoping against hope that things will work themselves out.
- posted by Adria @ 9:05 PM

 
Things don't look good. The latest news is that all but one minister signed off on the new law - effectively preventing overseas adoptions. The law goes in front of the Prime Minister now. The new law requires that all adoptions be approved by the Attorney General's office. Unfortunately the Attorney General in Samoa is vehemently against Samoan children being adopted by "strangers".

While I understand the sentiment, my heart aches for these poor children who are already in foster care because their families cannot afford to support them. How I wish we had been able to bring the boys home before this all snowballed. :(
- posted by Adria @ 2:32 PM