Lilypie Countdown to Adoption tickers
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
16 Pages, no problem
We finalized our 16 page adoption letter for Crossroads Adoption Agency last night. Christina has been diligent in her focus on completing this key step. I look forward to watching Monday Night Football next week now that the paper is done.
Christina and I are celebrating tonight and drinking Shell's Octoberfest beer. It is made in New Ulm, MN. They also make a quality Shell's Dark.
Our touch football team finished 3rd at the state tournament held in Bloomington last weekend. We look forward to a 2nd title next year.
We had dinner with Dave, Leah and Jayden Aune last week. Jayden was an active two year old. He justified the time we've spent on the adoption paperwork by entertaining us. His desire for attention is only matched by his father's need for attention.
Sam
Christina and I are celebrating tonight and drinking Shell's Octoberfest beer. It is made in New Ulm, MN. They also make a quality Shell's Dark.
Our touch football team finished 3rd at the state tournament held in Bloomington last weekend. We look forward to a 2nd title next year.
We had dinner with Dave, Leah and Jayden Aune last week. Jayden was an active two year old. He justified the time we've spent on the adoption paperwork by entertaining us. His desire for attention is only matched by his father's need for attention.
Sam
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Criminal or no criminal...I think no
Today was a pretty monumental day in our adoption process because we sent off our I600A to the USCIS (Unites States Citizenship and Immigration Services) for approval. This document establishes a file with The Department of Homeland Security for approval of a child we adopt to be classified as an immediate relative thus eligible for a priority visa. Once initially reviewed they will send us information on how to get fingerprinted (for the second time). Yes, that is right, we have to go get fingerprinted twice for adoption just to make extra sure we are not criminals I guess.
I was thinking the other day, I wonder if my dad had to go through this process, what kind of dirt the USCIS would dig up on him? Hmmmm....just kidding dad!
We also mailed in our initial application to Dove in Oregon. Dove is our placement agency that will be working with us to adopt in Ethiopia being Crossroads does not have a 'presence' in Ethiopia. Ethiopia actually is not allowing any further agencies to bring in care centers. Dove works with the SOS EE Orphanage, which is actually a European run center. They have a very great presence in Ethiopia. They have over 20 intake orphanages through the country where children are cared for until there is room to move Addis Ababa orphanages, Toukoul I II and III, which is the care center we would go to adopt. I will post some videos of Toukoul in the next few days.
Some of you may or may not have seen the front page of the Star Tribune on Sunday. It was a documentary of sorts related to international adoption. It did not portray International Adoption in a positive light, it referenced both children and families hoping to adopt being exploited and taken advantage of. Sam and have discussed this sadness of the article, but we are fully confident in our decisions and the agencies that we working with. It is terribly sad however to see the heartbreak that some families have gone through.
Enough about adoption....Sam is playing in the State Football Tournament this year again. Hopefully the will be the reigning champions for the second year! Go Sammy!
I was thinking the other day, I wonder if my dad had to go through this process, what kind of dirt the USCIS would dig up on him? Hmmmm....just kidding dad!
We also mailed in our initial application to Dove in Oregon. Dove is our placement agency that will be working with us to adopt in Ethiopia being Crossroads does not have a 'presence' in Ethiopia. Ethiopia actually is not allowing any further agencies to bring in care centers. Dove works with the SOS EE Orphanage, which is actually a European run center. They have a very great presence in Ethiopia. They have over 20 intake orphanages through the country where children are cared for until there is room to move Addis Ababa orphanages, Toukoul I II and III, which is the care center we would go to adopt. I will post some videos of Toukoul in the next few days.
Some of you may or may not have seen the front page of the Star Tribune on Sunday. It was a documentary of sorts related to international adoption. It did not portray International Adoption in a positive light, it referenced both children and families hoping to adopt being exploited and taken advantage of. Sam and have discussed this sadness of the article, but we are fully confident in our decisions and the agencies that we working with. It is terribly sad however to see the heartbreak that some families have gone through.
Enough about adoption....Sam is playing in the State Football Tournament this year again. Hopefully the will be the reigning champions for the second year! Go Sammy!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Meet Stella Louise Skinner
Fritz and Melissa's little girl arrived on Tuesday afternoon. She was 6 lbs. 11 oz, 19.5 in. long and cute as a button! Sam and I visited last night and Sam got his first glimpse at baby poop! Notice the music on the playlist is 'Stella Blue' in honour of the cutie Stella Lou!
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Monday, October 5, 2009
Courts Re-opening in Ethiopia
On August 28, 2009, the courts in Ethiopia closed for recess. They were initially scheduled to re-open on September 28, 2009. However, after a two-week delay, the courts are finally set to re-open on October 12, 2009.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Priming, Painting, Carpet & Baby Furniture Emails
Christina is in full gear. She is driving some home improvements and in full "nesting" mode. She is quite the handywoman when motivated. And she is the definition of motivated to create a space for our new addition. We (she) is priming our upstairs for our painting project tonight and on Saturday. We have our adoption meeting in Hudson, WI on Sat 9-12.
She is even sending me space age designed combination cribs/beds/dressers. It appears "transformers" are still popular kids toys; however this transformer is much more expensive than my Megatron.
She is even sending me space age designed combination cribs/beds/dressers. It appears "transformers" are still popular kids toys; however this transformer is much more expensive than my Megatron.
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