For the last several weeks I haven't done anything adoption related. At least not physically. But today was mostly devoted, once again, to paperwork and the like. Jonathan and I received our appointment notice last month to be fingerprinted for our future children's visas. Our appointment was for today. My time slot was 9am and his was 10am. The paper informed us that there was limited seating and so no extra people in the waiting room. Hmmm, we have four tag-a-longs. So, our plan was to tag-team it. I would go in and he would stay in the car with the kids and then we would switch. Anyway, I had to wake up really early because I live on a farm and there are goats to be milked and chickens to be fed and dogs to be tended to. It was DARK when I got out of bed. I don't get out of bed when it's dark, people. But, I did today. And we were in the car, driving off by 7:15am. On time. We had 110 miles before we were there. We told the kids they could watch movies today since it was going to be an unusually long car day. So, it was quite quiet. Except for the occasional burst of laughter, which always bring smiles to our faces. Nothing like listening to kids belly-laugh. We stopped on the north side of ABQ and used our Starbucks gift cards for some breakfast sandwiches and two lattes. We pulled up to the strip mall government office with 2 minutes to spare. I got out and Jonathan drove away to find a park, or store and a bathroom. I walked in to the biggest, emptiest "store" with a couple of fingerprinting computers. Plenty of room for the kids. But on every wall, as well as on the appointment notice, in BIG LETTERS, it said that cell phone use was prohibited. A couple signs said that failure to follow the rules would get you kicked out, so I wasn't about to use my phone to get Jonathan back there. We had been waiting for this appointment for a month. I was seen and done in 15 minutes and Jonathan got back before long and he was in and out too. Nice job USCIS. Nice job Feds. We complimented the lady on the way out and she chuckled and said she used to be even quicker but they just changed machines on her!
So on the way back to Santa Fe I started looking through all papers we had and all the lists of papers that we need. I noticed I needed three more forms notarized so we headed to our church and got that done. We got home after 3pm and there were more adoption things waiting in my mailbox: our psychological evaluation and some documents that I sent to the Virginia Secretary of State to be apostilled. So, I started making copies and got all the Texas documents ready to be shipped (we had our psych. eval. done in the Lone Star State). So, the evaluation, husband's and two older kid's birth certificates, and our marriage license are headed to Austin. One less thing to worry about.
Next big thing for me is to go to NM SOS and wait for 25ish documents to be apostilled. Johnna told me today that after fingerprinting, it takes anywhere between 1 and 3 weeks to get the final approval for the future kids' visas. It feels close. When I got the packet that described all that had to be done before we could send off our Dossier, I WAS OVER-WHELMED. But, we are close. I know there could still be a few bumps. We might have to do a couple things over....but okay.
I want to hope this is going to keep flying by. This has been an amazing experience so far. God has already grown me in ways that I never thought I could grow and I know there is so much more in store. I can't wait to get an email with two or three little brown faces. I wonder if they will be smiling. Or if they will be pictured together. Or if they have their only toy in their little dirty hands. Their dirty little hands will be something that they will have in common with the current Grassmick brood.
I hope they like us. I know they will eventually. And I know it will take time.
I hope they latch on to our kids like they depend on each other now.
I hope one day we are one big happy family.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Villagers
Several people have asked me where we are financially and so I'm taking their advice and posting about it.
First and foremost, God has provided each step of the way. Every time we have needed money, we have had it. And we have spent close to $7,000 so far.
When we send in our dossier, which I am hoping will be the beginning of May, we will need to send in about $9,000. After that, we will start the "real" waiting. But, then once we get the call referring our children, we will need close to $15,000.
If God is leading you to be a part of this, we would love to hear from you. We would love for you to pray for our little "unknowns." And we would love your help in being one step closer to meeting our children.
