The Kitzman's would just like to say big Thanks and many Hugs for making us a family. We came to Adoption Ark by researching online. We sent an email requesting information and heard from Jill within hours of sending the email. Jill was a great encourager and slowly led us thru the initial process. She was always professional and so prompt and helpful. She was the one that told us that Kaz might be the place for us to find our child or children. She continued to be encouraging thru the process and had many well wishes upon our return and has been a good resource since she also adopted an older toddler. Jill was a great first impression of AA. Our Adoption Ark caseworker was Alla and we can’t say enough about her encouragement and support. We know she was so busy with all of the adoptions but we always could reach her in a timely matter. AA’s packet for the dossier was so overwhelming at first but if you methodically work thru all of the steps and follow their very detailed directions, you will have many fewer problems. We have heard paperwork horror stories but we feel that all of the detailed steps kept us from having any missed steps initially. Our whole adoption process from the time we contacted Jill until we came home with Nicholas was only 9 months and we felt that much of that is thanks to all of the good information and detailed instructions that we had during the process. Many things about adoption are uncontrollable and Alla helped us understand that initially so that when we did hit those snags (and you will), we felt prepared, flexible, and supported. Being in a foreign country for so long can be very disconcerting at times but no matter how many times we moved or things changed, Alla always found us and gave us words of encouragement to let us know that even though we felt alone, we were, in fact, never alone and they were working diligently to get us home. We came home with our sweet boy on April 20th after 2 ½ long months in Kaz but we would not trade that time in Kaz for anything now. Anyone adopting children over the age of one should consider staying the whole time if you can arrange it. The transitional time in-country in their environment will be invaluable for your homecoming. We still have ups and downs like any other parents with toddlers but we know that our time in Kaz was well spent in regards to attachment and bonding. Nicholas has amazed us with his courage and flexibility at all the new “stuff “that we present to him everyday. He has blossomed as a little boy and only vaguely resembles the little boy in the baby house. Before leaving for Kaz, my sister had said that she was going to pray that God would give us a more tangible sign because she knew that it would be almost impossible for me and my husband to say no to any child. She said that she would pray for something like a meaningful birth date like my grandfather’s or something of that sort. Guess what day Nicholas was born on, Yep, my grandfather’s birthday! God will be faithful to get you to the child or children that He wants for you. We still think about the other children left behind and pray that God will continue leading families to them thru AA and their wonderful program. Nicholas would never be considered quiet now; he loves talking and loves to play with his new friends. A family to love and to love them is so life-changing for these precious little ones. We would recommend AA to anyone and actually have friends now adopting from Russia thru AA. Words seem a bit inadequate to say thanks for bringing you to your family but we feel that AA was hand -picked by God to lead us to our son.
Thanks again from the bottom of all of our hearts!
Patrick, Karen and Nicholas Kitzman (Zhezkazgan, Kaz in Feb/March/April of 2007)
Our Kitzman adventure to Kaz is recorded online at http://kitzkazventure.blogspot.com/