The Dossier is on the Way!

Last week, while we were in upstate New York on vacation, our dossier was on the move. It went first for county certification, then to state certification. Right now, it is in Houston at the Chinese Consulate for authentication. After it leaves there, it will be going to China! Then it will be translated and "logged in" - this is when our official waiting time begins. Right now it is estimated to be about 2 years. But with the Olympics this summer, we will have to wait and see how things change.

Dossier almost ready to go!

We finally got our approval from CIS. The actual form that goes in our Dossier. Well, it's just a sheet of paper from Homeland Security that approves us to bring one child into the country. But that's what we needed!

So I met with our social worker today to tie up loose ends. And we had a few more than we would have hoped. Last week the rules changed. China now requires all the dates on signed forms and certificates to be no older than 6 months. We would have had no problem with this, except that CIS approval took 4 and a half months – much longer than the expected 2-3 weeks. So we have to get a few things signed again. Just a little maneuvering, and we should be good to go! This has caused a little inconvenience for us. It has caused major problems for other families – like dossiers sent back! I am so grateful that we were delayed, so that our dossier can go out correct. Also, other families are still waiting to get their approval from CIS. Our social worker was very excited that we already got ours. People that filed a month or so before us are still waiting.

But even though we've had some unexpected waiting time, everything really is falling into place perfectly. And that is only one reason. God has His hand on every step, every paper, every person and even every penstroke. Each time we pass another hurdle, I can see how God has arranged for each step to occur in His time. I do sometimes have to remind myself that His hand is guiding us. The prayers, support and excitement that you ALL give to us is evident everyday. And today it was greatly needed.

Approved!

I got an email today from our social worker. She talked to CIS and we have been approved! We still have to wait to get the form that will go in our dossier.
Basically this means that Homeland Security has approved our request to bring an orphan into this country and make her a citizen!

Fingerprints!

We finally went to have our fingerprints done! It was a long wait (which should have been shorter) – but the timing was perfect. Busy days were over – and we both had the day off of work.

After hearing some stories about the very strict rules in the fingerprinting office, we didn't know what to expect. But we just followed the rules we were given: bring your ID and fingerprint form, no purses or cell phones. We were prepared. The security guard had us line up outside the door to check our id and paperwork. It felt a whole lot like airport security. There were about 10 of us outside the door at 8 am, and only about 4 people (us included) had “obeyed” the rules. I'm a stickler for the rules most all the time – and this time it really paid off. The guard was a little gruff with the “rule-breakers” - but was nice and friendly with me and Daniel, even joking around with us!

Getting the fingerprints was pretty interesting too. The technician just rolled each finger on a pad and it appeared up on the computer screen. And it would tell you if it was a good print or a “match failed” one. The technician also was joking around with us. She had both of our forms – which have our birthdays on them. And she and the other technician enjoyed laughing about how our birthdays are back to back, and how we should never forget! It was so relaxed and fun. I was laughing a lot. Not what I had expected from the stories that I had heard.

Thank you all for your prayers that this step would go smoothly. Our request now is that the fingerprints would be processed quickly and that CIS/Homeland Security would sent us the approval form that has to go into our dossier.

We are one more step closer to the actual countdown to China!

Finally!!!

We got an email Friday from our social worker that she finally had some information about our fingerprint appointments. She had been calling immigration once a week for the past 3 weeks. And then last week, she was calling every day. She finally got someone to schedule it. Either way, we finally have a time. However, we are actually still waiting to get the official notification in the mail. Ideally, this appointment is usually scheduled about 2 weeks after they get the paperwork. We received our notice that they had our paperwork on February 12th. Our social worker heard several excuses for the delay, including new computer software and new personnel. But whatever the case was, the wait is mostly over. Now we are looking in the mailbox everyday with expectation!

Still Waiting

I was hoping to be posting about our trip to get our fingerprints done. But we have not gotten our appointment time yet. Our social worker is checking on why there has been a delay. She did call last week, and they said that it should have been mailed out. I can tell she is concerned as to where our letter is. And I’m beginning to get a little anxious about it too. I know the only thing I can do is just wait for it to come. That and keep asking her if she had heard what the hold up is - which I have now done 3 times!

So we wait. Please pray that this letter will come soon and that it will be the perfect time for us to go. And that there are no problems causing the hold up.

Community

I got to meet someone I work with that has adopted. His wife is one that spoke at that class we attended a few weeks ago. It was great to hear him share his story with such joy. He was also very excited for me – almost welcoming me into a community of those of us who have traveled down this road.
It really is like we belong to this unique group of people. We are all connected with this special bond. Some of us have suffered loss and grief. But all of us have been called to this wonderful opportunity to adopt. Each journey is different, but we all share this blessing of extending our family in such a special way.
So many people have been touched personally by a story of adoption. It may be a family member, a friend, or just someone that you have met once or twice. But there is probably someone you know with a story of the joy of adoption!

On the news front:
No real progress… I did go and meet with our social worker last week to make sure that we had all of our dossier stuff – either 1) correct and finished or 2) in progress/where it should be. She did have to make a call to CIS to find out when our fingerprint appointment is to be mailed out. (We should have already gotten it). But I do see this as sort of a blessing. The closer we get to the end of tax season, the better. But everything else looks great! We are getting closer!