tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-273920322024-03-23T14:02:56.421-04:00Our Adoption Journey...to NowhereThe world is full of suffering; it is also full of overcoming it.
~Helen KellerDawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.comBlogger291125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-17455213755307392862009-11-20T12:08:00.000-05:002009-11-20T12:08:41.283-05:00Daily Sound — Johnigan gets 15 years to life for killing DA investigator<a href="http://www.thedailysound.com/News/112009JohniganSentenced">Daily Sound — Johnigan gets 15 years to life for killing DA investigator</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/223/A235531959816A3D6008CB4BF71A7D17.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-508611105006759702009-11-02T08:19:00.000-05:002009-11-02T08:19:34.508-05:00The Santa Barbara Independent Mozes’s Money Headed to Victims<a href="http://independent.com/news/2009/oct/29/mozess-money-headed-victims/">The Santa Barbara Independent Mozes’s Money Headed to Victims</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/cribs%20crimes%20corruption/sig.png" border="0">Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-71775509412321627252009-10-28T14:35:00.005-04:002009-10-28T16:34:46.424-04:00Queen of Greed, Christen Brown, Shot Down By Judge Eskin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhFrcu3BblMTvAtVUrOwyLcOE3ucZz7r6L0eebStiEb_2JgIIgzisn18CiOcqg_ysVfMUh5KQtija0vPLaFNUzl5h8vIgJlci2TSfbt5P5516KiL_ngX37oy0pHW8o0SAB07e/s1600-h/Christen-Brown-Testifying-0_t180.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397724874238816450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhFrcu3BblMTvAtVUrOwyLcOE3ucZz7r6L0eebStiEb_2JgIIgzisn18CiOcqg_ysVfMUh5KQtija0vPLaFNUzl5h8vIgJlci2TSfbt5P5516KiL_ngX37oy0pHW8o0SAB07e/s400/Christen-Brown-Testifying-0_t180.jpg" border="0" /></a>Although the wait has felt interminable, it was almost worth it to read Judge Eskin's decision regarding Plaintiff Christen Brown's attempt to get the money reserved for victims of Orson Mozes' adoption scams. Judge Eskin ruled that Brown<br /><br /><div></div><div>1. does not have a legitimately acquired interest in the confiscated assets;</div><div>2. is NOT AN INNOCENT SPOUSE/PERSON; and</div><div>3. the claim for child support by Brown does not have priority over the (monetary) restitution owed to the victims of the defendant's crimes.</div><br /><div>AMEN! I took great pleasure in Judge Eskin's keen observations regarding Brown's involvement in Adoption International Program and his verbal lashing that she placed her own desires before her child's (Zoe) interests! </div><div></div><div>Here are a few of my favorite comments by Judge Eskin:</div><ul><li>"The evidence is overwhelming that the source of the seized assets was the defendant's (Orson) operation of a fraudulent business between the years 2003 and 2007, while he lived Claimant (Christen), and she (and their children) enjoyed the benefit of his earning which were derived from the crimes..."</li><li>"Claimant failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that she was an 'innocent.' This court cannot determine the extent of her criminal culpability, but the evidence does support this Court's conclusion that she was (probably) complicit in the criminal activities."</li><li>"...she undoubtedly had knowledge of the crimes despite her protestations to the contrary and was probably complicit in the criminal activities."</li><li>"The testimony of Claimant was extremely damaging to her position. The factors used to assess credibility of witnesses lead this Court to conclude that her testimony was inherently unbelievable. Although she earned a master's degree in counseling psychology from Boston University, published a book and coached clients for speech and media presentations, at times, she presented herself as clueless about the operations of AIP between 2004 and 2007..."</li><li>"Her explanation for the mid-hearing visit to Kathleen Lynch defied credulity, and her attempt to explain her involvement in the e-mail exchange with AIP client Vanessa Donaher in November 2005, when she agreed to refund her money while denying she had any knowledge of complaints by AIP clients borders on ludicrous."</li><li>"It is this Court's opinion that this clever language constitutes a fraud perpetrated on the Court in the dissolution proceedings..." [Note: This was in reference to specifics in their divorce] The judge also makes a statement that Christen basically put herself before her daughter and should have used proceeds from the sale of the house to support their daughter.</li></ul><p>In my opinion, this is all confirmation of what the victims have felt in their hearts all along: Christen is a greedy piranha and only cares about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ~ she knew exactly what was going on and could care less about APs or orphans. All she ever cared about was maintaining her luxurious lifestyle...even to the point where she placed maintenance of that lifestyle above the needs of her own child!