Well, I officially have all the paperwork done and certified for our dossier. I picked up all the paperwork from the OK SOS office yesterday. I am just waiting on CCI's documents that are required to be in our dossier. It's not so hard waiting on things when you are the one holding up things... but when someone ELSE is holding up things, it's not so easy to be patient! :) I emailed CCI today and they told me that the document that I am waiting for was mailed out a couple of days ago and I should be receiving it any day.
I am also waiting for a CD from my case manager, with loads of pictures of the babies on it. She visited Ethiopia and the orphanage there back in September, and she has been kind enough to share these pictures with me. I have been stalking the mailman every day in wait for this CD... I can't wait to get my hands on these pictures. When I get them, I will be adding more pictures of the babies to the blogsite.
Until then... I will be WAITING again!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Another frustrating day on the adoption front....
Well, today was one of those frustrating days that I would love to do over... First, I had to go to the OK Secretary of State's office to get my dossier certified. I got to the state capitol at about 11:35, and arrived just in time for the person responsible for certifications to be out to lunch. UGH! So, the four kids and I took a tour around the capitol. It was pretty fun, because they had an art gallery open to commemorate our state's 100th birthday. There were some neat works of art for the kids and I to enjoy, and it ate up about 30 minutes of time.
Next, we rode the elevator upstairs, one floor at a time, and explored each floor (quietly). There were some really neat pieces of art throughout the capitol. We went back to the secretary of state's office about an hour later, and they told us that the woman took "a long lunch", and they didn't expect her back for awhile. AHHHGG! Here I am at the State Capitol with four ansy kids who enjoyed just about all they could enjoy of touring it! Finally, about twenty minutes later, we she came back from lunch and I left the documents for her to certify.
Upon arriving home, I saw that CCI had sent me a replacement letter for one of the required documents that they were required to do for my dossier. (The first letter that they sent out had the wrong address for us... That probably wouldn't "fly" in our dossier.) I was astonished to find that this second letter had another error on it! OOOOOHHHHH! The office notary (who is also the CFO of the agency I think) notarized the letter for November 20th, but the letter was dated November 12th. (A no-no... All documents have to be notarized the same date as the letter was dated.) Just another snag on the "getting-my-dossier-DONE-and-over-with" process.
God tells us in His word that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecc. 3:1). I think this is my time to chill out and enjoy the wait! :) As the Psalmist David writes, "But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God. My times are in your hands. (Ps. 31:14). Sometimes during this process, it is hard to remember that I have to wait on Gods' perfect timing for things to happen. But I know that His timing is MUCH better and MUCH more perfect than my own! So I will sit back and rest in God, knowing that I am waiting on HIS timing for the things to take place for our adoption.
Thank you, Lord God, that you calm my spirit, and lift me up on days like this. You are so merciful and quieting to my soul.
Next, we rode the elevator upstairs, one floor at a time, and explored each floor (quietly). There were some really neat pieces of art throughout the capitol. We went back to the secretary of state's office about an hour later, and they told us that the woman took "a long lunch", and they didn't expect her back for awhile. AHHHGG! Here I am at the State Capitol with four ansy kids who enjoyed just about all they could enjoy of touring it! Finally, about twenty minutes later, we she came back from lunch and I left the documents for her to certify.
Upon arriving home, I saw that CCI had sent me a replacement letter for one of the required documents that they were required to do for my dossier. (The first letter that they sent out had the wrong address for us... That probably wouldn't "fly" in our dossier.) I was astonished to find that this second letter had another error on it! OOOOOHHHHH! The office notary (who is also the CFO of the agency I think) notarized the letter for November 20th, but the letter was dated November 12th. (A no-no... All documents have to be notarized the same date as the letter was dated.) Just another snag on the "getting-my-dossier-DONE-and-over-with" process.
God tells us in His word that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecc. 3:1). I think this is my time to chill out and enjoy the wait! :) As the Psalmist David writes, "But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God. My times are in your hands. (Ps. 31:14). Sometimes during this process, it is hard to remember that I have to wait on Gods' perfect timing for things to happen. But I know that His timing is MUCH better and MUCH more perfect than my own! So I will sit back and rest in God, knowing that I am waiting on HIS timing for the things to take place for our adoption.