It is a little weird reflecting on the cost of this thing. It took us almost no money to birth our first four children into the world. Between good insurance and home births, the cost was minimal. But now we are faced with a substantial amount. The saying goes that it takes a village to raise children. Jonathan and I have always subscribed to this way of thinking. We have always wanted love and training to come from as many different directions as possible for our children. This time we just have to call on our village a little earlier. With our biologicals, we didn't spread out the load until the kids were born. This time, we need our village to get them here. If you consider this mission worthy of your prayers and/or financial support, I'd love to promise that you won't be let down. I'd love to promise that our new kids will be invaluable additions to society, have grace with everyone they meet and love all well. But, I can't. What I know though, is that God is asking us to do this and I absolutely believe He has them picked for us already and we will give to them each day the love that has been given to us. And we will let you love on them too. And hopefully...prayerfully they will someday love you back with hearts that are full.
Please don't feel pressured to give. I know that God is faithful. And whether we are given all the funds or have to sell 14, 942 cupcakes, I know we will get there. And He is growing us each step of the way and we (the six current Grassmicks) are trying to soak in the journey.
First and foremost, God has provided each step of the way. Every time we have needed money, we have had it. And we have spent close to $7,000 so far.
When we send in our dossier, which I am hoping will be the beginning of May, we will need to send in about $9,000. After that, we will start the "real" waiting. But, then once we get the call referring our children, we will need close to $15,000.
If God is leading you to be a part of this, we would love to hear from you. We would love for you to pray for our little "unknowns." And we would love your help in being one step closer to meeting our children.
It is a little weird reflecting on the cost of this thing. It took us almost no money to birth our first four children into the world. Between good insurance and home births, the cost was minimal. But now we are faced with a substantial amount. The saying goes that it takes a village to raise children. Jonathan and I have always subscribed to this way of thinking. We have always wanted love and training to come from as many different directions as possible for our children. This time we just have to call on our village a little earlier. With our biologicals, we didn't spread out the load until the kids were born. This time, we need our village to get them here. If you consider this mission worthy of your prayers and/or financial support, I'd love to promise that you won't be let down. I'd love to promise that our new kids will be invaluable additions to society, have grace with everyone they meet and love all well. But, I can't. What I know though, is that God is asking us to do this and I absolutely believe He has them picked for us already and we will give to them each day the love that has been given to us. And we will let you love on them too. And hopefully...prayerfully they will someday love you back with hearts that are full.
Please don't feel pressured to give. I know that God is faithful. And whether we are given all the funds or have to sell 14, 942 cupcakes, I know we will get there. And He is growing us each step of the way and we (the six current Grassmicks) are trying to soak in the journey.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Resting
I don't have much to say...again. But, each day I feel like I should write a post. I was likening my experience so far to my pregnancies while talking to my mom the other day. When you find out you're pregnant, it is all you can think about. You are super excited and spend all spare time reading up on it, figuring out your due date, and thinking of names. But after a couple of months, you can go an hour or two before you remember anew that you are going to have a baby. That is where I'm at. I'm not doing much paperwork each day now. I have almost finished my part of that and am now just waiting for our government to do their part. I'm still excited and I feel like God is preparing me more and more each day but it isn't keeping me up an night right anymore.
We received our appointment dates for our fingerprints for the new kids visas. March 19 we will head to Albuquerque for that. I might make a zoo day out of it. After we get those done, I am hoping we can finish up this part by the end of April so that we can send off our Dossier.
God's timing is good. I am resting in that.
We received our appointment dates for our fingerprints for the new kids visas. March 19 we will head to Albuquerque for that. I might make a zoo day out of it. After we get those done, I am hoping we can finish up this part by the end of April so that we can send off our Dossier.
God's timing is good. I am resting in that.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
We Have Been Evaluated
We have been evaluated.