<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /></p>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-22241815952736339532009-07-24T08:02:00.002-04:002009-07-24T08:04:04.110-04:00Daily Sound: Adoption scammer hears from his victims<a href="http://www.thedailysound.com/072409mozessentencing">Daily Sound: Adoption scammer hears from his victims</a><br /><br />Shared via <a href="http://addthis.com/">AddThis</a>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-41667918944670518902009-07-20T20:34:00.003-04:002009-07-20T20:41:12.695-04:00A New Blog...I have a new blog for this new chapter in our lives with our beautiful daughter Isabella! Click on this title and it will take you there: <a href="http://www.bloomwhereuareplanted.blogspot.com/">Blossoms and Blessings</a><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-74569656052982698762009-07-15T08:59:00.003-04:002009-07-15T09:15:36.683-04:00Christen Brown is a GREEDY PIRANHAChristen Brown, Orson Mozes' ex-wife and the co-owner and Executive Director of the adoption agency (Adoption International Program) that bilked nearly a hundred PAPs out of their life savings and the children proved once again, in my opinion, that she is a GREEDY PIRANHA! The Santa Barbara District Attorney's office found and froze assets that Mozes was attempting to hide totaling approximately $300k. Mozes is being ordered to pay restitution to his victims; unfortunately, that amount exceeds $700,000.00 so these victims will sadly only get a small percentage of their loss.<br /><br />Mozes was scheduled to be sentenced yesterday. However, it was postponed. WHY? Because the GREEDY PIRANHA, Christen Brown, filed a motion claiming that SHE should get 100% of the money that they recovered from her ex-husband for child and spousal support. This woman does not care AT ALL about the pain and suffering that HER company inflicted on these victims. She is so greedy and selfish that she does not want a single penny to get away.<br /><br />This is a woman who is now living in yet another multi-million dollar home (currently for sale for $2,395,000.00): <a href="http://www.michaelcalcagno.com/properties/2078LasCanoas/index.html">http://www.michaelcalcagno.com/properties/2078LasCanoas/index.html</a><br /><br />Oh yes! This poor woman is really suffering without her husband! In my opinion, I am sure that plenty of the victims' life savings paves her sidewalks.<br /><br />The sentencing will now take place on Thursday, July 23rd. Deputy DA Paula Waldman will read all of the victim impact statements, and present her recommendation to the judge as to what should happen with the monies recovered from Mozes. She does not support Christen's opinion that she should get the money. For now, we will have to wait and see. If her claim is denied we are sure she will file an appeal because Ms. Greedy Piranha won't stop until she is sure she has kicked every one of the victims while they are down.<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-5913141312325408672009-07-08T10:39:00.002-04:002009-07-08T10:46:23.163-04:00Local Santa Barbara Story on Mozes' PleaAdoption scammer pleads guiltyBy COLBY FRAZIER — July 3, 2009<br /><br />A former Montecito businessman who swindled $800,000 from 59 hopeful parents through his adoption business, pleaded guilty in Superior Court yesterday to 17 felonies and a white-collar crime enhancement.<br /><br />Wearing a light-blue shirt, dark pants and a tie, with shackles around his hands and feet, the defendant, Orson Mozes, said plainly that he was guilty, and acknowledged he felt “very comfortable” with the plea bargain he had negotiated with prosecutors.<br /><br />Although the man won’t be sentenced until July 14, Senior Deputy District Attorney Paula Waldman said he most likely would be sentenced to three years and four months in state prison, with three years of parole. Mozes, 57, also faces a civil lawsuit in the state of Pennsylvania that was jointly filed by 17 of the adoption scam victims. Additionally, Mozes conceded to forfeit $300,000 in cash and gold coins that were seized from his Florida home. The funds will be used to repay the victims, some of whom, Waldman said, are owed amounts as high as $75,000.<br /><br />The prosecutor said the plea represents justice for dozens of families who, in some cases, not only were stolen from but also felt as though their own child was taken away.<br /><br />“There’s just so much heartbreak around this case …” she said. “I enjoyed hearing him say that word, ‘guilty.’”<br /><br />Through his business, Adoption International Program, Waldman said Mozes would place Eastern European children up for adoption. When prospective parents would see the children’s pictures on the company’s Web site and inquire, she said Mozes would ask for money, a deposit of sorts to ensure the children weren’t offered to other parents.