Happy Valentine's Day

(Well, a day late)

There were finally some travel calls for February. 10 more babies got passports to come home this month. It looks like FAC is caught up to the October referrals. So hopefully there will be some more news in March.

A special Happy Valentine's Day to my sweetie.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3:14

Slow Down

First the good news. We finished our homestudy last night. We don't have the official approval letter but we are basically approved by the state to be adoptive parents.

But we just learned last night that there has been a hold placed on Korean referrals. In January we were told that a referral would come very soon and we could have a baby placed in by summer. There are still many babies waiting to come home from 2005 because the Korean government stopped issuing passports early in the year. Now they are trying to get the waiting 2005 babies caught up and home. That means they are using up 2006 passports. Until this situation can be resolved, they don't want to put any more babies in the waiting line. So we are put on hold. There is really no way to know when things will open up again. I hope it doesn't last too long and we can get a referral soon.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:14

Travel Calls Start

What a great day! Three FAC families got the first travel calls of the New Year. Their babies are coming home January 18. We have our next two homestudy (individual) interviews next week also.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Mt. 6:33

Happy New Year

We had our first homestudy visit on January 4. We actually met with two social workers because one is in training. They are both very nice! We have three videos to watch and a big stack of articles to read. We also have to start working on making our home baby safe. We will have about three more meetings I think. So far, so good.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

Homestudy

We have a Social Worker- her name is Renee. Our first visit is January 4, 2006 at our house. A little nervous about what questions she will ask. But apparently all our paperwork was acceptable.

Merry Christmas

A little glitch with our formal application as they changed the fee the day before I dropped it off at the agency, but we sent in a new check and we have been assigned to a social worker. Kind of exciting!

We sent out letters with our Christmas cards this year telling everyone about the adoption, so now everyone should know about our plans. We are trying to have a low-key Christmas this year and since we are trying to save money.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 (KJV)

We're In

I just got back from delivering our formal application packet to the FAC Ohio office. Plus our check for the adoption study fee. Now we wait to be assigned to a Social Worker who will complete our home study. We sent in our preliminary application on 9/2/05 and our formal application 12/2/05- it took me 3 months to finish it!

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Formal Application

We are ready to turn in our Formal Application to FAC tomorrow December 2. We had our appointment to be fingerprinted at the Cleveland USCIS on 11/17/05.

Here is a list of what's included in our formal application
(a.k.a. the paperchase)

FAC Formal Application (yellow)
ODJFS 1691 Application for Adoptive Placement
Check for adoption study fee
Schedule of fees
Checklist of topics for discussion
Ohio BCI fingerprint clearance
Employer reference letters
Five personal reference letters
ODJFS 1653 Physician Medical Reports
Release of information form
Autobiographies
ODJFS 1681 Financial Statement & copy of 2004 US1040
Affidavit of Health Insurance Coverage
Verification of Child Abuse Clearance
Photocopy of I-600A & G-28 forms sent to USCIS
Photocopy of marriage certificate
Photocopy of birth certificates
Photos of couple and home
Adoption Training Requirements
ODHS 1200 Fire Inspection Report
Animal Vaccination records

whew! the end!

Day by day

Two more adoption classes done:
Medical Issues in International Adoption and a
Panel Discussion with Adoptees, Adoptive Mother & Birth Mother

Child Abuse Clearance form mailed to Ohio Dept of Job & Family Services
(notarized)

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. I Cor 15:58

More paperwork done

Here's another update on what we have finished for our formal application.
I think we are almost ready to turn it in, other than we have not written our autobiographies yet.

Fingerprint appointment received for 11/17/05
All 5 reference letters received
4 more hours adoption classes (Creating a meaningful lifebook for your child & Encouraging attachment for your child)

We went to the Chapel Adoptive Parent support group this month and saw a video called "First Person Plural." It is a documentary made by an adult woman that was adopted from Korea as a child.

We have also talked about some names- Rachel if it's a girl and Daniel if it's a boy!

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yoursevles for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5

So far...

Wow, I guess I'm not too good at keeping this up to date. Here's what we have done so far for our formal application:

Sent fee for preliminary application
Birth certificates
Marriage certificate
Passports
Employment letters
Health insurance affidavit
Medical forms
Fire Marshal inspection
Cat vaccinations
BCI Webcheck fingerprints
Child/infant CPR class
4 hrs adoption classes
(Core issues affecting the family of adoption & Helping your family become multicultural)
Sent in I-600A form to CIS
Sent out requests for 5 reference letters

The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7

Timeline

9/2/05 we applied to new agency FAC.
9/12/05 we received the formal application packet.
Now I have to get all our paperwork together. We could have a baby from Korea by next spring or summer!