We met with a certified psychologist today because Honduras requires evaluations for prospective adoptive parents. Dr. Naiper talked to us both. Then he handed Jonathan two little booklets of questions and sent him to another room to circle his answers while he asked me some questions one on one. Then we switched. I got to filled out the questionnaire while Jonathan talked to him. Just for the record: 1). I finished the questionnaire quicker. And 2). It didn't take Jonathan as long to answer the doc's questions face to face. So basically...I'm fast. He's not. :) But that wasn't why I married him to begin with.
Anyway, he said he will have the rough draft by next week, which is great. Thanks to our super special friend who entertained the kids so we could do this!
Now, we get to sit back this weekend and enjoy the Empowered to Connect Conference that we are signed up for this weekend. My sweet in-laws are watching the kids Friday and Saturday. My mother in law took tomorrow off and is going to bake yummy treats and make super fun crafts with the kids. Emma brought her own recipe book and Grandma promised a grocery shopping trip with her to get the appropriate supplies. Fun times.
We should learn a lot this weekend. I'm looking forward to being stuck in adoption mode for a couple of days and getting to discuss it all with Jonathan.
I don't really feel closer to getting this done but I know baby steps will get us there. I like big steps. Giant steps, really. But, we keep putting one foot in front of the other and I know we will get there. Sooner, I hope, rather than later.
We met with a certified psychologist today because Honduras requires evaluations for prospective adoptive parents. Dr. Naiper talked to us both. Then he handed Jonathan two little booklets of questions and sent him to another room to circle his answers while he asked me some questions one on one. Then we switched. I got to filled out the questionnaire while Jonathan talked to him. Just for the record: 1). I finished the questionnaire quicker. And 2). It didn't take Jonathan as long to answer the doc's questions face to face. So basically...I'm fast. He's not. :) But that wasn't why I married him to begin with.
Anyway, he said he will have the rough draft by next week, which is great. Thanks to our super special friend who entertained the kids so we could do this!
Now, we get to sit back this weekend and enjoy the Empowered to Connect Conference that we are signed up for this weekend. My sweet in-laws are watching the kids Friday and Saturday. My mother in law took tomorrow off and is going to bake yummy treats and make super fun crafts with the kids. Emma brought her own recipe book and Grandma promised a grocery shopping trip with her to get the appropriate supplies. Fun times.
We should learn a lot this weekend. I'm looking forward to being stuck in adoption mode for a couple of days and getting to discuss it all with Jonathan.
I don't really feel closer to getting this done but I know baby steps will get us there. I like big steps. Giant steps, really. But, we keep putting one foot in front of the other and I know we will get there. Sooner, I hope, rather than later.
Monday, February 13, 2012
P, P, and F
I have to say that when I started this blog, I was a little judgmental of other women with adoption blogs because I wanted them to post more often. It's not that hard, right? Just tell us what's going on! Come on.
Well, now I am one of those women. I think of posting often, probably at least once a day. But, then I have to come up with something worthy of your time to write about.
We are just in a small holding pattern right now. I've gotten most of the ground work done for our Dossier and we are waiting for a few things to happen. Our psychological evaluations are being done on Thursday...which, by the way, someone asked me recently if I was nervous about this evaluation. Should I be? I don't feel nervous. Should I feel nervous? I love my life. Past, present, and future. And I love talking, so what is there to be nervous about?
After we get our evaluation, we will need to send off our TX documents off to the Secretary of State (I feel like I've posted about this before). The kid's and Jonathan's birth certificates, our marriage license, and the evaluation have to be apostilled in Texas. That shouldn't take too long.
We are waiting on one more reference letter to come in and then we can take all of our documents to the New Mexico Secretary of State and have them apostilled. They recommend that we do this before our Immigration approval comes in so that we can just have everything ready and go back in for that one document.
I've been reading mixed information about Honduras lately. Things are moving there. A member of Congress introduced a bill to help speed up the process of orphans finding a home. And a new director was appointed to the Instituto Hondureño del Niño y la Familia, also known as "IHNFA", which is a social welfare agency charged by the Honduran government with overseeing local and international adoptions. The last one was fired January 2011. So, hopefully this will get the process moving too. I don't know if the bill in Congress was passed or if it was passed, how long it will take to implement quicker adoptions but it feels like movement in the right direction.