<br /><br />But it didn’t end there. She said Mozes would string the hopeful parents along. In many cases, victims would travel to various countries to meet their child, only to discover that someone else had adopted the child.<br /><br />Even so, Mozes would apparently explain his way out of these situations, saying that other children were available and could be adopted. In at least one case, Waldman said a couple traveled abroad three separate times only to be told on each occasion that the child they had come to love already had a home.<br /><br />“He’s very smooth and makes for a very good con artist,” Waldman said. “I’m not sure how much remorse that he feels.”<br /><br />Although Mozes had been in the adoption business since the 80s, Waldman said the 59 felony counts of obtaining services by false pretences occurred between 2004 and 2008.Those 59 felony counts all represent people who were duped out of money and never received the child they were promised. However, Waldman said 16 of the couples successfully adopted a child through Mozes, though in most cases it was never the original child they had settled on.<br /><br />During the investigation, Norma Hansen, a District Attorney investigator, said Mozes, after hearing authorities knew about his string of fraud, pointed out he had also overseen legitimate adoptions.<br /><br />After divorcing his wife in 2007, Mozes, either to get away from his former wife or realizing authorities were closing in, fled to Miami, Fla.<br /><br />While there, Mozes moved in with a woman who he said yesterday he plans to marry while in prison. Waldman said the woman allowed Mozes to move in and she even opened his bank accounts under her name.<br /><br />According to court documents, Mozes was using the aliases Jack Rose and Jerry Brosse.<br /><br />Had it not been for three arrests, one for driving without a license and two for shoplifting — Hansen said he got caught stealing candy and produce from a convenience store — it’s unclear when or if Mozes would have been caught. And even with these arrests, Miami authorities didn’t realize anything was amiss until after Mozes had been released on bail for the third time. But shortly after the third arrest, Waldman said police there realized Mozes was wanted in Santa Barbara and had been featured on the TV program America’s Most Wanted. He was arrested a short time later at his girlfriend’s apartment.<br /><br />Authorities seized $300,000, a hefty chunk of which was in gold coins, court documents show. Waldman said a trunk of cash was also taken.<br /><br />Waldman said the only hurdle to giving this money back to the people it was stolen from is Mozes’ ex-wife, who could claim some of the money belongs to her. Waldman, however, doubts any claim by the ex-wife would hold up.But even if the entirety of the $300,000 goes to the victims, it’s still far less than Mozes took. Waldman said it’s unclear where the remainder of the funds will come from, though more civil suits could be filed.<br /><br />As part of the plea agreement, Waldman said the 42 remaining felony counts levied against Mozes would be dismissed. The special allegation he pleaded guilty to was a white-collar crime enhancement, which comes into play when a person steals more than $500,000.<br /><br />Aside from the good news the plea brought victims (Waldman said she’d heard from many who felt closure and were satisfied with the terms), she said the case is sentimental for many in District Attorney’s Office.<br /><br />When the office first got the case, the late DA investigator Laura Cleaves was the lead investigator. Cleaves was killed by a drunken driver in May of 2008 while driving home to the Santa Ynez Valley after a late night at work. Cleaves’s vehicle was struck by a black Mercedes near the Highway 154, Santa Ynez River over crossing.<br /><br />Waldman, choking back tears, said Cleaves was working late that night on the Mozes case.“I believe that Laura is smiling right now,” she said. “The day she was killed she was working hard on this case.”<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-24563305572762331602009-07-02T19:31:00.002-04:002009-07-02T19:42:32.595-04:00JUSTICE! Orson pleads GUILTYThe following e-mail came from the Santa Barbara DA today:<br /><br /><em>Today around 2:30pm, Orson Mozes plead "guilty" to 17 counts of violating Penal Code section 532(a), felony obtaining money by false pretenses. He also admitted the truth of the special allegation charged under Penal Code section 186.11(a)(2), aggravated white collar crime taking over $500,000. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>On July 14, 2009 at 1:30pm in department #12, he will be sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in State Prison .