First, USCIS. I received a notice from USCIS saying there was a problem with our I-800A. The first problem was that I did not send an original copy of our home study. I do have an excuse for this. The instructions on their website said in bold print DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. Below these instructions in section 7, they give instructions for the home study. Nowhere in this section do they tell you to send original documents! !#@!$#@!# The second problem I don't understand. Page 9 of our 10-page home study was simply missing. I checked the scanned version on my computer, and sure enough, page 9 was missing. I'm sure I fed it through automatically, so page 9 must have simply stuck to page 10. The third and final problem I have absolutely no excuse for. Since our home study agency is not Hague accredited, we were supposed to submit a letter from our placing agency (Hague accredited) saying that they had reviewed the home study. Okay, I just totally missed that part. Nevertheless, I got a letter from our placing agency and SEVERAL original "copies" of our home study from our local agency and got the required items in the mail yesterday.
Today we took care of our USCIS fingerprinting appointment. These were the computerized fingerprints like we did the first time for the home study except we had to go to Nashville to have these done. At first I thought we were doing very well, but the lady did have a lot of difficulty with a couple of my fingers. She just couldn't get good prints from them. She finally had to report it to her supervisor who graciously gave us both permission to call it quits. (In case you have forgotten, my first set of ink prints sent in for my FBI clearance letter was rejected after 8 weeks of waiting. I'm now on week 7 after sending in the second set.) It was kind of freaky though to watch the computer screen after a scan and see red letters come up saying "Warning: Match Found". It did that a lot. Upon leaving, I told Tim that I guess there is a criminal out there who also has lousy prints. Without prints, though, they can't prove it's me!
Next topic: Yard Sales. We're having Yd Sale 2 this weekend. Our goal is to do two per month this summer. I'm completely pooped just typing that! One big blessing, though, is that our garage is absolutely full of donations. I don't think we will even put out anything that was in our sale a couple of weeks ago. I'm even scheduled tomorrow to pick-up the leftovers from a yard sale that took place last weekend.
Finally, we are wrapping up our school year tomorrow. I can't believe Colton will be in 3rd grade next year. Worse yet, Eli will be in kindergarten! Where did the time go! Just think, Colton was going into kindergarten when we decided to adopt. I am so ready for this process to be over!! Okay, just having one of those "impatient moments" there. Back to our school year...Overall, I think we had a really good year. Eli is doing great with his reading, and we'll be continuing his lessons some over the summer. Colton changed math books part way through the year, so we will be doing some math all (or most) of the summer just to make sure he is on track to start third grade. Of course, we are most excited to see Tim come home for the summer. The boys just love having their daddy home all summer. I must say I enjoy it, too.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
More Fingerprints
Have you other adopters ever wondered how expensive it would be to just BUY your own fingerprinting equipment? I'm thinking it would be so much easier if I could just do this myself and have the fingerprints notarized or something.
In my last post, I told you that my fingerprints for the FBI clearance letter had been rejected. I went and had those redone. The very day I put them back in the mail to the FBI, Tim's clearance letter arrived. It took 8 weeks and 3 days for his letter to come. As of today, I have waited 12 weeks and 3 days. Keep in mind that these letters apparently self-destruct every 6 months. I'm beginning to wonder how far in advance I need to begin the process again.
We did have a note of progress today, though. We received our notice from USCIS of our appointment to be fingerprinted for them. We have to go to Nashville for these. For those of you living outside of TN, you may not have heard about Nashville's 500-yr flood last weekend. Our appointment isn't until the end of the month, but I'm thinking that I might need to be calling someone to see if the building is still there, still open, etc. Click here to see the flood. We don't actually live in Nashville, but we are only about 30 minutes away. I could not believe the devestation was so nearby while we sat so unaffected in our dry home.
Gotta give praises here...friends received their referral since my last post. So happy for them and can't wait for them to travel.
In my last post, I told you that my fingerprints for the FBI clearance letter had been rejected. I went and had those redone. The very day I put them back in the mail to the FBI, Tim's clearance letter arrived. It took 8 weeks and 3 days for his letter to come. As of today, I have waited 12 weeks and 3 days. Keep in mind that these letters apparently self-destruct every 6 months. I'm beginning to wonder how far in advance I need to begin the process again.
We did have a note of progress today, though. We received our notice from USCIS of our appointment to be fingerprinted for them. We have to go to Nashville for these. For those of you living outside of TN, you may not have heard about Nashville's 500-yr flood last weekend. Our appointment isn't until the end of the month, but I'm thinking that I might need to be calling someone to see if the building is still there, still open, etc. Click here to see the flood. We don't actually live in Nashville, but we are only about 30 minutes away. I could not believe the devestation was so nearby while we sat so unaffected in our dry home.
