Approved! Posted about over 6 years ago

'United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reviewed...all evidence submitted...On the basis of this evidence, USCIS has determined that you...have been hereby approved to adopt one child from...the country of Albania"Whooohooo!!Approved less than 30 days from fingerprinting! We are seriously powering through this adoption. Our file will be sent to Albania in the next week ...

Albania Update Posted about over 6 years ago

A quick little update as to where we are at in the adoption process. Our paperwork and my fingerprints are currently waiting at the Department of Homeland Security for an adoption officer to be assigned to our case. I'm told that we should have an officer and have everything buttoned up by Valentine's Day. I'm praying that our file is processed MUCH faster than that, but in the big scheme of t...

Sixty Days Later Posted about over 6 years ago

Today is the 60th day since we said yes to our Sweet Girl across the world. Today was also our biggest adventure. A train derailment between us and the State Capital literally blocked our way to the Secretary of State yesterday. We declared the day done and re-scheduled for today hoping for some sort of transportation miracle. With the freeway still blocked today, a two & half hour detour...

Birth Certificate Saga Posted about over 6 years ago

Birth Certificate Saga Forty years ago, I was born. My mother was there--she distinctly remembers the event. Details of which she brings up from time to time in an effort to keep me in my place. A birth certificate was signed and registered with the Oregon Office of Vital Statistics. I have an original copy, signed in 1977. I have two additional copies secured in 2011 while preparing the STACKS...

An Update from Albania Posted about over 6 years ago

This adoption pregnancy is totally different than with Isaac in one hundred different ways. The biggest being, it appears that I'll be getting monthly updates on my girly, with photos AND VIDEO! 9.5 minutes of watching my sweet girl navigating life is good for the waiting-momma heart. Sadly, I can't share them publicly, but let me say...she is BEAUTIFUL. It looks like she was getting over a c...

Home Study DONE Posted about over 6 years ago

Our Home Study was signed off last evening and is in route to be delivered to me TODAY. This has involved medical physicals, interviews, house inspection, documented training, references, proof of employment, financial statements, birth certificates and being on first name basis with our local notary. It's been a process, but the turn around was in record time--less than 3 weeks! (For c...