</em><br /><br />I don't want to post personal details of the restitution because that is the victims' personal information, but I will say that as far as we are concerned, Orson must pay us back for our loss and the court has the assets available to distribute the restitution to his victims. This was a great relief since it was unknown if any monies would be available for restitution. <br /><br />I feel SO INCREDIBLY grateful to Laura Cleaves, Norma Hansen, and Paula Waldman for taking the pain and suffering of all of Orson's victims seriously and for seeking justice. This is a true victory. Nothing will EVER take away the pain and heartache we endured and we will NEVER stop loving and missing our boys. <br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-45436687997184959552009-03-06T20:56:00.001-05:002009-03-06T20:56:55.858-05:00Orson Extradited to California<center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pqNMX5P4WMo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pqNMX5P4WMo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-48568737230053543272009-02-01T17:16:00.002-05:002009-02-01T17:19:29.846-05:00In Case You Missed It...If you missed the show you can watch it on demand. Go to the America's Most Wanted website and there is a button that says "Watch Full Episodes". This was Episode 2219, Season 22: Ep 19. We are thankful to America's Most Wanted for a great job on this segment and all their hard work!<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-83277046112266308672009-01-28T17:32:00.002-05:002009-01-28T17:33:49.119-05:00AMW Reminder<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9pRYOs3TkF8vPnytjBpGakKiAUCYpBlc6mml3p3j03rRGxjyLU8jft34CpIJtKsp_Ng3LCLLnB9emvwryW6yE3Nw-S_33bhfAJ8qKGTNm8SIQBaTI1P7JZpZ086bYUl1mhUU/s1600-h/amw_logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296476324655536722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 167px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9pRYOs3TkF8vPnytjBpGakKiAUCYpBlc6mml3p3j03rRGxjyLU8jft34CpIJtKsp_Ng3LCLLnB9emvwryW6yE3Nw-S_33bhfAJ8qKGTNm8SIQBaTI1P7JZpZ086bYUl1mhUU/s320/amw_logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> The segment on Orson Mozes will air this Saturday, January 31st on FOX at 9/8C.<br /><div><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /></div>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-81418120083501025732009-01-02T22:49:00.004-05:002009-01-03T00:00:13.605-05:00America's Most Wanted Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgSPMBou934lAeGzoU-H5OeAuJQAVlAs8_rvIk6X5pCC_03uGWpR5F1fsVjG1YQhdzMkvRcTMqfCKemwQATmHtqb90_CQCXc1pEFAX-9kRWVv6es2LzgetpDkYGIGYq4GW453/s1600-h/amw_logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286909713964781202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 167px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgSPMBou934lAeGzoU-H5OeAuJQAVlAs8_rvIk6X5pCC_03uGWpR5F1fsVjG1YQhdzMkvRcTMqfCKemwQATmHtqb90_CQCXc1pEFAX-9kRWVv6es2LzgetpDkYGIGYq4GW453/s320/amw_logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> Due to the recent capture and arrest of Orson Mozes, the segment on America's Most Wanted will now air on January 31, 2009 at 9/8 C on FOX. <div></div><div><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /></div>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-74907273333311140342008-12-29T18:53:00.004-05:002008-12-29T23:00:10.683-05:00A TRULY Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITvjliqeDBZ8KQRueyJDkaGwUwzBBfJuESX6tO2PoemFhjnpGTpZOKU7TYpAhKyFbxF9ClkckOFS5gVU85gWbke8LfiRzf4oT4ec9O15o_fhR_PEPZLfShcVkHqqVCYAHKbVS/s1600-h/Orsons+Wanted+Pic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285364613450481634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITvjliqeDBZ8KQRueyJDkaGwUwzBBfJuESX6tO2PoemFhjnpGTpZOKU7TYpAhKyFbxF9ClkckOFS5gVU85gWbke8LfiRzf4oT4ec9O15o_fhR_PEPZLfShcVkHqqVCYAHKbVS/s320/Orsons+Wanted+Pic.jpg" border="0" /></a> Orson was arrested today in Miami, Florida and is sitting in jail as I type this! This is a VERY, blessed and Happy New Year's present to all of his victims! Gosh, he looks pathetic! <div></div><div></div><div><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /></div>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-57791332893566502008-12-27T13:14:00.000-05:002008-12-27T13:15:07.980-05:00Video on Orson Mozes<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eOHJ-mywtbQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eOHJ-mywtbQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-74589246823868683952008-12-26T10:22:00.002-05:002008-12-26T10:23:36.040-05:00Orson Mozes Arrested - and RELEASED - TWICE!!!<strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Click on the title of this post to see the video and article.</span></em></strong><br /><br />On Fox's "America's Most Wanted," John Walsh tracks fugitives. But not everyone is brought to justice, like Orson Mozes. He's wanted in Santa Barbara County, California for running an adoption scam and stealing at least a million dollars from dozens of innocent people.