Gotta give praises here...friends received their referral since my last post. So happy for them and can't wait for them to travel.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Yard Sales and EASTER
Yard Sale Season is officially underway for 2010. We had our first yard sale this past Friday and Saturday. Sometimes when people donate large items, we put those on Craigslist instead of in the sale. So, our total for the sale and the Craigslist stuff that has sold came to $480. Yea!
It was funny how God worked it. We can usually average about $500 for a weekend. Friday we were so excited to raise almost $350. Then Saturday morning we realized why we had a big day on Friday...we were rained out all morning. The rain did finally pass, and we hurried out to set up about 11:30. Not the time of day to start a sale! But it was like a bad spoof on "Field of Dreams" -- "If you raise the garage doors, they will come." We didn't have the first table out before cars were stopping. The abbreviated day didn't yield a lot, but it was about $90 we didn't have before. (If you're doing the math, the rest was from Craigslist.)
We completed our home study a few weeks ago, but are just now poised to get the official, notarized copy in our hands. As soon as we do, we will be ready to send in our I-800A to USCIS. This is our request to immigration for permission to bring the girls into the US. Once we get another fingerprinting appointment from them, we will wait for their approval letter. When that is received, we will be ready to send in our dossier. I can't wait to get those stacks of papers off of the girls bed. They've been sitting there since our home study was finished in mid-February.
On a frustrating note, I received an envelope from the FBI saying that they had rejected my fingerprints. We sent that in 8 weeks ago tomorrow and have been waiting for our FBI clearance letter. Now I have to be re-fingerprinted and send it in again. Does that mean my 10-week wait starts all over? These letters are only good for 6 months. Does that mean that Tim's will expire 2 months before mine. It would have been a lot easier to keep all those expiration dates together. I also have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and was going to get my med form signed. (It's also only good for 6 months.) That was supposed to coincide with the FBI clearance letter. Now I think my dates are all messed up. Not to mention that the delay really stinks.
Okay, moving on to a family update. Eli turned 5 in February with a big party at Bounce-U. He is starting to seem so big! He is eating MUCH better, but he is still only about 36 pounds. He was sick just after his birthday with a stomach bug, and his appetite took off as he got better. He's gone from the 18-month-old who might eat 1/2 a grape for lunch to the 5-yr-old who had 4 fried eggs and a pop-tart for lunch last week. He is crazy about fruit, raw spinach, and mashed potatoes. Eli is also doing a great job with his reading lessons. He is starting to find words in the "real world" that he knows. Love that stage!
Colton took Eli's stomach bug about a week later. It took his appetite away for a while. He will be turning 8 next week and wants a quiet birthday supper at home with family. He's doing great with his school work. His favorite subject is history, although he really likes science and Spanish also. Colton and Eli have both started taking martial arts. I think they are really enjoying it.
Finally, onto Easter! I wish we celebrated Easter every Sunday. Today's service was awesome. I even dusted off my trumpet to play for the offertory. Nerve-wracking! I haven't really played in at least 20 years. (Oh my! Did I just admit that in writing!) Maybe I'm committed now to keeping it up since folks know I can play. I do want to polish it up a bit -- the playing, not the actual trumpet. On the way home, Eli said, "When are Keely and Mattie going to be here?" ...which brings me full circle back to the adoption. It warms my heart, though, to know that the boys are thinking about them.
Happy Easter, Everyone! Christ the Lord is Risen Today!!!
It was funny how God worked it. We can usually average about $500 for a weekend. Friday we were so excited to raise almost $350. Then Saturday morning we realized why we had a big day on Friday...we were rained out all morning. The rain did finally pass, and we hurried out to set up about 11:30. Not the time of day to start a sale! But it was like a bad spoof on "Field of Dreams" -- "If you raise the garage doors, they will come." We didn't have the first table out before cars were stopping. The abbreviated day didn't yield a lot, but it was about $90 we didn't have before. (If you're doing the math, the rest was from Craigslist.)
We completed our home study a few weeks ago, but are just now poised to get the official, notarized copy in our hands. As soon as we do, we will be ready to send in our I-800A to USCIS. This is our request to immigration for permission to bring the girls into the US. Once we get another fingerprinting appointment from them, we will wait for their approval letter. When that is received, we will be ready to send in our dossier. I can't wait to get those stacks of papers off of the girls bed. They've been sitting there since our home study was finished in mid-February.
On a frustrating note, I received an envelope from the FBI saying that they had rejected my fingerprints. We sent that in 8 weeks ago tomorrow and have been waiting for our FBI clearance letter. Now I have to be re-fingerprinted and send it in again. Does that mean my 10-week wait starts all over? These letters are only good for 6 months. Does that mean that Tim's will expire 2 months before mine. It would have been a lot easier to keep all those expiration dates together. I also have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and was going to get my med form signed. (It's also only good for 6 months.) That was supposed to coincide with the FBI clearance letter. Now I think my dates are all messed up. Not to mention that the delay really stinks.
