Many of the longstanding blogs about adopting from Russia have been, understandably, very quiet in the last few months. But even as we all wait for word from Moscow on the re-accreditation (Andrei Aleksandrovich, if you are reading, please give everyone in the Ministry of Education the "hurry up" sign), a handful of parents are beginning their adoption journeys. I'd like to introduce you to some of them today.

First up are Troy and Rachel at "Journey With The Williams Family". I found them when I was researching yesterday's post on the region of Primorye, because they are looking to adopt from Vladivostok. These pet-lovers (two cats, three dogs) started working on their adoption late last year, but began their blog only in May. They have their home study and their I-171H and their paperwork is in Vlad. I don’t know where they are based in the U.S., but their photo shows them smiling by water, so they should really love the sight of Amursky Bay.

Matt and Patti are only on the seventh post for their blog, "Our Adoption Journey". This Minnesota couple has been deep in the throes of fingerprints and home study visits, but they seem to be bearing up well under it all. I'm not going to get to the Minneapolis area this summer as planned, so maybe I can get them to check out what I hear is an interesting Russian art museum there.

Then there's Valerie at "From Russia, For Love". She and her husband have been married for 17 years and they have a bio son. The story of how they got into the world of adopting from Russia will bring a tear to your eye. If nothing else, just pay her blog a visit and listen to the classic Louis Armstrong song she has playing in the background.

Scott is writing about his family's effort to adopt an older child at "Operation 'Get Roman Home' ". The blog doesn't say so explicitly, but I'm guessing, by reading between the lines, that they met their child through the 2006 summer hosting program organized by Buckner International Adoption. I hope to get around to writing about what is, and isn't, happening with these summer camp-to-adopt programs later this week.

Jane is also a Russian adoption blogger who has been waiting a long time. She says in her blog, "Journey Of My Heart", that she started her adoption journey in December 2004, switched agencies and made her first visit to meet the two children she hopes to adopt last November. She's now waiting for a court date in Birobidzhan. This is a city in a region with a fascinating history that I hope to write about soon as I add to my profiles of regions in Russia's Far East.

Welcome to you all, and here's wishing you a swift, happy adoption journey.