<br /><br />"I don't think any words could give it justice," says Dawn DeLorenzo of New Jersey. She says she's one of Mozes' victims. "We first came into contact with Orson Mozes when we decided in April of 2006, after a few unsuccessful fertility treatments, to look into adoption," explains DeLorenzo. Dawn and her husband say they gave Mozes' agency over $26,000 in fees to adopt three orphans overseas in Kazakhstan. The couple went abroad and spent thousands more, but never got their money's worth. The adoptions fell through and so did their dreams. "You start imagining your future together with that child," laments DeLorenzo.<br /><br />So where is Orson Mozes? "He's most likely somewhere in Florida," says Criminal Investigator Norma Hansen of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office. More Specifically, he could be somewhere in South Florida or Southwest Florida. "Up until a couple of days ago we weren't even really sure if he was alive or still in the country," explains Hansen. Using the alias "Jack Rose," Hansen discovered Mozes was arrested in Collier County in November for having a fake driver's license and fake social security number. Despite his felony warrant in Santa Barbara County, he was able to bond out and walk the streets. Hansen says she doesn't know how he was able to slip through the fingers of law enforcement. "Not being law enforcement in Florida, I don't know what the procedure is before someone's released- if they check their fingerprints."<br />Investigator Hansen also found out Mozes was arrested just last Sunday in Miami for petty theft. Just like Collier County he was able to bond out of jail. Hansen says, "It's very frustrating for me, but more so for all the victims."<br /><br />As for Dawn DeLorenzo, she has mixed feelings. She explains, "We're very happy to know that he's still in the country. (But) disappointed that for some reason he was allowed to go. I don't know what happened there- who dropped the ball, but I'm sure that they're going to get him."<br /><br />If you see Orson Mozes or know his whereabouts, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office wants you to call police immediately. He is not considered armed or dangerous. He is considered a flight risk.<br /><br />Posted By: Rosemary Connors<br /><a href="mailto:rconnors@fox4now.com">rconnors@fox4now.com</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-66638956922455772572008-12-08T15:59:00.003-05:002008-12-08T16:02:22.065-05:00America's Most Wanted Airing Saturday 1/3/2009<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277526999480368034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 167px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8_t58esh7hVitC3oShwIZrPC5OlkmvdrTa2B27ynpDxmYzU6dsrXAk0BkHTCOUmurEab-LEpjLtD4xrdzriSe_GqEUE_oHYHU3yMAyXxGS4TPk-3k2zpXwgcWBug8Ig4UIKN/s320/amw_logo.jpg" border="0" />So, the America's Most Wanted piece about Orson will air on Saturday, January 3rd at 9/8 C on FOX. You have to check your local listings to see what channel it shows on in your area. God willing, someone will know where the scumbag is and call in.<br /><div><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /></div>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-26285018150993933582008-09-21T17:02:00.002-04:002008-09-21T17:29:28.506-04:00The End of the Adoption Journey to NowhereThis will be my final post on this blog. We are moving toward a new chapter in our lives and think it only fitting to write the last page of this story. Not a single day goes by that we don't think about Alex, Stas, or Stephen (and his baby brother whom we never met, but prayed for just as much) and our pregnancy certainly hasn't changed that. I dream of the boys at night and think of them throughout the day. They will always be a part of our lives. God knows we did everything humanly possible to make it have a happy ending, but were met with constant road blocks, closed doors, and unwilling or unmotivated "powers that be". I don't know if it is best for the boys to never know about what transpired or if someday it is best for them to know that somebody desperately wanted them. Only time will bring that answer.<br /><br />We have learned a lot during this journey. Some of the lessons were positive: our marriage survived and thrived through both public and private pain. Some were negative: We learned that some "friends" are not as true as they seem. Some were just "life lessons" that can't really be neatly placed in one category. One of these is the fact that no matter what issue it is: adoption, abortion, racism, gay marriage, animal rights - you name it - there are extreme viewpoints on both sides and most people are so firmly entrenched in defending "their" viewpoint that arguing is futile. It is no wonder that our world is in such trouble - these issues are merely microcosms of our universal issues.<br /><br />I certainly can't end this blog by telling you that I am glad it all happened and would do it over if I had to. I wouldn't. I am not glad it happened. I don't feel better off having uncovered the evils that I have. I will simply say that it was what is was; it happened; it hurt like hell, and now we are moving toward a new chapter in our lives. <br /><br />Thank you so much to the many "virtual friends" who have followed our journey, prayed for us and the boys, and supported us in some of our darkest times. I hope you will join us on our new blog: <a href="http://www.bloomingbelly.blogspot.com/">www.bloomingbelly.