Oh The Paperwork....

This paperwork is no joke.  We are up to our eyeballs in paperwork.  We need verification from everyone under the sun, including our vet, to confirm that we are, in fact, good parents (thanks, Dr. Whittle!).  Thank you to all that have contributed to the paper trail: friends, family, teachers, neighbors. doctors, and priests- your beautiful letters have helped remind us why God called us to do this in the first place. 

The paperwork alone takes a village! 

 

 

 

We need vaccines, physicals, safety plans, fingerprints, financial proofing, home inspections, fire drills, water tests....and more.  Add these tasks to our professional life, Eric's travel schedule, and taking care of our two children- we are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. So, if we have been "out of touch" these past few weeks, please know we have not forgotten about you- we are just trying to put one foot in front of the other to get the paperwork behind us (although we hear this is just the start...)

 

 We are still considered to be in the "home study" stage of the adoption process.  Similar to our adoption with Colin in 2009, DCFS needs to inspect and approve all aspects of our life.  This includes in person home inspections and in person interviews with our case worker. 

 

So what's next? 

While finishing up our home study, we are concurrently working on our Dossier to China.  This should be completed within the next month and sent to the Chinese Consulate for approval.  From there, we will work on Immigration Approval, which takes about 3-5 months.  After all of that is complete (papers, papers and more papers) we will be matched with a child :)  We are praying for a match by October/November and hoping for travel sometime close to the new year. 

 

Please continue to keep our family in your daily prayers.  Pray for our sweet baby, who we know is already born and waiting for a family just like ours.  Pray he/she is being taken care of and nurtured and that he/she will find their way home soon. 

Thank you for your continued love and support- it has not gone unnoticed!

 

And....Happy Chinese New Year- the year of the monkey. 

Here are my two monkeys sharing Chinese candy to celebrate with their classmates.