Happy Monday everyone. I know my fellow Okies had a rough start to the week; our tornado sirens went off at 1:45 this morning. That's enough to get your heart racing. The tornado threat was on the other side of town. I stayed awake and watched the coverage for quite a while, but Hubby managed to doze off again even before the siren quit wailing. I only wish I could fall asleep like that boy!
Today is the last day the MOU could potentially be resigned. It's after 9 pm in VN now, so unless they're burning some midnight oil it looks like there will be a pause in adoptions after September 1 (we don't have official word from our agency yet, but I think it's a gimme). We aren't surprised - we've been expecting this - but hopefully it will be a very temporary suspension while everyone gets their ducks in a row. It appears that VN will continue processing adoptions for those families whose dossiers are in country by the cut-off date. We won't be far enough along to submit our dossier by then, but this is good news for many families. The good news for us is that we will continue to move up the list while those families receive their referrals, even if the country is technically closed during that time; therefore WHEN (positive thinking - note I said "when," not "if") Vietnam reopens we'll be further along.
Please pray for all of the children waiting in orphanages, and for their forever families who are so eager to bring them home.
Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
CIS Visit
Hubby and I happily met at the Department of Homeland Security Office today for our fingerprint appointment. We were greeted by two stern guards at a security station much like you'd pass through at the airport.
Their serious demeanor didn't last long, though. Straight from work, I was wearing a dressy black knee-length skirt, sweater, and knee boots. The security guard asked me to remove my boots to pass through the metal detector. I complied... only to reveal hot pink striped knee socks that were originally part of my Strawberry Shortcake Halloween costume. Oops. Plan ahead, plan ahead....
While waiting for our fingerprints, we were instructed to scrub our hands with overscented lotion pumped from an industrial-size carton. Hubby commented that it smelled like Orange Glo cleaner, and we were told that's exactly what it was, minus the "grit." I felt like a citrus fruit for the rest of the afternoon.
We hit it off with the gentleman who took our fingerprints. He redid several of our prints multiple times to make sure they met the computer's specs. He and Lance discovered that they both became Catholic within the last few years, and they had a good chat about the Church and their classes.
A citizenship ceremony was about to commence as we left. One lady I met seemed absolutely giddy about gaining citizenship. I was excited for her.... I know it's not quick or easy to do so. There were dozens of people there, many of them with flowers and cameras. What a big day they were having!
As for us, we're so glad to have another step out of the way. Now we will watch the mail for our I-171H. Once we receive that, we'll overnight it to CHI and officially be added to their list. Based on other blogs I've read lately, we expect to be in the mid-200's. Let the waiting begin!
Their serious demeanor didn't last long, though. Straight from work, I was wearing a dressy black knee-length skirt, sweater, and knee boots. The security guard asked me to remove my boots to pass through the metal detector. I complied... only to reveal hot pink striped knee socks that were originally part of my Strawberry Shortcake Halloween costume. Oops. Plan ahead, plan ahead....
While waiting for our fingerprints, we were instructed to scrub our hands with overscented lotion pumped from an industrial-size carton. Hubby commented that it smelled like Orange Glo cleaner, and we were told that's exactly what it was, minus the "grit." I felt like a citrus fruit for the rest of the afternoon.
We hit it off with the gentleman who took our fingerprints. He redid several of our prints multiple times to make sure they met the computer's specs. He and Lance discovered that they both became Catholic within the last few years, and they had a good chat about the Church and their classes.
A citizenship ceremony was about to commence as we left. One lady I met seemed absolutely giddy about gaining citizenship. I was excited for her.... I know it's not quick or easy to do so. There were dozens of people there, many of them with flowers and cameras. What a big day they were having!
As for us, we're so glad to have another step out of the way. Now we will watch the mail for our I-171H. Once we receive that, we'll overnight it to CHI and officially be added to their list. Based on other blogs I've read lately, we expect to be in the mid-200's. Let the waiting begin!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Fingerprint Appointment
WOOT! We have a fingerprint appointment! I received an email this morning that they have us scheduled for 12:00 tomorrow.... a bit of a short notice but I'm thrilled it's so quick. I couldn't tell from the way the email was worded if they had mailed us a notice that we never received, or if they just squeezed us in. I've been pleasantly surprised by the CIS office's responsiveness to email.
With a quick dental appointment switch for Lance, we can both make the appointment. I promise I'm not hiding a felonious background. For some reason they won't just take my word on it.
With a quick dental appointment switch for Lance, we can both make the appointment. I promise I'm not hiding a felonious background. For some reason they won't just take my word on it.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Boy and Girl Talk
Several of you have asked what gender our baby will be. Note the first song on my blog for the probable answer. That's right.... it's Beautiful Boy by John Lennon! We aren't 100% sure yet, but chances are very strong that we'll be adding a little boy to our family. I'm grinning as I type this. It's so fun to think about having a little guy around here.
So, how do we know? We aren't requesting boy or girl - we'd love to have either (or both!). We're open to a surprise. However, the Vietnam adoption system takes away a bit of the mystery. As you know, the wait for any relatively healthy young child is pretty lengthy. The wait list for girls is longer than for boys right now, so we'll probably get to cut in line in front of a handful of parents to adopt our little guy.
It's so exciting to think that we'll be parents to a little boy in the not-so-distant future. There's just a big enough sliver of a doubt to prevent us from painting the nursery yet. :)
I'm off to listen to some John Lennon....
