One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today that I received my referral for Johanna. I can still remember the phone call from my agency coordinator. I can still remember the moment I first saw my baby girl. I still remember the emotions I felt at the moment and the happy tears that were shed. It has been such a wonderful year since and I know there are many more wonderful years to come.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Movie Time!!

Our church "Mommy's Group" had a movie day. Johanna has never been to a movie but I decided to give it a try. If Johanna is going to get out-of-hand it might as well be during a kids' movie, right? The movie was "Charlotte's Web" with Dakota Fanning, not the animated version. Johanna was mesmerized from the moment the lights went out. She did so well. About 10 minutes before the movie was over she started getting fussy and babbling but nothing really loud. We may go again next week and take the daycare kids too.
Mommy and Johanna on their way to the theater.


I don't want to sit in this big chair alone!!!


Drinking from Mommy's Diet Coke.


In other news: Johanna has "Hit the bigtime!" as my agency coordinator said. She is now on our agency website. You can see it at http://www.littlemiracles.org/index.php?page=ourmiracles

Really No Update

I asked my agency for an update and all I got was that I am still in family court. I am also still waiting on Pre-approval. Dna was received at the embassy about Oct. 17 so I guess it has only been 12 days. I HATE THE WAITING!!!!

Moving Along

I was so excited about the new pictures and the slushbag that I forgot to update on the adoption process. I got an email from my agency coordinator last week too. She said the dna was taken and the birth mother interview was done. YEA!! Things are finally moving along.

I'm A Winner & New Friends

Yesterday I was the winner in Sig's weekly blog give-away. I am so excited!! I get a $20 gift certificate to Slushbags. I haven't decided yet what bag I am going to have made. Tara makes very nice bags so, if you haven't seen them, go take a look. I will post a picture of my bag when I get it.

On one of my Yahoo Groups I asked if anyone was using the same agency as me. I got three replies from people using them right now. And guess what!! We are all in about the same place in the process!! Leah doesn't quite have her dossier finished yet. She is single and lives in Mexico, working for the U.S. Kelly and her husband recently signed their POA and live in MO. Julie's little girl is two weeks older than Johanna. She signed her POA in Guatemala and meet her baby girl while picking up her 8 month old son. I am so glad to have made these new friends and to have someone real close to share the experience with.

A Little Further

Today the last of my documents went to the Guatemalan Consulate in Houston. From there they will be sent to my agency. One more step done!!!

Making Progress Again!

In the mail today I got a copies of my home study agency's new license and the SW's new license. 15 minutes ago I dropped them off at the Fed Ex box to go to Topeka for authentication. Also in the package is a copy of my I-171H. I should have them back by the end of the week unless the government has a big vacation this week. Next they will be off to the Guatemalan Consulate in Houston. With that, my dossier will be FINISHED!!
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!

The Rabbit Dies!!!!

The mailman just brought my I-171H!!! I was dancing and yelling in the dining room. I emailed my agency immediately, called my sil and called one of my sisters. You all are the next to be notified. We are going out to celebrate tonight . . .maybe. My mom has been sick since Saturday so we may have to put the celebration on hold.
Gotta go post on my Yahoo Groups now.
Thanks for all the prayers!!
Love all of you!!

I'm So Smart!! & It's Off - Again!!

Fed Ex delivered my psychological evaluation today. It came from Washington and has the Washington state seal on it. It is really neat. The best part is what was said about my intelligence. The Dr. said that I am "above average" in intelligence. I know all you married people are going to rush out and get the evaluations now. These are only required for singles adopting. So sorry.

As soon as I got the evaluation I stuck it in the next envelope with my dossier to go to the Guatemalan Consulate in Houston. It is already in the drop box. With it are the envelope to send it on to my agency. One more thing done!!

Dossier - Good News!!

It was good news to me anyway. I faxed my dossier to my agency for my coordinator to look at before I paid for apostilles. Today I heard from Anne and I only had to redo THREE FORMS!!! I thought that was great. I already have them finished and will get them notarized tomorrow. I was afraid I was going to have to redo about half of them. Next the "real" dossier will be off to Topeka for apostilles.

My Kazakhstan Manual - Redoing Paperwork

How could I forget??? I emailed my LMI coordinator yesterday with a question about a form and she told me to refer to my manual. Silly me!! I forgot I had that! I am now redoing some of the forms I had saved on my computer to fit the way my agency wants them. They also have several forms that I hadn't prepared and I am typing those too. How many different ways can you tell the government of Kazakhstan that you will send post placements once a year for an adopted child? I think I typed four forms just stating that fact or something similar.

I hope my personal notary can come over tomorrow afternoon and notarize all these for me. I want to get them sent off to the State Secretary for Authentication on Friday. I found out some good news from the manual. For Authentication I only have to pay once for each notary!! I should only have three notaries since I am using a daycare parent to do all of my personal forms. That will save a little money there.

I finished painting the little rocking chair for Johanna's nursery. It doesn't look great but it isn't too bad either. I will probably find a large rag-type doll or a stuffed animal to put in it. I need to re-arrange my bedroom to give Johanna her own space. Glad I have a huge room.

The Search Is On

I found out my SW will not be in the office all this week. She is out for training. I don't know what she is training for. So far I haven't seen her do any work. So, "The Search Is On" for a new SW to do my home study. I think I may have already found one. I am waiting for a call from a guy from another agency that I guess can do home studies for others. I got his name from the administrative assistant and gave her my details. Hopefully he will call tomorrow. If he does, I will immediately go to CSS and ask for my file. For $100 they owe me that much. I will overnight it to the new guy if he can take me. PLEASE PRAY!!!

New Friends

I have made so many new friends since starting my adoption process it just amazes me. Most of them I met on one of the five Yahoo adoption groups I belong to. Those are great groups to be in for information, encouragement and camaraderie. I have gained more knowledge about Kazakhstan adoptions in the last few weeks than I thought possible and not all of it came from the huge notebook my agency gave me to read. The most valuable things probably came from all my friends in my groups. Yahoo has groups for every interest, way of life, and/or problem imaginable. If you can't find the one you are looking for, start one of your own. It is great to be a part of so many people who have already gone through what I am just starting and a part of people who are going through this process at the same time. I guess I have to say "Thank You" to Yahoo.