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-2404642946730694232008-09-13T13:56:00.004-04:002008-09-13T14:30:51.815-04:00NEWS...<span style="font-family:georgia;">We did not plan on making this announcement so early, but word got out at my job and all of our friends and family know and quite frankly I am about to bust: We are pregnant :) We are seven weeks and due on May 3, 2009. The IVF worked, thank God, on the first try. I say thank God for two reasons: First, because it truly is thanks to God for this blessing, and second because as anyone who has been through IVF knows - it is not fun! </span><br /><br />We had 19 eggs retrieved. Out of those...eleven actually fertilized. Five of them made it to Day 5 post-fertilization, 2 were transferred and 3 are now frozen. One miracle implanted! We heard the baby's heartbeat on Wednesday and it was surreal!<br /><br />So far I feel good. No morning sickness...only some nausea if I wait too long to eat. I <em>MUST</em> have something every two hours or I feel crappy so I keep a lot of fresh fruit, fruit cups, crackers, etc. with me. My earliest symptoms were just heaviness in my breasts, itchy nipples (I thought that one was weird, but someone else said she had that one too!) and a strong urine smell. After the embryos were transferred I had two nights of MAJOR night sweats, but have not had them since. I had some pretty bad headaches that first week as well, but that could simply be due to the Progesterone injections (which we stop in two weeks ~ finally!)<br /><br />Regarding Stephen and his brother (and the Kazak Embassy): If you adopted from Kaz and you only want to hear nice things about the country, please stop reading at this point. Joe and I feel nothing but disgust for all of the people in Kazakhstan <strong><em>that we dealt with</em></strong> throughout our adoption (with the caregivers and our drivers being the only exceptions.) The people we have dealt with have been apathetic and downright cruel. We resent that they asked us to meet with them in July and tore open the scab that was forming over our hearts by telling us the boys are available and that they were going to do "everything possible" to help us adopt them. I nearly cancelled our IVF procedure and thank God that in the end we did not.<br /><br />Almat (Head of the Consular Section), as you saw from the e-mails I posted, barely answered our questions and recently his help - that was supposed to be "everything possible" - in reality - turned into giving us a contact person who could help us with the adoption. We did not need a contact person - we needed a swift acting Embassy official to insure our safety and complete this adoption a.s.a.p. so these boys could have a chance at life. Sadly, the Embassy had no intention of offering any "substantial" assistance and only proved my first assumption correct: It was all just lip service. Now, they can say "We met with the De Lorenzo's and offered assistance." They can use this quote to answer any reporters who question why they did not step up to the plate. Every single one of the people we dealt with, who had it within their power to help and didn't, make us sick to our stomachs.<br /><br />Some people say "Oh, you can only blame Orson Mozes and his wife who is the co-owner and Executive Director and nobody else." Orson and Christen are, of course, the <em>only</em> reason we were in this mess to begin with. However, there are many who could have, and <em>should</em> have, helped to make things right once it was apparent that Orson was working with corrupt people on the Kazak end. It is outrageous that Nigmat is still abusing people and that Dr. Natalia, the Director of the Baby House - as well as Almagul are all still going about their evil business while the Embassy is <strong>FULLY AWARE</strong> of what they are doing! It is shameful. Lastly, I think it needs to be made very CLEAR to PAPs that Heritage Adoptions is using Nigmat. I am sure other agencies are as well, but Heritage is the one I know for sure is using him. <strong>BE VERY WEARY!</strong><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-91125672462584290252008-08-16T21:35:00.002-04:002008-08-16T21:37:45.473-04:00Article in Conceive MagazineThe fall 2008 issue of Conceive Magazine just hit the stands. The article that we were interviewed for is "How to Avoid an Adoption Scam" by Joan Fleischer Tamen starting on page 56. Click on the title of this post to read it. My husband thinks it makes us look like idiots. I think it is a good article. What do you all think?