Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Chasing Paperwork Godspeed

One of the biggest things that I dislike about adoption is the paperwork. It is redundant, time consuming, stressful, expensive, and needs to be done with meticulous care--- or you might as well be a glutton for punishment. Well that I am not---- and so I push forth my best effort to be quick and accurate, and cut corners where I can so that I can save time, money, and my sanity.

This being our fifth adoption----- I am pretty darn good at all of the above.

Did you know that you can schedule numerous doctor's visits on the same day?

Did you know that you can start your I-600A with a photocopy of your marriage certificate that you got when you first married instead of ordering a new one? A new one is needed for your dossier, but if you order one too early, the sixth month rule will apply so then you will have to reorder another one. That makes two notaries and two marriage certificates. I get by with ordering one.

Did you know that your homestudy paperwork is not an exam, nor do they expect you to write a book about your life?

Did you know that social workers don't walk around your house with a white glove on?

Did you know that it might be easier to get your doctor, employer, or bank to fill out the form you need if you take some of their letterhead home and print out the form the way you want it?

This adoption has been moving along like a constant babbling brook. I've interacted with some of the nicest people. As I gather the paperwork and meet with the necessary people whose signatures I need, I feel time and time again that God is showing me that He has us cupped in his hands.

All of our homestudy paperwork is complete--- medicals and social worker visit included. It has only been two weeks! Is that a record?

I started to fill out the paperwork to apply for Dennis' and Julia's passport and called the first place listed that processes applications. A friendly voice answered the phone, and we got to talking. Always thinking of ways to cut corners, I asked if I could authenticate notary signatures there too. This got me explaining that I need to do this so that I could apostille some documents.

The woman said, "Yes, I am familiar with apostilling. I had to do it for our adoption."

"Really? We have adopted too. May I ask what country you adopted from?" I inquired.

"Ukraine. We adopted a little six year old boy about six months ago."

WOW!!!!

What are the chances of that? This is so just not a coincidence.

"Really? We are doing paperwork to adopt from Ukraine and we came back with our little boy Dennis over the summer."

She exclaimed, "Are you the Reed family!!!?"

So to make a long story short, we common bonded by our adoptions , and she surprised me by offering to do one of the nicest things. She offered to notarize all of my documents for free!

That is so huge and so sweet and it is like a $200 donation! Thank you my friend! Thank you so much! Thanks for partnering with us to bring Alexsey home!

23 comments:

Karen Combes said...

That is so encouraging! I'm glad that things have been moving forward in such a short time frame and that you feel you are cupped in God's hands!

Kathy Cassel said...

Wow! That's awesome. How nice to find that bond. I can't wait until A. comes home!

A said...

That's incredible! The Lord is so good!

Cheryl Pitt said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm so glad you did, what a great blog you have here. Will this be your 11th child, sixth adoption? I long for a large family and have been interested in adoption for years, but I haven't felt God call us to either one yet :( so I'm waiting and watching for what He has in store for us. I have a question, which may sound rude but I don't know to ask it other than bluntly. How do you afford to adopt over and over again? It's so expensive. Are there some secret "tricks of the trade" I'm unaware of?

Debora Hoffmann said...

That's so wonderful! And I'm glad things are moving fast for you. We are a bit frustrated that things are not moving quickly...can't get the answers I need from our stateside helper...I would love someone to hold my hand so I get the documents done right the first time. But God knows what He's doing, even with delays. If you know what to do for the house deed with the county assessor's office, please let me know! :-)

Shelley said...

I just love it when God puts the right people in our path at the right time! And how funny that she knew your name...was it because she reads your blog?

Doriana Gray said...

Sounds like all is going swimmingly! I hope it continues that way. :)

kitzkazventure said...

Glad things are going smoothly! It is always a special gift when God helps you in those crazy paperwork details! I just went to the Capitol this week to do some Apostilling for post adoption report. I love going there. We are lucky to have some great people at that state office.

Hope things continue to go quickly! :)

Amy said...

HI Christine-
We are waiting for our I-171H... then we just need our background check from the state - and we are close to being ready... argh - very scary!
That's so cool that you found someone who already knew about you! That's neat!

Take care!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Christine...that paperwork truly is daunting but you are attacking it with great skill. After we adopted the FOURTH time I said I would NEVER again do adoption paperwork...but as people often say...NEVER say NEVER...we adopted Sam...so MORE adoption paperwork! Not a fun task but a necessary task! I would NOT trade it for the world!
God is good!!

Anonymous said...

What an awesome thing for her to do! I hope everything else is continuing just as well. :)

Anonymous said...

I so admire the love you pour into your children. Wishing you much good fortune as your proceed with this current adoption.

Anonymous said...

That is so awesome Christine! How great to be able to see God's hand in all of this. And yes, 2 weeks is definitely an expert. You should be a "Dossier Consultant" in your spare time. (lol, I am laughing that I said "spare time") :) Can't wait to see Aleksey home! By the way, will you keep his name or change it?

Anonymous said...

That is lovely! Though, here in Michigan I never paid to have anything notarized... I wonder if that is against the law? If so - alleluia! Our apostilled documents only cost $1 each, too, which is really helpful....and the Office of the Great Seal, is right between my home and work. How easy. Probably means we should adopt again, then, doesn't it?

Conethia and Jim Bob said...

isn't it amazing how many things people really do have in common! best of luck with your dossier.

Kelli said...

I didnt know alot of that. BTW, I use to be a notary when I worked at the bank and it should be free, with the exception of someone wanting to recoup thier own expenses of only a couple hundred dollars (atleast in Wa state) I think its a scam the amound some charge. I can see time and expense if its a traveling notary, off my soap box. Glad everything is going so well and fast!

Christi said...

I have been praying steadily for your family, I am not surprised that everything is going so smoothly, though; it sound's like y'all are in the center of God's will.

Anonymous said...

Isn't paperwork the worst? I hate it, and I imagine that international adoptions are worse than domestic ones. I'm so glad things are moving along quickly. God is in control of everything, isn't He?

Amy...who wanted 4. said...

Awesome story!
How cool is that?

June Berger said...

How wonderful that she is willing to do that for you! We were blessed with our last two adoptions, our "usual" teller at the bank is a notary and she did ALL of our documents for both adoptions for nothing! It saved a lot of money, time and hassle! Our "price" is to bring the children in every so often so she can see how well they are doing ;o)

Mummy McTavish said...

What a lovely gift towards your adoption.

Martha said...

I love reading your stories and I am so looking forward to seeing Alexsey home with the family. What a blessing!

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