Okay, moving on to a family update. Eli turned 5 in February with a big party at Bounce-U. He is starting to seem so big! He is eating MUCH better, but he is still only about 36 pounds. He was sick just after his birthday with a stomach bug, and his appetite took off as he got better. He's gone from the 18-month-old who might eat 1/2 a grape for lunch to the 5-yr-old who had 4 fried eggs and a pop-tart for lunch last week. He is crazy about fruit, raw spinach, and mashed potatoes. Eli is also doing a great job with his reading lessons. He is starting to find words in the "real world" that he knows. Love that stage!
Colton took Eli's stomach bug about a week later. It took his appetite away for a while. He will be turning 8 next week and wants a quiet birthday supper at home with family. He's doing great with his school work. His favorite subject is history, although he really likes science and Spanish also. Colton and Eli have both started taking martial arts. I think they are really enjoying it.
Finally, onto Easter! I wish we celebrated Easter every Sunday. Today's service was awesome. I even dusted off my trumpet to play for the offertory. Nerve-wracking! I haven't really played in at least 20 years. (Oh my! Did I just admit that in writing!) Maybe I'm committed now to keeping it up since folks know I can play. I do want to polish it up a bit -- the playing, not the actual trumpet. On the way home, Eli said, "When are Keely and Mattie going to be here?" ...which brings me full circle back to the adoption. It warms my heart, though, to know that the boys are thinking about them.
Happy Easter, Everyone! Christ the Lord is Risen Today!!!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Correction
For those of you who subscribe to my blog or have it emailed to you, I wanted to let you know that I had to make a few changes to my last entry. The pricing for the puzzle pieces has changed. It is now $3 for each piece, but if you purchase 10 or more they are $2.50 each. I was having too many complications working out a way for online ordering, and purchasing and odd number of pieces (greater than 1) was getting weird.
Sorry for the confusion, but I think I have it worked out now.
Sorry for the confusion, but I think I have it worked out now.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Puzzle Sale
Okay, I stole this fundraiser idea from another adoptive family, but I think it is just precious. I have purchased two 1000-piece puzzles. Here they are...
To raise funds for our adoption, we are "selling" the puzzle pieces. For each piece you purchase, we will write your name (or any name you choose) on the back of the puzzle. When the puzzles are complete, I will frame them to hang in the girls' room, and one day they will each have a puzzle as a keepsake. The names on the back will be visible to show them all the people who helped to bring them home.
*Purchase a piece with your name on the back
*Purchase a piece for each member of your family
*Purchase pieces equally from Keely's and Mattie's puzzles (but you don't HAVE to specify whose puzzle if you don't want)
*Purchase pieces "in honor" or "in memory" of someone
*Purchase a section of pieces as a group (extended family, club, Sunday School class, etc.)
Each piece costs $3. If you purchase 10 or more, they are $2.50 each. Here's how to participate...
1. Click the DONATE button on the right to go to PayPal.
2. Enter the amount you wish to donate.
3. In the special instructions box, tell me how many pieces you are "purchasing" and whose name(s) should appear on the puzzle.
4. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, or church how they can also help us. We still have A LOT of funds to raise before our daughters can come home
If you don't want to donate online, we can take your donations in person (if you live in our area), or you can email me for our mailing address. LDeMoss@comcast.net
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
To raise funds for our adoption, we are "selling" the puzzle pieces. For each piece you purchase, we will write your name (or any name you choose) on the back of the puzzle. When the puzzles are complete, I will frame them to hang in the girls' room, and one day they will each have a puzzle as a keepsake. The names on the back will be visible to show them all the people who helped to bring them home.
*Purchase a piece with your name on the back
*Purchase a piece for each member of your family
*Purchase pieces equally from Keely's and Mattie's puzzles (but you don't HAVE to specify whose puzzle if you don't want)
*Purchase pieces "in honor" or "in memory" of someone
*Purchase a section of pieces as a group (extended family, club, Sunday School class, etc.)
Each piece costs $3. If you purchase 10 or more, they are $2.50 each. Here's how to participate...
1. Click the DONATE button on the right to go to PayPal.
2. Enter the amount you wish to donate.
3. In the special instructions box, tell me how many pieces you are "purchasing" and whose name(s) should appear on the puzzle.
4. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, or church how they can also help us. We still have A LOT of funds to raise before our daughters can come home
If you don't want to donate online, we can take your donations in person (if you live in our area), or you can email me for our mailing address. LDeMoss@comcast.net
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Saturday, January 30, 2010
February Fun Night
Since my last post, we have worked on our home study, had a great Christmas, worked on our home study, had a great New Year's, worked on my transcription course, worked on the home study, researched (again) and changed our math curriculum (We're switching from Math-U-See to Math Mammoth. Let me know if you would like more info.), and worked on the home study. This week we submitted the last items to our social worker. She thinks she can have our home study written up and ready for us by Feb 11. With that in mind, I hope to get everything ready for our dossier, the I-800A, and maybe even a couple of grant applications. As soon as I have that home study in hand, I can start sending those things off.
I haven't had the nerve to check, but I think we will also be due another payment to our placing agency when we submit the dossier. That means we need to hit some fundraising again. Since it is too cold for a yard sale (not to mention all the snow and ice outside right now), I thought I'd suggest February Fun Night. I'm looking for 10 people who will participate.
All you have to do, is organize a Fun Night fundraiser for a group of your friends. Let them know that this is a fundraiser for our adoption and ask them to bring a $10 donation to the event. The group you invite might be your Sunday School class, your scrapbooking friends, your cousins, a mini-reunion of college friends, your daughter's friends, your son's scout troop, your church's youth group, etc., etc. The possibilities go on and on.
What do you do at this Fun Night? It's entirely your choice. Offer snacks and a movie, work on a common hobby, have game night, a Wii party, kareoke, or Girls' Night Out. Let your daughter have a slumber party for donating guests. Have pizza night.
If you don't want to provide the snacks, you could put in $10 like everyone else and take the cost of the party out of the collection. Whatever is left is how much your party can send in.
Just think! If 10 people participate and have 10 people come to each of their parties and donate $10 each, that would be $1000. I would feel really comfortable going into this dossier with an extra $2000 ready to be sent here and there.
If you live nearby, I'd be glad to come share our story about adoption. If you live further away, I can email you a printed version you could share with your guests. Or, share the story as part of the invitation if you think that would be helpful.
Let me know if you have questions.
Let me know if you want to SIGN UP.
I haven't had the nerve to check, but I think we will also be due another payment to our placing agency when we submit the dossier. That means we need to hit some fundraising again. Since it is too cold for a yard sale (not to mention all the snow and ice outside right now), I thought I'd suggest February Fun Night. I'm looking for 10 people who will participate.
All you have to do, is organize a Fun Night fundraiser for a group of your friends. Let them know that this is a fundraiser for our adoption and ask them to bring a $10 donation to the event. The group you invite might be your Sunday School class, your scrapbooking friends, your cousins, a mini-reunion of college friends, your daughter's friends, your son's scout troop, your church's youth group, etc., etc. The possibilities go on and on.
What do you do at this Fun Night? It's entirely your choice. Offer snacks and a movie, work on a common hobby, have game night, a Wii party, kareoke, or Girls' Night Out. Let your daughter have a slumber party for donating guests. Have pizza night.
If you don't want to provide the snacks, you could put in $10 like everyone else and take the cost of the party out of the collection. Whatever is left is how much your party can send in.
Just think! If 10 people participate and have 10 people come to each of their parties and donate $10 each, that would be $1000. I would feel really comfortable going into this dossier with an extra $2000 ready to be sent here and there.
If you live nearby, I'd be glad to come share our story about adoption. If you live further away, I can email you a printed version you could share with your guests. Or, share the story as part of the invitation if you think that would be helpful.
Let me know if you have questions.
Let me know if you want to SIGN UP.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Busy Beginnings
Besides deep cleaning and completely reorganizing the house, I have jumped head first into the paper work for the home study. Here's what I've done so far.
- Sent a request for Tim's birth certificate. I'll get mine when we go home for Christmas.
- We'll also make a short road trip during Christmas for our marriage certificate.
- Made copies of our last 3 years of tax returns and our W2s.
- Proof of car insurance.
- Proof of home insurance.
- Proof of life insurance for each of us.
- Copies of driver's licenses.
- Made a list of people who will be references. (Still waiting for the okay and mailing info from a few.)
- List of all past residences since the age of 18.
- Passport pictures taken. Forms filled out. Waiting for birth certificates to submit.
That's half the list! The other half, though, won't be as quick to complete. Letters from employers, police clearance, fingerprints, education hours, just to name a few.
Then, for the placing agency, I have their paperwork almost completed, and we had our family picture made today to include. Once that is submitted, they send us the contract, we sign it and return it, and they send us the dossier. Then the DEEP paperwork begins.
All of this plus Thanksgiving, Christmas preparations, extra Christmas choir practices, resumed homeschooling, Eli sick (only one day, "Thank you, Lord!"), and on and on and on. So I guess I'd better get back to cleaning now...
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