The big day has arrived!

This is the big day - Michel Dayana arrives in Des Moines tonight!  Her room is ready, her backpack is stocked, and now it's finally time for me to figure out this blogging thing.  Bear with me as I jump into the blogging world for the first time!

For those of you new to our journey, Michel Dayana (pronounced Mee-chell Die-ah-nah, for those of you with limited Spanish experience) is an 11-year-old girl visiting our family from Colombia.  She is coming through an organization called Kidsave.  According to their website, "Kidsave works to create change so forgotten orphanage and foster kids grow up in families and connected to caring adults."  Michel Dayana is eligible for adoption, and we will spend the month of July having fun, making memories, and hopefully connecting her with a "forever family."

Here are the answers to questions we are often asked:

How long will Michel Dayana stay?
Michel Dayana arrives tonight (July 3, 2013), and returns to Colombia on August 2.

If a family wants to adopt Michel Dayana, can she stay longer?
No, she must return to Colombia on August 2.

How long does it take to adopt through this program?
This varies, but it takes 1-2 years before the child would come home.

Is the Summer Miracles program effective at finding adoptive families?
Yes!  Since 1999, over 80% of the participating children have an adoptive family or are in the process of being adopted!

Where are the kids in this program currently living?
The kids are growing up in orphanages or foster families in Colombia.

Is Michel Dayana the only child coming?
No!  She is one of eight children visiting the Iowa/Minnesota area.  In total, 32 children are participating in the program this summer.  They are also traveling to the Washington, D.C. Metro, Southern California, New York City, and Chicago areas.

I live in Iowa.  Can I meet Michel Dayana?
Yes!  There are events planned each weekend throughout the month for families to get to know the kids.  You can find more information about the events at www.kidsave.org/summer-miracles-events/ or you can contact Steve Hudson, the local community coordinator, at steveh - at - kidsave - dot - org.

Does Michel Dayana know that she is coming to look for an adoptive family?
No.  This may seem counter-intuitive, but the kids in the Summer Miracles program are not told that this is an advocacy program to help them find forever families.  The kids are told that they are headed to the United States to live with a family, soak up some cultural experiences, and enjoy a fun-filled summer vacation.  We ask that people who meet the kids not discuss adoption with them.  This protects the kids from disappointment and rejection if they do not meet an adoptive family while they are here, or if a family pursues adoption but the arrangement falls through for some reason.

How can I learn more about Kidsave?
Check out their website, www.kidsave.org, to learn about all the ways Kidsave helps older children growing up in institutional care find permanent families.

I will do my best to post every day while Michel Dayana is here, so you can join us in the journey and get to know her better.  The Colombian government does not permit us to post pictures of the kids on blog sites.  You can view photos of Michel Dayana and other Kidsave kids by completing an inquiry form at www.kidsave.org/meet-the-kids-application/.