Ukraine has now passed a law that foreign single people may not adopt orphans. Married parents may not have more than 45 years age difference between the parents and the child.  That includes the oldest parent; not the youngest.  If the oldest parent is 45, then they can still adopt a baby(if a baby is available).  If the oldest parent is 55, then the couple can only request an orphan age 10 or older.  It is so sad because many singles are in Ukraine now.  Many have made contact with a child, may have hosted the child, may have spent a fortune, and everything is now stopped for them even if they are in mid-process.  Also, any married couples will not be permitted to have more than 45 years age difference between themselves and the child or the process is stopped.  Some of the adoption boards are saying that RADA(the Ukraine government) wants to close all state-run orphanages by 2010.  They want all the orphans placed in foster families in Ukraine.  It is so sad because so many orphans will never have a permanent family.  The hosting organization we are hosting through is supposed to be bringing about 100 children to the U.S. this summer.  It will be interesting to see if some of the families drop out because of this new law. But it will also be so sad because many of these kids could have found loving homes. This new law was pushed through the government by the new SDA director.  Dan thinks it is a fair law; he thinks that the age line has to be drawn somewhere.  I disagree, especially if one parent is significantly younger.  Also, in the U.S., relatives usually step up to the plate and take children who would be orphaned.  I know that my daughter Renee or my sister or my niece would take Olia if anything happened to Dan and I.  My friend also offered to take her.   

   Olia has a boyfriend! Or I should say that a boy at school likes her.  She thinks it's funny!  He tells everyone that he likes her and all of the girls come up and tell her.  She says that he chased her at recess today.