Verify, Certify & Notarize

I just received our first official document returned to us that was verified and notarized and it is....wrong!  Ahhhhh!  I have learned my first important lesson and that is to be very specific in my requests.  I assumed that all notaries would sign their stamp/seal the same way -not true.  

All in all, the paperwork needed for our dossier isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  I am finding that living in a small town is helpful.  The police station and medical clinic are all within 2 miles of our house and my work so that makes it easier getting things signed.   Of course, if you have to go back and request that it be redone, it does make it a bit longer, sigh.

It shouldn't be more than a few weeks and we will have everything compiled!!!

Bring On The Great Paper Chase

We passed our home study!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Our social worker left not too long ago.  We met with her last Friday at the agency and then again, today, in our home.  There was no white glove test and she didn't even peek in our closets (which are very organized thanks to Mom).  We should be contacted next week by the Ethiopian Program Coordinator to give us a list of documents needed for our Dossier for Ethiopia.  I have no idea how long it will take us to get those compiled but it is the last phase of our end of things.  Once the dossier is submitted to Ethiopia we officially become waiting parents!  Ethiopia is still at a 9-12 month wait for a referral (photo and medical evaluation) of a child.  We have plenty of things to keep us busy during that time.  I am feeling so relieved to be done with this phase of the process.  Thank you God!

We Have A Social Worker

We have been assigned a social worker and have our first meeting this Friday morning.   We will decide a date for our home study that day so it will be interesting to see how quickly it will be.  I am very excited and happy to be this far along in the process already but I also know the sooner we get through this phase, the sooner we will begin the mountain of paperwork needed for our dossier.  I am somewhat dreading that part.  Hopefully, Craig and I can maintain our discipline in getting the paperwork done.