Hi - Emmi was cruising HoltInternational.com and found this video. We recognize some of these kids from the photolisting page on Holt's website. It's tooooo cute! Wish I knew the lyrics to the song they're singing - looks like they're praying . . . for "forever families". It's even possible we could be matched with one of the girls in this video. Takes my breath away!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrkO9ooYiaA&feature=player_embedded
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Remembering Mom
Yesterday, November 1 marked one year from the day my Mom passed away. I had been moving slow and sad for the past couple weeks, but hadn't known why. I think that's why. Still thinking a lot about her, and wondering what she would have thought of our China adoption. We hadn't thought of doing this until after she passed away. I believe she's part of that cloud of witnesses, though, so she knows it now and I believe she's happy with us.
Time Management
When a trip downtown Kansas City is needed, make sure to plan it on a day when there's lots going on! Like, homeschool co-op in the morning of election day, with ladies' group in the evening. Check, check and check! More to the point, today I took another trip to the Secretary of State's office (13th and Holmes) to have 2 more notarized documents certified. Yay! Now all we need so that everything is in one place is the immigration form. I love checking off the boxes in my master dossier checklist.
The Secretary of State Kansas City office is a block or so from the Sprint Center, and next door to the Kansas City Detention Center. Jenna, Emmi & I linked arms and walked a block or so to the little Power & Light Bar for a soda while we waited for our paperwork. Kinda outta-the-box for these semi-ruralites, but fun!
The Secretary of State Kansas City office is a block or so from the Sprint Center, and next door to the Kansas City Detention Center. Jenna, Emmi & I linked arms and walked a block or so to the little Power & Light Bar for a soda while we waited for our paperwork. Kinda outta-the-box for these semi-ruralites, but fun!
Friday, October 29, 2010
October 2010
Oct 6,2010 – rented the Karate Kid – the new one done in China – Allie really impressed me with how much Chinese she’s learned.
Oct 8, 2010 – Jenna’s birthday. We go bowling and out to dinner. We see a couple in Houlihan’s that has an Asian daughter. I stop by their table and give him a card with my cell phone – ask him to call. We go on to Silver Dollar City for the weekend- Breanna and Sabrina along for the ride.
Oct 11, 2010 – speculating with Carolyn that we really don’t need the entire dossier together to go to the MO secretary of state to get things updated. She decides to collect up what we have and go in this week.
Oct 13, 2010 – Carolyn goes to sec of state of MO to get certifications on all notaries. All docs pass except for both our medic al forms. Notary language is not in place.
Oct 16 2010 – We have 3 other couples from Holt (that we took the July class with) over for dessert. Jenny can’t make it, but all others are there. Very wonderful, high quality and fun people all around. Good to get their updates. Carolyn shares that we took our stuff down even though we don’t have the dossier back.
Oct 18, 2010, we get notified by USCIS for our fingerprint appointments – all on Nov 11.
Oct 8, 2010 – Jenna’s birthday. We go bowling and out to dinner. We see a couple in Houlihan’s that has an Asian daughter. I stop by their table and give him a card with my cell phone – ask him to call. We go on to Silver Dollar City for the weekend- Breanna and Sabrina along for the ride.
Oct 11, 2010 – speculating with Carolyn that we really don’t need the entire dossier together to go to the MO secretary of state to get things updated. She decides to collect up what we have and go in this week.
Oct 13, 2010 – Carolyn goes to sec of state of MO to get certifications on all notaries. All docs pass except for both our medic al forms. Notary language is not in place.
Oct 16 2010 – We have 3 other couples from Holt (that we took the July class with) over for dessert. Jenny can’t make it, but all others are there. Very wonderful, high quality and fun people all around. Good to get their updates. Carolyn shares that we took our stuff down even though we don’t have the dossier back.
Oct 18, 2010, we get notified by USCIS for our fingerprint appointments – all on Nov 11.
Oct 22, 2010, Carolyn starts this blog.
Oct 23, 2010, I upload my log entries to the blog.
Oct 23, 2010 – Greg calls – the guy I dropped a card on in Houlihan’s. Their daughter is from China – they got her when she was about 2 – I think she’s 4 now – but could be 6 – I’m not sure I got this right. Have had a tremendously positive experience - loves his daughter – has a great family. Did not use Holt, but has heard good things about them. Gives me info about a class in Lees Summit on Saturdays for Chinese adoptees. Nice guy – lots of good info.
Oct 25, 2010, I go to my doc office to check on my notarized records – they notary only comes in on Friday’s and did not come in last Friday. Will check on 29th.
Oct 29, 2010, I go back to doc and get my notarized forms – Carolyn can now go back to Mo sec of state. If this flies, the only thing left will be to complete certify the USCIS app.
