In 2012, CMomA launched our Adoption Grant Gifting Program. We put the word out to partnering agencies and organizations to let them know, “WE HAVE MONEY TO GIVE” to worthy and wonderful childless women, men and couples adopting special needs and/or older orphaned children. The number of special, new families to whom we’ve awarded adoption grants is growing steadily. You can read about our past adoption grant recipients here.
Now, we are thrilled to share more GREAT NEWS, this time about CMomA’s seventh grant recipient… Randi Block, from Nashville, Tennessee, now together with her 5-year-old daughter, Pauli from Bulgaria. Of Roma descent, Pauli lived in an orphanage in Varna from birth. At the age of two, she moved to a loving foster home, where she lived until her big move to the USA and her Forever Mama!
Our Gifting Program (more about CMomA Adoption Grants at the bottom of this post) has eligibility requirements that take into consideration the story of both the childless want-to-be parents and the orphaned children awaiting the time to go home with them. We are excited to share part of Randi and Pauli’s story, including some of what we heard from her directly…
October 31, 2014
In her application, Randi introduced herself as a professional voice and songwriting coach, career consultant, playwright, lyricist and composer. She told us of numerous disappointments as countries’ single parent adoption programs lost footing, or other hurdles appeared. But she never gave up hope!
In Randi’s words (from her application):
And her description of Pauli:
December 23, 2014
On hearing that she had met the CMomA adoption grant eligibility requirements, and had been APPROVED…
I was asked to tell my story as part of the sermon at Unity for the Christmas service this past Sunday. I can’t tell you how many people came up to me in tears after the service, telling me how much it touched them and gave them hope. Not just those with children or those who wanted children, but people from all walks of life on various difficult paths.
You are an angel in my life and I can’t wait to move forward with CMoma to help spread the word in any way you need me to.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Happiest Holidays To You And Yours!!!!
January 28, 2015
Exciting news from Randi!
In just over 48 hours, Jerilyn and I will be on our way to Bulgaria… via Nashville – Detroit – Amsterdam – Sofia and finally, Varna.
Last Wednesday I had our final Skype session with a translator. The social workers wanted me to be the one to tell her I was finally coming back to get her, so I asked her to count to ten in English… “1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10!!!” “Good job!” I said, and then told her that’s how many days it will be before I’m there in person to give her a great big hug! She squealed with joy and could hardly contain herself. I asked them to buy her a calendar so she can mark off the days till I get there. When I asked her what she wanted to bring to America, she said “EVERYTHING!” and started showing me all sorts of things including a gigantic Scooby Doo pillow. They said they’d get her a suitcase but I’m going to bring an extra one for her as well… so she’ll have whatever she needs to feel safe and comfortable.
February 3, 2015
Randi and Pauli begin their journey together!
…how greatly my life has changed since we picked Pauli up at Social Services in Varna yesterday. I am so madly in love with my daughter and already feel as if we have been together since she was born. Spiritually, I believe we were.
I want to write about everything that has happened so far (and it’s ALOT!!) but it’s 1am here and I can barely keep my eyes open. This mom stuff is exhausting and worth every second!!
May 9, 2015
Mother’s Day news came to us from Randi, and we were filled with love for this special family. We are so honored to have a place in their journey, and to hear about all the ups, downs and in-betweens!
This job called “Mom” is insanely crazy hard but a commitment I’m so happy I’ve made for the rest of my life. I love this little girl with every fiber of my being and after searching and waiting for her for over 8 years, I still find myself staring at her in sheer amazement that she’s actually mine.
She is a “delight” (when she’s not a little devil) and those who have spent time with her seem to use that word unsparingly. She has LOTS of friends and is doing wonderfully well in school.
Her English improves daily and uses complete sentences now instead of single words or phrases. When she can’t figure out how to say what she’s thinking, she says, “Wait!” or Listen!” until she can find the words which eventually pour out of her repetitively as if she never wants to forget how to say what she’s finally discovered!
Her vocabulary is astounding and she has a voracious appetite for learning (i.e. her favorite question being “Why? Why? Why?”) She wants me to read to her every night and will have us turn off a Disney movie halfway through for me to read to her instead. We’ll climb into her bed and inevitably, she’ll take the book out of my hands in order to read it to me in her own words (which I’ve termed Moon Language—a cross between Swahili, Bulgarian, Chinese and Spanish!) Eventually it will be my turn to read to her until she finally falls asleep in my arms and I tiptoe out of her room.
We are alike in SO MANY ways! She could live on cheese and crackers (as I did as a child) and LOVES music and books and animals and hippie chic rock’n’roll clothing…
She’s part Birmingham (Joe) and part New York (me)… when she says, “Oh my goodness! Whatcha doin’?!!” She’s part athlete and part musician. She sings at the top of her lungs every chance she gets, makes up songs on the spot and snaps her fingers on 2 and 4 in perfect time. She can catch and throw a ball like a 10-year-old boy and runs with the gait of an up and coming marathon runner.
So at 55 years old, on the eve of my very first Mother’s Day, I finally understand how important this day really is. My mom and I weren’t very close but if I had one wish, it would be to tell her what I know now, and how grateful I am for all she had done for me. Someday I hope to get that chance.
But for now, I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for my family with Pauli and Joe, this new and ever-changing, challenging adventure, and for all of you, who continue to love and support me through it all.
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