<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-64803280528505093032008-08-11T08:37:00.004-04:002008-08-11T09:18:05.184-04:00UpdateWe are beyond frustrated with the Embassy. In traditional Kazak style they have left us hanging for weeks now begging for the simplest answers to our questions. When they actually do respond they answer a <em>minuscule portion</em> of what we asked them. The anger we feel cannot be described. Why would they bother putting this on the table and placing this in our healing hearts only to treat us this way once more? It is beyond callous. It is mental and emotional abuse. To read the e-mail exchange between myself and the Embassy click <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/4680653/EMail-Exchange-with-Embassy">HERE</a></span></strong>. I am confident you will see why we are so frustrated and angry.<br /><br />We got our home study updated and we are just waiting for the final copy of it to mail in with our i600a application. We will wait and see what the Embassy has to say, if anything. It is <strong>OBVIOUS</strong> that we are not using anyone from AIP and would <strong>NEVER</strong> think of using <strong>ANYONE</strong> that Orson associated with. Yet, the Head of the Consular Dept. sent us an e-mail telling us to send our papers to our facilitator as soon as we can! Ummm...WE DON'T HAVE A FACILITATOR! So, once more I e-mailed the same questions I have been asking for over a month now...and we will be lucky if they respond some time in the next week. It really is quite pathetic. Then they wonder why we feel everything they say is lip service. <strong>ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.</strong><br /><br />On a different topic: As I have mentioned, we are going through IVF. Yesterday was my retrieval and they retrieved 19 eggs! Today we will find out how many fertilized. God willing we will become parents <em>somehow</em>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-39152264928346460112008-07-24T11:00:00.004-04:002008-07-24T14:46:49.850-04:00The Next Step...Some people have e-mailed me about their desire to post about us on their blog or link to us. By all means ~ we graciously accept any help and attention that can be brought our way. The ChipIn Widget will continue to accept donations, but we prefer to take it one step at a time since we are not sure what is to come and need to live in the "maybe" zone for our own sanity. As I said, the Embassy is not promising that this will happen and said they cannot "hold" the boys for us. This is one of the primary reasons we have been so hesitant to even open our hearts to this at all. We have been burned severely with this adoption and do not trust anyone or anything that is said to us. Thank you to all who sent words of encouragement, donations, and for all of your prayers. It means so very much to us! It is truly in God's hands.<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Mason's Mom asked:</span> <em><strong>Are you willing to adopt other children?</strong></em><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>Our Answer:</strong> </span><span style="color:#ff6666;">No, the only children we would ever adopt internationally are Stephen and his brother. Our paperwork is being done for these children only and we cannot adopt any others in the orphanage as we are not redoing our dossier...only a few required documents requested by the Embassy and the Office of Children's Rights in order to adopt Stephen and his brother. </span>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-30970239913571391172008-07-23T17:15:00.003-04:002008-07-23T17:23:17.162-04:00THANK YOU ALL!We are amazed and feel so blessed by the outpouring of support! We can't thank you all enough. This enables us to move toward being "paper-ready" by getting our home study updated and to reapply for our I171h and get our fingerprints. This is truly an act of faith as we have no idea what the future holds. We feel incredibly blessed by all of your support!<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-34610420876262000772008-07-21T15:50:00.002-04:002008-07-21T16:00:06.824-04:00Reaching Out for HelpJoe and I were not ready to share this information until now and our hand is being forced somewhat by need. During our meeting with the Ambassador and Head of the Consular Dept. we were told that Stephen and his brother would be available for adoption in the near future. We found out today that they are free and clear for adoption immediately. While we would not have to redo our entire dossier, we would have to update our home study and reapply for the I171h. This is a HUGE leap of faith for us as we are not being promised anything - they cannot hold the boys for us and there are still MANY questions which they are seeking answers for us.