Department of State

August 20, 2013

  Well like I said thank goodness for overnight delivery, and same day processing!  I'm not sure I had the date right because it took a full day for travel and return.... so this date may actually be the 21st not the 20th.  anyway....
  We got our documents back and WAHOO!!!!  they're corrected!  the spelling is correct and they even managed to use the same hole for the brads!  So our documents still look all pretty.  It's kinda strange,  to see my documents come into the office, and have them be processed just as any other family.  I feel excited and love seeing the process unfold.
  I didn't get any photos of the in between stage. Which makes me sad, but at the same time, its just another FedEx folder, and mailing.
  The cool thing about this step in the process is that the Ethiopian Embassy  stamps the back of the Department of States approval.  I think its cool. :)

Documents Back from the State

Wahoo!! We got our documents back from the state!!!

  Well almost wahoo, when we looked things over the State made a typo on our notary's name.  After a quick call to confirm what we already thought, we had to send the documents back, to be authenticated properly with the correct spelling. (thank goodness FedEx and the State do same-day and overnight delivery)  So we'll send them off again.
  I added a little love to our envelope this time (Riley wasn't around to give it a sticker of good luck) around.

A little love sent along with our documents

Second time around, hoping last time around, at least at the state level. :)

Dossier Approved by Agency

August 12, 2013

  We officially turned in our Dossier paperwork to West Sands on August 13,2013  I'd had been working on getting everything together for months.  You would be surprised how much effort obtaining documents can take!   If you've ever heard someone talk about the paperwork you probably just shrug.  Unless you've done it yourself or been involved in helping someone you don't realize that it is one form/document after another.

 I'll tell you what, I've been blessed by being able to work in the adoption field.  I've talked with families and helped many families through the paperwork process.  But I never completely understood.  But BOY can I now!  I have so much more of an appreciation for the papers I deal with on a daily basis.  Our bank letter (which most families have no problems getting, gave me the biggest issue!   MACU employees are super sweet and friendly, but I swear the 3  employees I dealt with, couldn't have built a Lego house even if all 3 worked together on it!) so needless to say it took over a week to obtain a document that is less than 3 sentences.  -ugh

 Anyway I got off track.  All of our documents have been turned in to WSA and have been approved!  which means everything I submitted was what they needed!  No need to re-do anything, or have further clarification.  It was a HUGE relief when heard that "everything looks good, time to authenticate!" I couldn't believe it, its still rather strange to know that my paperwork is done!

  So my family graduated from a manila envelope to a blue file folder!  Which is the sign that we are now officially in the Ethiopia program process!  Our family will stay in the blue folder until our daughter is home for 12 months and we complete her 1 year post adoptive report (I'm sure I'll talk about those later).  Then we will be moved from there to a sealed file!  Where because of UT law our records will be kept safe and sealed for 99 years!  I'ts kind of strange that our paperwork is done for now.  If we end up waiting until June for a referral than we will need to so more of it again to keep everything updated.  But I'll deal with that bridge later if it comes.
 

Hooray for the blue folder!

  Well friends and family, as our paperwork continues to the State and then to the Department of State and Ethiopian Embassy, we will be keeping everyone updated.  We are so excited to be on this journey, our hearts are full of love and appreciation for all those who have helped us, who continue to help us, and offer encouragement.  Thank you!

I-171H

WE HAVE APPROVAL!!!!!!

  I got the mail on August 12th only 9 days after our fingerprint appointment.  Within my hands was the USICS letter.  My heart dropped, I just knew that we couldn't be approved that quickly.  That and I could see the pink slip of paper through the envelope.  I didn't dare open it, I walked home handed it to Sam and waited for his reaction.  He opened the letter, and sure enough, there was a pink slip in the back of the letter.  I just knew we would have a RFE (request for evidence).  I couldn't handle it any more and begged him to let me see the letter.  He handed  it over and it was our APPROVAL!  I jumped up and down, was SO EXCITED and just amazed at how quickly it arrived.  The pink slip in the back was a request for action slip, that we may use at a later date if we need to update our finger prints or the form.  It wasn't anything big at all.  I don't know about but in my opinion MAKE THE SLIP YELLOW!! Cause I saw pink and about died, as I's so many other adoptive families do.

  While working within the adoption process I've seen families wait the full 8 weeks for approval.  Every time I talk to families I always tell them to expect a 6-8 week waiting period.  Then this happens!  My family received our approval in only 4 weeks!  I received my approval BEFORE a family I was working with, and my finger prints were a week after theirs!  Needless to say I was blown away!

 We are feeling more and more like things are coming together the way they are supposed to.  With our approval coming so quickly, and things falling into place it just confirms that we are on the path that we are meant to be on.  It's exciting to think that maybe the reason our approval came so fast is because our daughter is already waiting, maybe she's just waiting for our end. :)  Can't help but smile.

  Without getting too sappy, I can honestly say our Heavenly Father has certainly put my family on a chosen path. It's amazing how when you put faith in yourself and Him how the world just seems fall in line.

