Dossier

10 out of 13 documents going to the Houston Consulate left today from a little post office in Rutledge GA. When I say little, I mean one person was working there. We went to Hard Labor Creek today and I took our documents because I needed to get a money order and mail them. Well we weren't going by the Covington post office so I was probably going to have to wait until Monday since the post office would have been closed when we got done at the lake. Well when we were almost there we passed the post office. I asked AJ to turn around so that I could mail them. I am really nervous about letting these things go especially from here. I bought the money order first and as he was ringing it up, I addressed my envelopes. Well he gave me my receipt and forgot to give me my money order so I had to remind him. I then finished getting everything together and put it in the envelope. I used a USPS Priority Mail envelope. This worked last time and I have faith in the USPS, that is until today. I explained to the man that I needed to get postage for the return envelope. He looked really confused. It was almost like he didn't want to sell it to me. He finally got it and stuck it on my return envelope. I stuffed everything in, sealed it up and waited for him to put the postage on the outside. I also got delivery confirmation and I think that may have confused him. I gave him my envelope and he kind of tossed it underneath the counter like it was no big deal. I wanted to shout to him about being careful with that envelope. It contained our life. Oh well, hopefully it will get there Monday or Tuesday. We shall see. On a side note, we had a great time at the lake. Oh and the reason 10 out of 13 went is because we are still waiting on the I-171H (that's one), AJ's employment letter needed to be redone (that's two) and I wanted to wait on our power of attorney (that's three) just in case it needed to be redone because we were getting close to the expiration date. Our marriage certificate should be back any day now. It had to go to the TN Secretary of State, the State Department and then the Chinese Embassy in Washington. That will make 14 documents. Our last dossier was 19 so at least we have come down a little.

Nothing, Nada, Zilcho

Well, there was nothing in the mail except for quilt squares (which I was happy to get) and junk mail! Guess you can't trust the 8 ball. I can't believe I got my hopes up. I don't know why. I guess I was just really, really hoping a little to hard. Oh well. What a crappy way to end a crappy week! Since I need a laugh I thought I would share this with you. Maybe the CCAA is having a cubicle war and that is what is taking so long. I love these guys.

Magic 8 Ball

I told you I was tired of waiting. I have resorted to asking the Magic 8 Ball. You do it. Click here Magic 8 Ball ask it if we are going to get our I-717H tomorrow (Friday) and see what it says. Then ask if we are going to get our PA on Monday. Everytime I asked it told me yes, but you try because I'm losing my mind! Come on, do it, I know you want to.

Nothing new to report

Our desktop has been down for a week. I haven't been able to update, but there's nothing new to say right now. We are still waiting for our PA from China and we are still waiting for our I-171H from the USCIS. I'm tired of waiting already. I just want a positive sign from China saying that Sophie is ours. I know they are moving. I know that it takes a while to move a complete office (believe I have done it 4 times) so I will give you that. Both the CCAA in China and the USCIS here in Atlanta have moved. Hopefully this week will be a good week. Hopefully we will get both things we are missing. I hope so or I'm going to slip into madness.

Fingerprinted yet again

We finally had our fingerprint appointment with the INS. It was quick and easy. Last time they had a problem with AJ's fingerprints, but this time around it was mine. It didn't take them that long though and they made sure to triple check all of them to make sure they had a good print. They had to redo 3 fingers so I'm hoping that everything will be all right. I also hope that we get our I-171H soon after this. Hopefully we will. Someone from our agency received their PA after 16 days. I hope ours comes that quickly. Once it gets here I will be sending a care package to Sophie using www.blessedkids.com. It's a great organization and she will send a package that has a camera, teddy bear and goodies for the caregivers and they don't have to pay any customs on a package and I don't have to worry about shipping it there.

Moving right along

Moving Right Along
Movin' right along in search of good times and good news,
With good friends, you can't lose,
This could become a habit.
Opportunity just knocked,
Let's reach out and grab it,
Together we'll nab it.
Ya! We'll hitch-hike, bus, or yellow cab it.
(spoken) Cab it?

Remember the song from "The Muppet Movie", well that's what we are doing.
We are moving right along. I had 11 out of 13 documents state sealed today from the Secretary of State's office. I just need the I-171H and AJ's employment letter. The only reason I didn't get the employment letter done was because the notary is registered in Dekalb and I haven't made it there yet to get the notary certified. I know it doesn't make a lot of since, but those who are adopting will know what I mean. We got our marriage certificate back from the TN Secretary of State on Saturday so I sent it on to the US State Department and they will send it on to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for me. We still have our fingerprint appointment for Thursday. Please say a prayer that the fingerprints will take and that we will get our I-171H quickly. I really want to be DTC no later than the middle of August. I really, really want to travel this year.

Also I found out that Sophie's orphange only has a little over 30 kids. 80% of them are special needs and they range in age from 5-12. I guess Sophie is one of the youngest because she's only 3.

LOI is on it's way!!!!!!!!!!!

Wooooohooooo!!!! Our LOI is on it's way to China. I still can't believe it is actually happening. Somebody pinch me please. We should get pre approval in about 2-3 weeks. Hopefully we will have our I-171H before or by then and can be DTC very soon. I went and had all but 2 documents (a Dekalb county one and the I-171H) county certified today. They have to be certified by the county that the notary is a resident in and received their notary. I had to go to Coweta and Clayton today and will probably go to Dekalb tomorrow. Once I get those done then it's on to the Secretary of State's office and then the Chinese Consulate in Houston. I sent our marriage certificate to the Secretary of State's office in TN on Saturday so I have to wait to get that one back. Once that come's back it then goes to the State Department and then on to the Chinese Embassy in Washington. It's so much easier this time around. I have it all figured out. I can't wait to post Sophie's picture. I also found out that her name means baby or doll. It fits her perfectly.