Trickling In

I was happy to receive our other marriage certificate yesterday along with our police clearance letters. I also received our homestudy! Three more things I can check off my list. As always, the last thing that is holding us up is our orphan petition letter from immigration. I hope that it comes soon!

Thank you for all that have helped Julia to raise money for her plane ticket to travel with us. Hopefully a handful of you guys got your orders this week. What do you think? :) She has been working diligently on her orders every evening. If you have committed to ordering something, Julia will begin to work on your order after we receive the check. This just ensures that people who have already paid get their order in a timely manner.

Thank you for ordering the adoption window decals too. I think eight have already been spoken for. I have fifteen left so please spread the word! I have already gotten three comments about the one on my van...... it is such a powerful way to declare adoption advocacy and give people something to think about.

Blessings!

A Productive Monday

After a lull, even though it is only Monday, things are considerably more productive this week. Hip-hip hooray!

Today I read over the rough draft of our homestudy! Just a few minor changes and it should be good to go! I also received confirmation that the immigration office received our application and all supporting documents were approved. John and I also went and applied for Julia's and Dennis' passports! To save money, I took their picture instead of paying someone to have it taken.

I also have to let all of you know that Julia has officially raised $342.00 towards her trip! That is not including people who have not mailed their checks yet. I am so proud of all of her hard work, and I am so thankful to all of you for your support. So many of you have placed orders and sent checks for more than the total, and it just blows all of us away that you guys are so supportive! Thank you so much!

I think this trip is going to mean so much more to Julia because she raised the money to go. Taking the initiative to earn her way, and following through is an experience all on its own...... something I know will make her appreciate it all the more. It really is touching for me as her mother to watch her every day crocheting as she works to catch up on all of the orders! Not that she is complaining. Even her sisters are cheering her on!

You can still place orders, but please be patient and expect at least one week from the time you mail your check because Julia is backlogged at the moment! In addition to scarves and bibs, Julia is making dishcloths for $6. Please specify if you have a preference for cotton or synthetic. I think both are great, but I personally prefer the cotton.

I must also give praise to the $200 that was donated through Reece's Rainbow yesterday for Alexsey's adoption! I don't know who it came from, but I do know that God is using you in a mighty way! Thanks so much! Just a reminder--- only a few more days to enter the drawing for the IPOD! Thanks again Sally, who is graciously hosting the raffle.

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!