YARD SALE #1

We held our first fundraiser for our adoption!  On August 10th we woke up super early and started setting everything up.  My little sister was sweet enough to let us hold it at her house, seeing how we now live in St. George and our HOA won't allow a yard sale.  She was nice enough to offer her house.  We had a lot of help setting everything, my sisters, mom, husband, brother in law, and niece and nephew were such a big help!  We were still getting things out when people started to arrive.

 Although I had many many compliments and people who were excited to learn of the reason we were having a yard sale I did encounter 1 woman who made a negative remark.  I let it roll off because she still spent $5 at my yard sale!  My goal was to make our authentication fees. And if we made anything more than that fantastic!  We succeeded and surpassed our goal with our sales and a generous donation.  I was absolutely thrilled!  We plan to hold another yard sale August 24th just to see if we can get rid of any other items, if not we plan on donating them.

I completely forgot to take more pictures! This is the only one I took!

Here's hoping our next yard sale is a success as well!

Finger Print Appointment!

 Well we received our fingerprint appointments for August 2nd!  We got the mail, on Friday July 26th and exactly 1 week later was our appointment!  We made arrangements with work, and with Riley to make sure we could make our 11am appointment.
 

 So after a 2 hour drive, and getting totally turned around in Vegas we arrived 15 minutes early for our appointment!  I don't know what I expected, but what I saw was definitely not it!  We filled out another form, once again showed our proof of identity, then was handed a number... 1 & 2 before I could sit down my number (1) was called!  Not exactly sure what to do I followed a gentleman back to his cubical he took my forms entered in my information, then I got electronically finger printed! not a word, he just wiped my fingers and completed each hand. With a quick "thanks" I was done! Sam's experience was very much the same. Not a lot of talking, just get in and get the job done.

  By the time we left the building it was only 11:05am we figured why pass up an opportunity to live it up in Vegas!?!  We did a little shopping, and hung out.  We went and had our photo taken in front of the Las Vegas Sign, it's the first time I've ever had a photo there. (If I remember I'll post it later)  It was a wonderful day!  I love spending time with my amazing husband.  

I-600A MAILED OUT!

Riley had the honor of putting our documents to USCIS in the mailbox!

We are so glad that everything is coming together!  Riley is playing an active part, and enjoying the steps we are taking. (She hasn't had to do the paperwork ) 

I-600A Application

July  10, 2013

  Well our family has hit the next big step, IMMIGRATION!!  In order to get our immigration approval we need to submit our completed HS, marriage/birth records.  They would then read our HS, make sure that we meet income requirements, see that we are in fact U.S. citizens.  Our next step is to have our fingerprint appointment scheduled.  The nearest USCIS office is responsible for our fingerprints.  For us, we will be headed to Las Vegas for our appointment!  At that time we wait to make sure that we meet all the requirements of USCIS for immigration of an orphaned child!

Documents to go to USCIS

Riley, adding her little bit of love 

Riley's 

Can't wait for for our fingerprint appointment! Wish us luck!

HOMESTUDY COMPLETE!!!

June 28, 2013

  Our homestudy provider called today!  She had report ready and done!  If we wanted she could mail us the original documents.  I just laughed and told her "Sam will be at your office today".
  After mountains  of paperwork for a 10 page document we finally have the finalized copy in our hands!  It was amazing to read,  and see how others see our family.  The report was very well written and I can not be more happy with the way it turned out.  It's very nice to see that our family does look good on paper as well as in person.

All that work, and all those document for the one document! But what a wonderful document!!!

Happy Birthday Riley

June 20, 0213

  Riley Turned 10 this year!  We are so blessed to have such an amazing daughter in our lives.  Riley truly is one of a kind.  We discussed the fact that we wouldn't be doing anything to "flashy" for her birthday this year, and she was perfectly okay with it.  She just wanted to have fun,  and enjoy her day.
  So what better way to have a GREAT day than to be watter bombed the moment she got home from school?!?  Yes we are just that much fun!  Sam and I had take time to fill over 200 water balloons, buckets of water, and squirt guns.  We then hid them around the front of the house, and waited for the perfect time!  She had to walk all the way to the front door, read the sign and then realize what was happening. By that time we had her cornered!  After a quick 10 minute water fight all three of us were soaking and laughing.  We had so much fun! And I don't care who you are, water fights are fun!

Happy Birthday Riley!

Yep, she got soaked

Welcome home Riley!

  Don't worry!  We still made sure that she had a blast!  She decided on a "Passport to Paris" theme with mustaches tied in somehow.  With that idea, she and I ran with it!  We made passports, that the girls would use during a scavenger hunt, had and eifel tower put up in our living room, decked the place out in pink, and mustaches, had games to play, planned a swimming time, and let the girls go wild!  As you can see they had a blast.  What a way to bring in 10 years old!

I "mustache" you a question

Before the party started

We brought in 10 with a bang!  Can't wait to watch as this beautiful little girl blossoms into a beautiful young woman!

Homestudy..... Home stretch!