Thank you, Lord God, that you calm my spirit, and lift me up on days like this. You are so merciful and quieting to my soul.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Link for more information about the Kamashi Orphanage
This website is for Blessing the Children, International, whose primary focus is on the Kamashi Orphanage, in Kamashi, Ethiopia. This is a great website to find out more information about the orphanage, and to support this organization (and in essence, our babies!)
www.blessingthechildren.org.
www.blessingthechildren.org.
WE GOT IT! WE GOT IT!
I was outside feeding the ducks on this cold and windy, blustery, November day. I saw the mailtruck buzzing around our neighborhood, and had a strange feeling that I was going to be getting some very important mail of some type today. And, sure enough, we got our I 171H in the mail! YAY! I'm doing the happy dance! It said that we were approved for 2 children.
Oh, I only wish that we could have the children home by Simbona's birthday, January 24th. Unfortunately, it looks like from this point we will be waiting about 2-3 months, so we will probably miss it. I am SO looking forward to squeezing those little cheeks!
Oh, I only wish that we could have the children home by Simbona's birthday, January 24th. Unfortunately, it looks like from this point we will be waiting about 2-3 months, so we will probably miss it. I am SO looking forward to squeezing those little cheeks!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Info about the babies
I forgot to tell you... Debbie and I were trying to decide what size of clothing to buy to send to the babies. She told me that Simbona weighed 10 kg (approx. 22 lbs), and Sena weighed 6.3 kg (approx. 14 lbs). I'm not sure what date these weights were taken, but I think they were probably taken when the babies arrived at the orphanage. So, I really have NO idea how much they weigh. I just made the best (uneducated) guess that I could when buying for them. :)
Friday, November 16, 2007
WE GOT A VIDEO!!!!
I was thrilled to see a DVD of the children of Ethiopia in the mail today from our agency. The video had all of the children who would be referred to CCI from the Kamashi orphanage. But there was footage of Simbona and Sena!!!!! They both looked wonderful and so snuggly. We realized that we had been pronouncing Sena's name wrong. We had been saying "Senna"(short e) but the correct pronunciation (per the video) is "SAY-na". I like that even better!
The orphanage workers addressed Simbona as "Simbone" and "Simbo". That is so cute! He looks so chubby, it's hard to believe he comes from Ethiopia. This video makes me want to hold them EVEN MORE!!!
The orphanage workers addressed Simbona as "Simbone" and "Simbo". That is so cute! He looks so chubby, it's hard to believe he comes from Ethiopia. This video makes me want to hold them EVEN MORE!!!
Care packages for the babies
Debbie called me today and told me that there would be a mission group going to the orphanage (leaving Thanksgiving day) and that I could send a care package along for each of the babies. She told me that I could mail it to the missionary group (Blessing the Children, International) and they would take it with them on their trip. The only problem is... today is Friday and I have to get the package in the mail before the group leaves on next Thursday morning for Ethiopia. (It seems like almost everything is "last minute" in the adoption world...) Hee, hee. We would only be able to send the items along in one gallon-sized Ziploc bag per baby. WOW! I guess I will be cramming as much as I can into each bag! :)
So, the girls and I went shopping and found some cute outfits, some socks, a disposable camera, a blanket, a photo album stuffed with pictures of our family, and a stuffed animal for each baby. YES, I did get all that to fit in one Ziploc bag per baby.... It was a tight squeeze, but I made it work. I sent the packages (overnight) in the mail on Monday the 19th. They were guaranteed to get there by Wednesday by 2:30... Let's hope they get there in time!
So, the girls and I went shopping and found some cute outfits, some socks, a disposable camera, a blanket, a photo album stuffed with pictures of our family, and a stuffed animal for each baby. YES, I did get all that to fit in one Ziploc bag per baby.... It was a tight squeeze, but I made it work. I sent the packages (overnight) in the mail on Monday the 19th. They were guaranteed to get there by Wednesday by 2:30... Let's hope they get there in time!
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