But some people are always the Debbie Downers. (Some people might call them realists.) I am a part of a Honduran Adoption Yahoo Group and there is someone who posts that doesn't see the Honduran world through rose colored glasses. Which really is good. But, I want to believe the best. The best, not necessarily for me, but for all of those kids. The kids sitting in orphanages for up to SIX YEARS waiting to be adopted out. Gosh, there are families that want them. I hope and pray that someone will be put in charge that can work for them.
Anyway, just because I'm not posting a lot doesn't mean we don't need your prayers. Keep 'em coming.
Well, now I am one of those women. I think of posting often, probably at least once a day. But, then I have to come up with something worthy of your time to write about.
We are just in a small holding pattern right now. I've gotten most of the ground work done for our Dossier and we are waiting for a few things to happen. Our psychological evaluations are being done on Thursday...which, by the way, someone asked me recently if I was nervous about this evaluation. Should I be? I don't feel nervous. Should I feel nervous? I love my life. Past, present, and future. And I love talking, so what is there to be nervous about?
After we get our evaluation, we will need to send off our TX documents off to the Secretary of State (I feel like I've posted about this before). The kid's and Jonathan's birth certificates, our marriage license, and the evaluation have to be apostilled in Texas. That shouldn't take too long.
We are waiting on one more reference letter to come in and then we can take all of our documents to the New Mexico Secretary of State and have them apostilled. They recommend that we do this before our Immigration approval comes in so that we can just have everything ready and go back in for that one document.
I've been reading mixed information about Honduras lately. Things are moving there. A member of Congress introduced a bill to help speed up the process of orphans finding a home. And a new director was appointed to the Instituto Hondureño del Niño y la Familia, also known as "IHNFA", which is a social welfare agency charged by the Honduran government with overseeing local and international adoptions. The last one was fired January 2011. So, hopefully this will get the process moving too. I don't know if the bill in Congress was passed or if it was passed, how long it will take to implement quicker adoptions but it feels like movement in the right direction.
But some people are always the Debbie Downers. (Some people might call them realists.) I am a part of a Honduran Adoption Yahoo Group and there is someone who posts that doesn't see the Honduran world through rose colored glasses. Which really is good. But, I want to believe the best. The best, not necessarily for me, but for all of those kids. The kids sitting in orphanages for up to SIX YEARS waiting to be adopted out. Gosh, there are families that want them. I hope and pray that someone will be put in charge that can work for them.
Anyway, just because I'm not posting a lot doesn't mean we don't need your prayers. Keep 'em coming.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Home Study...Check
We received our home study in them mail today. February 4. It's been kind of miraculous to work with our social worker, Heather. She has been a gift from God wrapped up in a social worker package.
Now on to USCIS or the The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (under the Department of Homeland Security). As soon as we got our home study in the mail, I wanted to drop everything and drive to town and fedex our application to the USCIS. But, after checking on it, there are no FedEx pick ups today so it wouldn't get there any faster. Tomorrow when we are in town for church, we will stop by the FedEx store and ship this baby.
The application we are turning in is called the I-600a, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. When approved, it will give our future children permission to be brought into the US. The form is one of the most important documents that adoption families receive. The document of approval is called the I-171H. That is the ultimate goal of the application we are sending on tomorrow. The first thing will receive, though, is notification that they received it. Then we will be mailed an appointment time and location for our fingerprinting. (We were fingerprinted last month for our home study, but we have to do it again.) Then, we should see the I-171H in our mailbox. All of this should take between 1.5 to 3 months. You all might assume that I am hoping we get this sooner rather than later. And that assumption would be correct.
