Dossier Done

When I heard that we might have to update our dossier, I was SO FRUSTRATED!  I could not believe that as we have been waiting for things to get accomplished in Ethiopia, too much time had passed and our dossier had expired.

Thankfully, the two items from the dossier that take the longest to complete - the home study and fingerprints (for USCIS approval) were previously updated.  Those two items expired at 18 months (I think that was the time frame) so we were required to re-do those months ago.  (Side note: We actually received our referral call WHILE we were being interviewed by a caseworker to update our home study!)

All that to say, this past week I have been printing papers, making phone calls and emailing people to try accomplish it all as quickly as possible.  Thankfully, we were able to get our medical updates, police reports, reference letters and all necessary documents notarized.  In a surprise miracle, the Secretary of State had NO LINE.  Two years ago, I remember waiting with my kids for about an hour.  This time, I barely sat down and they called my number.  I got the required State Seal and drove 30 seconds over to the Post Office right around the corner.  Gratefully, our dossier is off to Washington D.C. to get authenticated!!  We are hoping and praying it gets back to us quickly and can be sent to Ethiopia.

As far as the Regional Head signature goes, we also have encouraging news.  We are waiting to find out this week if we were able to get the corrected document.  We know we shouldn't hold our breath but are trying to stay hopeful that we are close to getting what we need.

Speechless

In my previous blog post, I was excited to say that we FINALLY got the Regional Head signature we had been waiting for.  Yay!  Right?

WRONG.

I was told yesterday that although she did sign, she didn't include a statement that the federal government is now requiring, which is in regard to the children not being able to be adopted domestically.  This is so discouraging to us and so difficult to understand how on earth this was left out.  It was our understanding that this statement was 50% of the reason we had gone through this rigmarole to get her signature.  Furthermore, since her office is part of the government, we assumed she would know this needed to be included.

It's extremely frustrating to be delayed AGAIN but it's even more maddening that we felt super close to being able to going to get our kids.  This delays us an unknown amount of time. . . again.

In other we-didn't-think-it-could-be-worse news, we found out two additional gems of info. this past weekend.

A.  We need to update our entire dossier.  It's been over two years since we originally created it and apparently, the government won't accept documents over two years old.  So, we have to get a handful of documents notarized, get clearances from the police department, get additional medical check-ups, visit the county clerk for certified copies of our marriage and birth certificates, etc. etc.  Thankfully, my determination to get things accomplished for these kids is in Super-Fierce-Mama-Bear-Mode so I think I can get it done rather quickly.

B.  The transition home where our kids have been living for the past year is closing at the end of November.  There is not ample money to keep it funded any longer so the children have to be moved to a government orphanage in the area.  This was devastating news to us, knowing that moving to a third orphanage in 1.5 years is less than ideal.  The last thing they need is yet another transition.  But, with literally no money to fund the orphanage, there is no other option.

So, today, I'm speechless.  I don't understand why simple things can't get done and why these sweet kids have had to be in an orphanage for such an unnecessary, extended period of time.  I'm mad that we are stalled again and I'm annoyed that we have no definite end in sight.

Ironically, Sunday night I opened this fortune cookie.  Although I don't believe in fortune cookies, I sure am wishing it were true.  Continuing to pray and ask God for some miracles to come our way.

Regional Signature

We finally heard today that we DID get the Regional Head signature we've been waiting for!  Our documents are being brought to the courts tomorrow to try to get our first court date scheduled.  Hopefully within several days we will have a date.  (This one we do not attend.)

Our family is grateful for some movement forward and to have this long awaited signature.  Once we get this first court date scheduled, I think we'll have a better grasp on when we might actually travel.

Thank you for the continued prayers!

A Day of Waiting. . .

We heard some REALLY good news on Friday!  Thankfully, our paperwork made it to the regional office and the Regional Head asked her assistant to type up the approval. . . and she said she would sign it this week!  We are hoping she will sign it today so we can then be submitted to court this week.

This news was so encouraging to us, but we will feel 100% excited once we hear she has actually signed it.  After so many months of waiting for this one thing, we are eagerly waiting for it to be done.

We also were blessed on Friday to get a couple more photos of the kids.  It is so precious to see their faces again!  Words cannot describe how anxious we are to be able to wrap our arms around both of them!

Hoping to have a positive update SOON.

Steps Closer. . .

We heard early last week about a new plan to help move our case forward.  We are praying this new sequence of events will happen and it will be completed within a decent time frame.

It involves a few steps:

1.  Get a written letter of consent at the City office.  (This happened on Friday.)

2.  That letter will then be sent to the Zonal office to obtain a signature there.  (We just found out today that it did arrive at the office, but we are now waiting on the proper signature.)

3.  Once it is signed by the Zonal official, the letter of consent will be sent to the regional office and the Regional Head will supposedly sign the paper we have needed for 6 months. 

4.  When Regional Head signs, we can finally be submitted to court for our first court date.  This is one that we do not attend.  I don't know how far out court dates are being scheduled but I'm guessing it is somewhere between 2-5 weeks.  

5.  After this first court date happens, we will then be scheduling a court date to appear at court in Ethiopia.  Again, totally guessing, I think this would likely happen 2-5 weeks after the first court date is completed.  

Even though the requirements for this process have seemed quite fluid for us over the last year, we are feeling hopeful - we might be on the right path this time.  

Please join us in praying that the social worker who has our paperwork is able to get both the zonal signature and the regional signature ASAP.