<br /><br />However, to even get the ball rolling costs money that we do not have. As I have shared before - we have lost over $75,000.00 due to the crimes of Orson Mozes. We do not even have available credit or we would use that. We are reaching out to the adoption and blog community for help. We do not know what will come, but we feel God is at work in our lives as well as Stephen and his brother's lives right now. We are taking a HUGE risk by allowing our hearts and minds to even consider this possibility. Our wounds are hardly healed and we may have our hearts torn apart again. But our love for Stephen is, and always, remains. He is our son. He will always have a place in our hearts...and it will be a true miracle and for God's glory if he is finally able to come home. Would you consider helping us and being a part of this journey of faith?<br /><br /><center><object height="250" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/a137c43469ce5b49"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/a137c43469ce5b49" flashvars="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="250" height="250"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-3858736164643703722008-07-17T17:53:00.004-04:002008-07-20T14:11:23.899-04:00Interview with Marina LombardoI mentioned a few weeks ago on my other blogs the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Am-More-Than-My-Infertility/dp/0980026601/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216331703&sr=8-1">I Am More Than My Infertility </a>by Marina Lombardo and Linda J. Parker and the fact that she wrote about my blog <a href="http://www.cribsandcrimes.blogspot.com/">Cribs, Crimes and Corruption</a>. Today, Marina has posted Part I of an interview she did with me. Part II will be posted tomorrow. The blog is great for those going through infertility. Stop by and check it out :)<br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" /><br />For anyone who has not visited my other two blogs they are:<br /><a href="http://www.adoptionloss.blogspot.com/">http://www.adoptionloss.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.cribsandcrimes.blogspot.com/">http://www.cribsandcrimes.blogspot.com/</a>.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27392032.post-45599922878860134972008-07-12T09:39:00.003-04:002008-07-12T09:53:20.403-04:00Satan's Scarecrows<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA-orRfEYZ12Ar_j2yp_AaxGVX77DKr1GaJXb7UriyT-WLKHqkERmYb3Q8G_sBYKUpvU4Ww-U9mBYcn102hY7SzI8fykKSJm8vyf7RGZiOXPF1zPDEmfp3inMMV9yQI_tYAkr/s1600-h/Scarecrow-m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221874047947418786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA-orRfEYZ12Ar_j2yp_AaxGVX77DKr1GaJXb7UriyT-WLKHqkERmYb3Q8G_sBYKUpvU4Ww-U9mBYcn102hY7SzI8fykKSJm8vyf7RGZiOXPF1zPDEmfp3inMMV9yQI_tYAkr/s320/Scarecrow-m.jpg" border="0" /></a>Craig Groeschel says in <em>Confessions of a Pastor</em> that fear is a scarecrow:<br /><div align="center"><blockquote><div align="center">"What harm can a scarecrow do? We scarecrow constructors know that the answer is "none," but the birds don't know that...If those blackbirds ever figured out our strategy, they'd realize that a scarecrow is actually a tipoff to the location of the best corn!"</div><div align="center"></div></blockquote></div>I can't deny that fear has been one of the reigning emotions throughout our adoption process. Fear is what kept us with Orson; fear that we were overreacting, wrong, hypersensitive, not trusting God enough, etc... From the moment you realize there is a problem and you are not conceiving a child fear is there. For me the fear of not being a mother has existed for as long as I can remember. I can pinpoint the exact moment in my life when my older brother said something to me that instilled a fear that I would not be able to have children. Having biological children is not important to me or Joe, but being parents is very important. I know that the Liar has used my fear to his advantage and continues to do so as much as I allow him to this day.<br /><br />Fear is why I struggle with trusting God: <em>What if He gets it wrong? What if He just uses this desire I have to make me wait in order to "develop my faith"? What if He has better things to do? What if this is written in stone and no matter how hard I pray we will never be parents?</em> It is easy to succumb to fear when you allow these kinds of questions to take over your thoughts. But the quote that is above has me asking a new question: <strong><em>What if these fears are nothing but Satan's scarecrows?</em></strong> Perhaps these fears are a way of keeping me away from life's "best corn"! I doubt there is a better corn than that of the peace that comes from trusting God and <strong><em>KNOWING </em></strong>that He has a plan for you that is better than any plan you can dream up.<br /><br />Right now we are facing yet another challenging decision and, in all honesty, I am afraid of getting it wrong. What if we say "yes" to this challenge and that is not what God wants? But what if the fear is a scarecrow trying to keep us from the "best corn" that God is offering us? <br /><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r278/splitdecisionz/adoption%20journey/sig.png" border="0" />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07193871656856690097noreply@blogger.com1