   May 24,2013 we had our final visit with our social worker.  EEPP!  What an exciting time!  We now wait for our FBI checks, physician's reports, and the reviewal of our report with our agency.  Unfortunately we learned today that our FBI  checks may take up to 5 more weeks, if things are backed up another 7 weeks.  This is heartbreaking news for our family. This causes a HUGE delay! Which means our process takes THAT much longer.  I'm  okay with waiting, but I really thought it would be later, you know....AFTER the homestudy.

  Recently I've begun breaking down the adoption process almost obsessively.  As you know I work for a WONDERFUL agency; West Sands Adoptions as the homestudy/dossier coordinator.  Which means I work within the process...  Working SO closely with the program, knowing the steps, knowing exactly how long it takes, where documents go, what needs to be done when, you'd think this would be great right?! Well it is, I can break down my timeline pretty accurately, I know how quickly I can get my documents, where to go to get the harder documents, and if i have any questions I don't even have to pick up a phone! I walk into another office!  Most people would say "hey you've got the upper hand!"  However if you know me, how my brain works, or have spent time with me and my family, you'll know I'm sitting there rolling over everything in my head all day everyday.  I work and process paperwork for families for 8 hours while at work, then I come home and think about my own process, and can't seem to just relax and stop.

   I finally understand what it feels like to be an adoptive family. I'm excited, nervous, scared and restless.  I can't believe that our homestudy is slowly coming together. The dates, timeline and costs are bouncing around in my head.  Sam has to keep reminding me, "one step at a time Jenn".  So while I'm stuck waiting for our homestudy to be completed I decided to start the fundraising events... Only to be shut down by the city of Enoch, and told by the City of Cedar that "It's just not a possibility right now" I guess I'll have to think about St George a little more.  I am however planning a yard sale in Cedar and St George.... Here's hoping!

  On to a much more fun note... Riley has decided that she would love to share a room. We'll see about that at a later date.We went shopping and found such a sweet bench the other day. Riley and I are going to recover it so that it matches the bedroom scheme.  We also purchased a headboard that Riley liked, and that we will be repainting.  She and I are having so much fun getting things ready.  We know we have lots of time, but still getting the room ready makes it all seem that much real.

  I have to keep reminding myself, that someday, when the time is right, and everything falls into place Sam, Riley and I will be in Ethiopia opening our arms with a welcoming hug to a little girl who has been waiting for us.

IT'S TRUE WE'RE ADOPTING!!!!

  Sam and I have been talking about adoption for a LONG time now.  We talked about it before we were even engaged.  We knew if we were going to have children that it wouldn't be "the old fashioned way".  So shortly after getting engaged I started my wonderful job at West Sands Adoption.  Sam and I laughed and started talking  more and more often about adoption.  I was surround by the process, and loved going to work (I still love going to work).  I was able to go home and talk with Sam and Riley about all the different scenarios.  Our family conversations seemed to radiate around adoption.  Riley was asking so many questions, and I began to fall in love with the children I saw on a daily basis.  My heart went out to all the families bringing orphaned children home.  Everyday at work I could look around and see the beautiful faces of children placed.  I found myself  staring at the same photo day in and day out.  It  is a photo of 2 girls probably age 9-12 I could feel a longing.  Sam would later come into my office and look at the same photo and comment "We could adopt a girl like that".  It was at that moment I could feel my heart race.
   Long story short, after months of talking and considering and going through the "is the time right, do we have the money, are we sure Riley will be ok, how will our families react?" We went on vacation to the Caribbean where we met a wonderful couple; Dallas and Jamie who are HUGE advocates for terminally ill children.  We talked with them nightly and discussed our plans.  If you've every had a feeling wash over you that you know that everything will be alright.  Meeting Jamie and Dallas  triggered that feeling for Sam and I.  We talked endlessly on the trip home about adoption.  We knew we wanted to adopt, we knew the time to start was now, we knew this is the right path for our family. We never discussed the adoption of a younger child.  It wouldn't fit with our family dynamic. Both Sam and I know in our hearts that our child will be an older child. Riley is 9 almost 10 and bringing an infant into the home just isn't an option.  We came home, looked into a homestudy provider, received the Ethiopia Program Packet from West Sands Adoptions, and started the paperwork.  We've talked so much about adoption that when we made mention of meeting with the social worker to Riley her reaction was priceless "You mean we're really going to adopt?! I'm going to get a little sister!"  she bounced away with a smile.
  Right now we have met with our social worker once, filled out LOTS of paperwork, answered just as many questions, been finger printed for 2 different criminal checks, started gathering documents, jumped through hoops with our insurance companies (we decided to switch to BlueCross BlueShield) and still have a few more steps before our homestudy will be completed.  We expect our homestudy to be complete in July (cross your fingers) or August.
  Sam, Riley and I know that this is going to be a long process, that takes, time, tears, patience, faith, and love.  But it's simple... We are excited to be able add to our family, and no matter how long the wait, our family will be completed with an older child adoption from Ethiopia.