The ONE Campaign

I just found this over at Swerl's blog - it's from the ONE campaign to make poverty history. This is from the ONE website:

We are just days away from securing $39.8 billion for the international affairs budget -- an increase of $3.9 billion over last year.

Six senators, Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), and Norm Coleman (R-MN), are taking the lead by writing a letter encouraging their colleagues in the Senate to support this critical funding.

By clicking here , you can easily send an email to your senator to encourage them to sign the letter to ensure the increase goes through. I know many of us have viewed Bono's speech at the NAACP awards and wondered what we could do to help - well, this is a very simple way to support the campaign and to make your voice heard. Just thought I'd help spread the word.

First Time Parents

So last night Kevin & I decided it would be 'fun' to go and get our registry started. Well, if by 'fun' we meant overwhelming and a little scary, then we were right. Our idea was that we could get some of the basics on there, and once we know whether we're having a boy, a girl, one or two, then we could add on and change things. We quickly realized that we have no idea what we need! Our major accomplishment was the car seat, which was chosen with the help of a friendly Babies R Us employee (thank goodness he came over to us - we were about to run out of there!).

After the car seats, we moved on, with our new friend in tow, to the high chairs. Basically, that is where we stopped. Do we get the big one or the ones that strap into your chairs? What if we have two? What if we want to eat on the deck - do we want to drag two big high chairs outside? Aaagh! :) We turned in our scanning gun and were informed that we did quite well for the first time- we had 30 items and most people only get to 5 and then get overwhelmed. So, that made us feel better.

We got to the car and called Chrissy (mom of 4 and my friend for 20+ years) and informed her that we needed HELP! She and I are now planning our excursion and I think it will go much better this time.

Kevin & I are definitely the quintessential 'first time parents.'


(P.S. Just after I finished this, I went to our agency's Yahoo group and found that they have started a new group called CHI First Time Parents. Just in time! :)

Let the Paperchase Begin!

My head is swimming! This week we received our dossier packet from our LICENSED agency (still excited about that!) and we're getting started on gathering all of our paperwork. (I keep thinking of a post over at the Ethiopian Adoption Blog where Mary said she eats paperwork for breakfast :) - I'm hoping I can have that attitude for the next month!)

We have our fingerprint appointments next Monday and CIS in MO is running at about 4-6 weeks from the time we turned in the I600a, which would mean we could get approval back by early or mid-May. If we can have our dossier together by then, it will be sent along to the state departments and embassies, and then on to Ethiopia! Is it possible that we could get our referral and have our adoption go through the courts before they close?? And, can anyone tell me exactly when the courts do close? I'm a little lost on that one. I'm suddenly thinking that, just in cases (I'm quoting from the movie Love Actually for you grammar-hounds out there), we should pick a paint color and start registering!! Let me say this: we would be thrilled if we could bring our babe(s) home this summer, but just as thrilled if they come home next fall. I know this, just like the licensing, will happen all in God's time and I keep reminding myself that He has a plan. In the meantime, I'll start my breakfast of paperwork! EEK!

I love blogs

I've been thinking a lot lately about how blessed we are to have been led to adoption. When we were going through infertility treatments we both felt very frustrated and I know I felt very lonely. I had friends who had gone through it, but they had children by then, so it was hard. In fact, we were the only one without kids in our group of friends that live nearby. (Granted, there are 6 couples and 13 kids, so there were always plenty of kids around!) But now, I feel like we are part of something so much larger than us - there is such a sense of community surrounding this adoption. Not only do we get from the support from excited family & friends, and from our agency, but also from reading everyone else's blogs and sharing in their happiness. I get so excited when other people get referrals - I am so happy for them, and I know one day they'll share in our happiness.

I guess my point is that I'm grateful for everyone out there sharing their stories. I can't even express how much it means to me that I've found such a welcoming community here on the Internet! I never thought I'd have a blog - but now I'm so glad we do.

Also - two families on the list of blogs I read recently got their referrals - Finding Baby G and Ethiopia or Bust. I highly recommend going to take a peek at their beautiful new baby boys. It will remind you that adoption truly is a miracle! And, if I haven't mentioned it before, be sure to watch the video on the blog Raising Lucy. Be warned - it makes me cry every time! (You'll have to scroll down a bit and it is on the left side.)

: )
Stacie

Easter Doggies

Happy Easter!

We Have Big News!

Guess what you'll find if you go to the Children's Hope International website...

That's right - our agency is officially licensed in Ethiopia! We are so excited - I've been in a fog all day, dreaming of our babies.

If you're dying to ask me, "How long?" I don't really have a clear answer, but things are definitely going to start moving along now. We are awaiting our fingerprinting appointment and after that we'll wait for the 171 form (which I think is clearance for our fingerprints), and we'll get the paperwork together for our dossier. Once we have all of that together, we'll submit it to the Ethiopian government and then wait for a referral! YAY!!

Stacie

P.S. This is how I think things are supposed to go with the dossier - if anyone who has gone before us has any words of wisdom - I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

It's Here!

It's here! My passport is finally here!! Why am I so excited? Well, this means that tomorrow I will take the long awaited passport number and a copy of my passport photo page to Erin (our SW) and she will give me a completed home study. I will then FedEx the home study off to the local USCIS office and we will wait for a letter telling us when our appointment is for fingerprinting. Just one small step closer to our babies!