Oct 23, 2010 – Greg calls – the guy I dropped a card on in Houlihan’s. Their daughter is from China – they got her when she was about 2 – I think she’s 4 now – but could be 6 – I’m not sure I got this right. Have had a tremendously positive experience - loves his daughter – has a great family. Did not use Holt, but has heard good things about them. Gives me info about a class in Lees Summit on Saturdays for Chinese adoptees. Nice guy – lots of good info.
Oct 25, 2010, I go to my doc office to check on my notarized records – they notary only comes in on Friday’s and did not come in last Friday. Will check on 29th.
Oct 29, 2010, I go back to doc and get my notarized forms – Carolyn can now go back to Mo sec of state. If this flies, the only thing left will be to complete certify the USCIS app.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Commenting made easier :-)
I set the comments "parameters" so it's easier to comment. You don't have to have or create a Google account. Click on "comment", type it out, then select the "Name/URL" option below your comment and just leave your name. Thanks!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Great Reading
Baby, We Were Meant For Each Other, by Scott Simon, notable journalist and author, about his personal experience adopting two little girls from China. Awesome book "In Praise of Adoption".
I'm also on my third book by Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter and The Kitchen God's Wife. All so very very good, with such poignant insight into Chinese thinking, especially from a female point of view.
Holt International has provided book lists for adoptive "parents in process", many of which I've read and are incredibly good. (If anyone's interested, let me know - I'll get you the list).
In fact, if you've been looking for any children's books on China from the Lee's Summit library, sorry, I've had as many as I can get my hands on checked out.
When it comes to the topic of adoption per se, I'm always learning and gaining insight into my own heart and mind, since I'm adopted too. Wow. Big topic, but really, when you think about it, it's so very simple . . . and powerful.
Oy vay! I could write on this subject forever!
I'm also on my third book by Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter and The Kitchen God's Wife. All so very very good, with such poignant insight into Chinese thinking, especially from a female point of view.
Holt International has provided book lists for adoptive "parents in process", many of which I've read and are incredibly good. (If anyone's interested, let me know - I'll get you the list).
In fact, if you've been looking for any children's books on China from the Lee's Summit library, sorry, I've had as many as I can get my hands on checked out.
When it comes to the topic of adoption per se, I'm always learning and gaining insight into my own heart and mind, since I'm adopted too. Wow. Big topic, but really, when you think about it, it's so very simple . . . and powerful.
Oy vay! I could write on this subject forever!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Brave enough to shout it to the world!
Hi. Thanks for visiting. Just provided the link on Facebook.
As of today, we're waiting for U.S. immigration (a.k.a. Homeland Security) to approve us to adopt from a foreign country. We still need to go to some government building to be fingerprinted to add to our application. Once we receive permission - (and wonder of wonders, we do expect to be approved) - we take a quick trip downtown to MO secretary of state, then send the whole bunch of documents to the China consulate in Chicago.
The process has us excited about getting the mail every day, since so much has depended on snail mail.
Just so you know, we haven't been matched yet, but we call our future little girl "Ming ming", or "Our China Doll".
As of today, we're waiting for U.S. immigration (a.k.a. Homeland Security) to approve us to adopt from a foreign country. We still need to go to some government building to be fingerprinted to add to our application. Once we receive permission - (and wonder of wonders, we do expect to be approved) - we take a quick trip downtown to MO secretary of state, then send the whole bunch of documents to the China consulate in Chicago.
The process has us excited about getting the mail every day, since so much has depended on snail mail.
Just so you know, we haven't been matched yet, but we call our future little girl "Ming ming", or "Our China Doll".
Friday, October 15, 2010
Post-posting
Well, finally decided to blog, but it feels kinda weird. Doug's been keeping notes on our process, so I guess we'll "back-post" them. The hesitation we've had about sharing the process publicly is that it feels a little risky. The first time I was pregnant, we told EVERYONE, but I miscarried & it was difficult to go around and update everyone. People who didn't know would ask, "how's the pregnancy going?" So in the same vein, it would be very difficult to have to go back and let everyone know if something about this adoption doesn't go well. We're pretty far along now though, and at least with a blog, you can let everyone know by posting if something goes wrong. So. . . please pray for us & our new daughter! More details to come.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sept 2010
Sept 2010 – cleaning for the home study
Sept 2, 2010 – sent email to “aldridge weekly status” – notifying extended family of possibility Sept 2, 2010 – Barbara (a Holt social worker) coming over at 2PM to start home study
Sept 3, 2010 – Couples interview with Barbara at lunch for home study.
Sept 3, 2010 – Carolyn picked up my notarized medical forms. Go to Dale and Kim's for labor day weekend - they get a blue and gold Mccaw (parrot no 7), I come home with a quaker parrot.
Sept 8, 2010 – my interview at lunch for the home study – home study interviews complete.
Sept 11, 2010 – my birth certificate with great seal comes in the mail – it actually looks certified.
Sept 12, 2010 - happy 12th birthday Emmi - had a great date with you.
