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.  

Home Study, Here We Come!

We completed our self-studies within our goal set for ourselves -whoop whoop!  The agency called today to say that they were received along with some other paperwork required.  We found out that the state of Wisconsin requires us to be licensed foster care providers in order to adopt. Anyway, we will be hearing from our assigned social worker within a week -yahoo!  Next step, the home study.  It feels good to be moving along.  

Classes Now Behind Us

We completed the 2-day class and it was so much better than we thought it would be!  Our agency really knew how to run the 2 days and fit as much stuff in as possible without being too overwhelming.  They are very encouraging and I know I left on Friday feeling really enthusiastic.  We are now working on our self-studies which are 19 questions in essay format and the average person takes 6-8 pages to answer them.  I am almost done and Craig is right behind me which I am very impressed with.  Once we turn these in with a few other documents, we can be assigned a social worker and start our home study!  It is usually in two phases -one meeting with the social worker at the agency and the other at our home.  We have been told that there won't be a 'white glove' test for dust or anything like that which is a huge relief.  Things are now rolling along and even though it is a lot of work, it feels good to be doing something.  Thanks to all of you who check this - I forget to check it sometimes.  Our biggest advantage to this process is all of you are supporting and encouraging us.

Class This Week

We attend our classes this week - all day Thursday and Friday!  Not sure what to expect except a ton of information.  I have been feeling mixed emotions these past few days so I hope I get sense of peace after the classes.  

Next will be our home study and I am actually not too worried about that.  Some cleaning and organizing will be needed but I am totally counting on my mother for help with that (I haven't really told her that yet!).    

I read an article last night which has me questioning the whole process.  It is called "The Lie We Love".  I tried to post a link but not sure how it will come through.  If anyone reads it, would love to hear your feedback.  Please keep in mind that Craig and I never started this process to do some great act of social service although I am learning of the need to find homes for older children.  

We Are In!

Well, so much for all of the complaining!  The needed document was faxed in at the last moment and we received our invitation to attend the 2-day pre-adoption classes for January!  Yea!  I guess I am gaining a better understanding for the roller coaster emotional ride in store for myself.

I am really looking forward to the classes.  We'll be put in small groups with other adoptive parents to be and it will be nice to meet others in the same exact timeline of this process.  We will also be discussing in depth the relationship of interracial parenting which is something of great concern for me.  I am looking forward with great joy to having an interracial child but not to all of the possible situations that could occur to make this child feel less than the wonderful person they will be.  It is quite overwhelming to think about at such an early time in the process.  One step at a time, I guess.  Thank you for the prayers!