Adoption News

OUR HOMESTUDY IS COMPLETE!!!

Thursday, July 20 was our home visit, the last part of our homestudy. We were kinda nervous, and don't really know why. I think it has a lot to do with not knowing what to expect. None of the other visits made us nervous, but we were always prepared with knowing what was going to happen. This time, though, we weren't allowed (per the agency) to know what she was going to be checking for. She assured us that it was all common questions, and that we would pass with flying colors (which we did!), but we were still nervous! But, hey, it's over now!!!

Now we're just waiting for her to write it up. She assures us it will be written by mid-August (approx. Aug. 23). Unfortunately she has 4 other families ahead of us to write, so we have to be patient and wait our turn (patience is not my forte!).

After she gets the first draft to us, we will proof it for any errors and give it back to her. She will then correct the errors and send us another copy, along with a copy to our dossier consultant to review. After she gets it back again, she'll prepare the final draft and get it notorized. Once that's complete we can send in our I-600A (petition to bring orphan into U.S.). About 1-2 weeks after that's sent, we'll get an appointment to have our fingerprints taken again (by the FBI this time). After those check out o.k., they'll send us the I-171H (approval to bring orphan into U.S.). This is the last piece of paperwork we need for our dossier. (For those who have no idea what a dossier is, it's a collection of papers required by the China Center for Adoption Affairs in order to adopt. It includes birth certificates, health exams, financial records, etc...)

Once the I-171H is collected, notorized, certified and authenticated we will be DTC (dossier to China)!!!!!!! We're hoping for a late October DTC. Then we wait!!!(approx. 12 months right now) If all continues as it has been the past 6 months or so, we should see our newest angel's face sometime around October of 2007. We're hoping and praying for shorter wait times so that we can travel and be back before Christmas of next year.

Come on everyone! PRAY WITH ME!!!!