Sept 17, 2010 – Carolyn registers Allie and Jenna with some sort of safety registry.
Sept 18, 2010 – Vince and Jerusha invited us over for dinner. Very nice couple - had a blast. Note – starting to figure out what this certified means. Each secretary of state needs to certify that the notary is an actual notary – and that they witnessed the respective signature. By the end of this process we’ll be experts.
Sept 19, 2010 – Carolyn ordered a certified copy of her birth certificate to keep things moving. Sept 20, 2010 – Judy called, some questions to finish our home study.
Sept 21, 2010 – Holt notifies us that the home study is approved.
Sept 24, 2010 – received written adoption study in the mail.
Sept 25, 2010 – happy 29th anniversary
Sept 26, 2010 – Carolyn working on the USCIS application – we both sign
Sept 27, 2010 – C mailed USCIS application
Sept 27, 2010 – passports arrive in the mail
Sept 2, 2010 – sent email to “aldridge weekly status” – notifying extended family of possibility Sept 2, 2010 – Barbara (a Holt social worker) coming over at 2PM to start home study
Sept 3, 2010 – Couples interview with Barbara at lunch for home study.
Sept 3, 2010 – Carolyn picked up my notarized medical forms. Go to Dale and Kim's for labor day weekend - they get a blue and gold Mccaw (parrot no 7), I come home with a quaker parrot.
Sept 8, 2010 – my interview at lunch for the home study – home study interviews complete.
Sept 11, 2010 – my birth certificate with great seal comes in the mail – it actually looks certified.
Sept 12, 2010 - happy 12th birthday Emmi - had a great date with you.
Sept 17, 2010 – Carolyn registers Allie and Jenna with some sort of safety registry.
Sept 18, 2010 – Vince and Jerusha invited us over for dinner. Very nice couple - had a blast. Note – starting to figure out what this certified means. Each secretary of state needs to certify that the notary is an actual notary – and that they witnessed the respective signature. By the end of this process we’ll be experts.
Sept 19, 2010 – Carolyn ordered a certified copy of her birth certificate to keep things moving. Sept 20, 2010 – Judy called, some questions to finish our home study.
Sept 21, 2010 – Holt notifies us that the home study is approved.
Sept 24, 2010 – received written adoption study in the mail.
Sept 25, 2010 – happy 29th anniversary
Sept 26, 2010 – Carolyn working on the USCIS application – we both sign
Sept 27, 2010 – C mailed USCIS application
Sept 27, 2010 – passports arrive in the mail
Sunday, August 22, 2010
August 2010
Aug 2010 – started to fill out adoption forms. Went to the doc.
Aug 2010 – got for forms for the physician.
Aug 2010 – met Carolyn at the fingerprint guy, lunch afterward
Aug 2010 – adoption on hold – we go to Branson for a week.
Aug 2010 – met C & the girls at the fingerprint guy for lunch – A & J get fingerprinted.
Aug 2010 – long evenings of filling out forms. Working hard to get them done before Judy goes on break. Don’t think we’ll make it.
Aug 2010 – went to get my tb test, hiv test, my urinalysis and my hep b test. All clear.
Aug 2010 – Tue, 24 - Carolyn took all the forms over to Judy at Holt. We are just short a few medical forms. We are now ready for the home study. C and the girls have started to clean up around the house.
Aug 2010 – started to discuss the Dossier. More forms to fill out – now into a process. Notarized, certified, then authenticated. Notarized is by a notary when a form is signed; certified is by the Secretary of State of the appropriate state; authenticated is by the Chinese consulate in Chicago.
Aug 2010 – went to Lees Summit US Post Office - applied for Passports – over $700 for all of us.
Aug 2010 – went to bank – had several documents notarized – financial statement, letter of intent, C’s non-employment status.
Aug 2010 – got for forms for the physician.
Aug 2010 – met Carolyn at the fingerprint guy, lunch afterward
Aug 2010 – adoption on hold – we go to Branson for a week.
Aug 2010 – met C & the girls at the fingerprint guy for lunch – A & J get fingerprinted.
Aug 2010 – long evenings of filling out forms. Working hard to get them done before Judy goes on break. Don’t think we’ll make it.
Aug 2010 – went to get my tb test, hiv test, my urinalysis and my hep b test. All clear.
Aug 2010 – Tue, 24 - Carolyn took all the forms over to Judy at Holt. We are just short a few medical forms. We are now ready for the home study. C and the girls have started to clean up around the house.
Aug 2010 – started to discuss the Dossier. More forms to fill out – now into a process. Notarized, certified, then authenticated. Notarized is by a notary when a form is signed; certified is by the Secretary of State of the appropriate state; authenticated is by the Chinese consulate in Chicago.
Aug 2010 – went to Lees Summit US Post Office - applied for Passports – over $700 for all of us.
Aug 2010 – went to bank – had several documents notarized – financial statement, letter of intent, C’s non-employment status.
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