My goal initially was to have our dossier ready at the beginning of May. We will hopefully have everything else ready when we receive this, but we have to take the original I-171H with us to Honduras so we will have to get a "notarized copy of original." Then we have to get that apostilled with the SOS in NM. I've been told that since we live hear the capital, we might be able to make an appointment with the Secretary of State and they will apostille it while we wait. Wow, that would be great.
I'm reading a lot on adoption lately and I am really looking forward to an adoption conference Jonathan and I are going to mid-February. So, we continue on.
Now on to USCIS or the The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (under the Department of Homeland Security). As soon as we got our home study in the mail, I wanted to drop everything and drive to town and fedex our application to the USCIS. But, after checking on it, there are no FedEx pick ups today so it wouldn't get there any faster. Tomorrow when we are in town for church, we will stop by the FedEx store and ship this baby.
The application we are turning in is called the I-600a, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. When approved, it will give our future children permission to be brought into the US. The form is one of the most important documents that adoption families receive. The document of approval is called the I-171H. That is the ultimate goal of the application we are sending on tomorrow. The first thing will receive, though, is notification that they received it. Then we will be mailed an appointment time and location for our fingerprinting. (We were fingerprinted last month for our home study, but we have to do it again.) Then, we should see the I-171H in our mailbox. All of this should take between 1.5 to 3 months. You all might assume that I am hoping we get this sooner rather than later. And that assumption would be correct.
My goal initially was to have our dossier ready at the beginning of May. We will hopefully have everything else ready when we receive this, but we have to take the original I-171H with us to Honduras so we will have to get a "notarized copy of original." Then we have to get that apostilled with the SOS in NM. I've been told that since we live hear the capital, we might be able to make an appointment with the Secretary of State and they will apostille it while we wait. Wow, that would be great.
I'm reading a lot on adoption lately and I am really looking forward to an adoption conference Jonathan and I are going to mid-February. So, we continue on.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Why Not Ask?
I've been feeling a bit emotional lately and that really isn't my norm. I was telling Jonathan that I'm kind of bummed that I am starting to really want to meet our children already. I was hoping I could hold off that feeling for as long as possible. I guess that sounds cold, but several years is a long time to know your children are, at best, not in a great situation and at worst, in a really bad situation. I guess it is part of the growth of adoption.
Jonathan and I went to an adoption training last night in Albuquerque. On the way home we were talking and he said he is trying to prepare himself for a 3 year wait. What? 2015? I'm sure that is really responsible of him but wow, that isn't where my heart it. So in the end we decided to prepare mentally for 2 years (he might still say 3) but pray for a miraculous 2013 adoption. We very well know that God has picked our children already and as we talked about last night, they might not even be born yet. And we are willing to wait, knowing that He knows best. But, we also know that we serve an amazing God who can do amazing things in amazing time. Why not ask?
I love how Jonathan and I even each other out. Playing board games and keeping a clean room are pretty much the only two things that we as a couple tip the scales on. We are both crazy competitive and sore losers and neither of us know how to just put our clothes away when we are done with them...like our mothers taught us. But, I'll take those two things if it means that we are a great team with most other things. Things that matter.
Jonathan and I went to an adoption training last night in Albuquerque. On the way home we were talking and he said he is trying to prepare himself for a 3 year wait. What? 2015? I'm sure that is really responsible of him but wow, that isn't where my heart it. So in the end we decided to prepare mentally for 2 years (he might still say 3) but pray for a miraculous 2013 adoption. We very well know that God has picked our children already and as we talked about last night, they might not even be born yet. And we are willing to wait, knowing that He knows best. But, we also know that we serve an amazing God who can do amazing things in amazing time. Why not ask?
I love how Jonathan and I even each other out. Playing board games and keeping a clean room are pretty much the only two things that we as a couple tip the scales on. We are both crazy competitive and sore losers and neither of us know how to just put our clothes away when we are done with them...like our mothers taught us. But, I'll take those two things if it means that we are a great team with most other things. Things that matter.
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