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

The switch

We decided to switch agencies due to some problems we were having with AGCI. I have nothing really negative to say about them, but we switched. We are now with Family Adoption Consultants (FAC). They have programs in Korea, China, Guatemala and the Philippines. We will probably apply for Korea or China.

Paperchase

We went to church this past week and Jody Bowser (former youth pastor) and his family were there. They just adopted a little girl- Jamae- from China in December. Here is a link to their website http://homepage.mac.com/bowserfam7/Events2.html (some of the picture links don't seem to work).

The paperchase has begun in earnest. We obtained our passport a couple months ago. I sent for copies of our certified birth certificates from the state- mine have come back already. I also sent for certified copies of our marriage certificate but I didn't know I had to ask for the judge to sign them (not the clerk). So I had to request them a 2nd time- they are back already as well.

Today we finished our Fire Marshal inspection and another form signed. We also had to prepare a home evacuation plan (map).

We had our 1st medical exam and blood work is completed. We have to go back for a 2nd appointment to have the form signed and notarized.

I was able to get my letter of employment from HR and we have a notary at work.

I am carrying around a bag full of our paperwork which is probably a bad idea in case it gets lost. But I feel like I need to have it with me all the time in case I need it. Our SW should be back in the country on Monday- she is in Kazakhstan.

We still have to sign the contract and send in the money to AGCI. Tiffany called me again last night. I feel like we are still dragging our feet. I want to have someone look at our contract before we sign it and it has to be notarized. I am worried about the application too.

As soon as we decide we also have to apply to the US CIS (formerly know as the INS) and we have to get fingerprinted for the FBI.

I think I am feeling very good about China right now. The situation with Russian adoptions seems to be getting worse. If we start the process right now I could probably have our dossier completed by October or November. Then on to AGCI to be checked out and translated. Then on to China. If we are logged in by Decemeber- we should have a referral by next July and travel by September.

This Is It

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Ps 68:5-6

January 15, 2005
We went to an informational seminar on international adoption at EAC. We were intrigued by the couple that just brought home twins from Russia- a boy and a girl! But we didn't like EAC much. I took the information home and started doing some research on the internet. But nothing happened.

April 16, 2005
Went to the Steven Curtis Chapman "All Things New" concert. The whole thing was about adoption. They have adopted 3 little girls from China. His websites http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/
http://www.shaohannahshope.org/


June 2, 2005
We found out some friends that adopted before were going to adopt again from China. I checked out another agency AGCI. We went to another informational seminar. We liked this agency a lot better. We talked to a couple that just brought home a little girl from Guatemala. Our friends are using a different agency.

July 4, 2005
I am sick with the flu but we decide to tell our families we are thinking about adopting an orphan from another country and that it will be very expensive. They are surprised and happy. I went back to bed for 2 days.

July 12, 2005
We can't decide on a country. I've just finished the book "Lost Daughters of China". I want a little girl from China. We even have a name picked out- Rachel. DH is not so sure. I convince him to apply anyway. I called the agency today and paid the $195 application fee. I say "China" when they ask me what country but I'm not sure. We can always change it. We're still not totally committed until we sign the contact and pay the agency fee.

a sign

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Rom 8:15


I think we want to adopt. It's all so confusing. One minute I think I know what I want to do, and the next minute I chaneg my mind. I need a sign. :-)

Lost

I'm diggin' the ABC show Lost on Wednesday nights. Finally a non-reality show I like! It's kind of creepy though. The only other non-reality shows I watch are Everybody Loves Raymond, Joan of Arcadia and 24 (which doesn't start until January).

How many more reality shows can there be? I still watch Survivor. I watched it from the very beginning. I like The Mole- but it's not on any more. I also watch The Apprentice and The Amazing Race. I'll watch some of the others occasionally too. Except for The Bachelor or any of those phony dating shows.

Still Waters

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23

Went to support group last night. Don't know if I want to keep going. We sit around and commiserate with each other. After awhile it gets kind of pointless. If someone in the group had a success, I think deep down the rest of us wouldn't really be happy. I don't know. They are talking about having a Christmas party in December. I don't think I want to go.