So, how do we know? We aren't requesting boy or girl - we'd love to have either (or both!). We're open to a surprise. However, the Vietnam adoption system takes away a bit of the mystery. As you know, the wait for any relatively healthy young child is pretty lengthy. The wait list for girls is longer than for boys right now, so we'll probably get to cut in line in front of a handful of parents to adopt our little guy.
It's so exciting to think that we'll be parents to a little boy in the not-so-distant future. There's just a big enough sliver of a doubt to prevent us from painting the nursery yet. :)
I'm off to listen to some John Lennon....
Friday, December 28, 2007
I'm going to be a Viet MaMa!
My hubby and I are eagerly pursuing the adoption of a little one from Vietnam. Wonderful, wonderful! What a crazy journey this has already been... and we've only just begun!
That's not exactly honest. We've accomplished some major milestones already.
About six months ago, Hubby and I decided that it was time for us to pursue an adoption. At that time, we knew next to nothing about adoption laws, domestic, foster, OR international options, or even what a home study entailed (other than what the name implies).
We've never had any qualms about bringing a child into our family through adoption. However, we had no idea how difficult it would be to start that process and make a commitment. We were absolutely amazed at the sheer volume of self-education required to be able to make even a moderately well-informed decision.
I'm not typically a weepy person, but I'll admit to being brought to tears more than once as we were overwhelmed by adoption choices, jargon, and internet rumors. I'm an indecisive person, and I have perpetual buyers' remorse over choices as mundane as a new type of salad dressing. Choosing an adoption path - and thereby cutting off the other options - was the most nervewracking commitment of my life.
However, after umpteen hours of conversation, the pieces started to fall into place. We fell in love with babies all over the internet, to start. We knew that whatever path we chose would lead us to OUR child. International adoption started to feel more and more right. We developed a level of comfort and trust with a highly reputable agency who takes the guesswork out of everything. And finally, we learned all about Vietnam adoption. It's right for us.
So, where are we in the process? Though we've been living and breathing adoption, we aren't even officially on our agency's wait list yet. We have, however, successfully muddled through hours - actually, days - of paperwork and processes. We have written autobiographies, gathered eight positive references (thanks peeps!), had our fingerprints screened by DHS, received passports, passed physicals, been interviewed, disclosed our personal finances to strangers, finished hours of adoption training, and received a positive home study.
Whew. I'm exhausted and we haven't even started.
What are we waiting for now? We have submitted another batch of paperwork, along with our I-600A (application to adopt an orphan), to our local Customs & Immigrations office. Any day now (optimism!), we should receive an appointment in the mail. They'll take our fingerprints (just in case they've changed in the last two months, you know) and, upon approval, send us our I-171H. This precious piece of paper will grant us pre-approval to adopt internationally. We'll overnight that puppy to our agency in a flash, and THEN we will officially be on the (ever-growing) waiting list!
I may or may not admit that I'm already working on a packing list for our trip to bring our new child home - though I'll likely have two years to get our suitcases just right.
This is such a crazy process... but it will be so worth it. I don't know what in life could be more exciting!
That's not exactly honest. We've accomplished some major milestones already.
About six months ago, Hubby and I decided that it was time for us to pursue an adoption. At that time, we knew next to nothing about adoption laws, domestic, foster, OR international options, or even what a home study entailed (other than what the name implies).
We've never had any qualms about bringing a child into our family through adoption. However, we had no idea how difficult it would be to start that process and make a commitment. We were absolutely amazed at the sheer volume of self-education required to be able to make even a moderately well-informed decision.
I'm not typically a weepy person, but I'll admit to being brought to tears more than once as we were overwhelmed by adoption choices, jargon, and internet rumors. I'm an indecisive person, and I have perpetual buyers' remorse over choices as mundane as a new type of salad dressing. Choosing an adoption path - and thereby cutting off the other options - was the most nervewracking commitment of my life.
However, after umpteen hours of conversation, the pieces started to fall into place. We fell in love with babies all over the internet, to start. We knew that whatever path we chose would lead us to OUR child. International adoption started to feel more and more right. We developed a level of comfort and trust with a highly reputable agency who takes the guesswork out of everything. And finally, we learned all about Vietnam adoption. It's right for us.
So, where are we in the process? Though we've been living and breathing adoption, we aren't even officially on our agency's wait list yet. We have, however, successfully muddled through hours - actually, days - of paperwork and processes. We have written autobiographies, gathered eight positive references (thanks peeps!), had our fingerprints screened by DHS, received passports, passed physicals, been interviewed, disclosed our personal finances to strangers, finished hours of adoption training, and received a positive home study.
Whew. I'm exhausted and we haven't even started.
What are we waiting for now? We have submitted another batch of paperwork, along with our I-600A (application to adopt an orphan), to our local Customs & Immigrations office. Any day now (optimism!), we should receive an appointment in the mail. They'll take our fingerprints (just in case they've changed in the last two months, you know) and, upon approval, send us our I-171H. This precious piece of paper will grant us pre-approval to adopt internationally. We'll overnight that puppy to our agency in a flash, and THEN we will officially be on the (ever-growing) waiting list!
I may or may not admit that I'm already working on a packing list for our trip to bring our new child home - though I'll likely have two years to get our suitcases just right.
This is such a crazy process... but it will be so worth it. I don't know what in life could be more exciting!
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