Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Another Hurdle Overcome
After two failed attempts at getting our children’s I-800 applications past the automated scanner at the USCIS Texas lockbox, we finally got notice today that our third crack at it succeeded and our kids’ paperwork is now in process. According to our NBC agent, we are setting a precedent at USCIS adopting two unrelated children from two different countries on two separate I-800A approvals at exactly the same time. Sadly, this fact has cost us an entire month in our adoption journey because the scanner/staff at the lockbox simply couldn’t compute/comprehend the situation. Oh well, I am just happy we are one step closer now to bringing our little ones home. Fingers crossed that the provisional visa approvals will be issued in the first half of June.
Monday, May 30, 2011
IAC 181 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 181 which was held on 04/26/11:
1) French dossier from 2008 referred a waiting child (#1276) with a profile on the MOJ site
2) French dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 7 years and 5 months, male
3) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 8 years and 7 months, female
4) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a child aged 7 years and 8 months, male
5) French dossier from 2010 referred two children, male and female, aged 7 years and 11 months and 7 years
6) U.S. dossier from 2010 referred three children, male and female, aged 6 years and 5 months, 8 years and 7 months, and 7 years
7) Italian dossier from 2011 referred two waiting children (#1399 & #1400) with profiles on the MOJ site
8) Swedish dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1241) with a profile on the MOJ site
1) French dossier from 2008 referred a waiting child (#1276) with a profile on the MOJ site
2) French dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 7 years and 5 months, male
3) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 8 years and 7 months, female
4) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a child aged 7 years and 8 months, male
5) French dossier from 2010 referred two children, male and female, aged 7 years and 11 months and 7 years
6) U.S. dossier from 2010 referred three children, male and female, aged 6 years and 5 months, 8 years and 7 months, and 7 years
7) Italian dossier from 2011 referred two waiting children (#1399 & #1400) with profiles on the MOJ site
8) Swedish dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (#1241) with a profile on the MOJ site
IAC 180 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 180 which was held on 04/15/11:
1) German dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 2 years and 9 months, female
2) Greek dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 4 years and 2 months, male
3) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 4 years and 6 months, female
4) U.S. dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 4 years and 9 months, female, with features in health status
5) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 4 years and 10 months, female, with features in health status
6) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 5 years and 9 months, male
7) Dutch dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 5 years, male
8) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a two female children, aged 6 years and 3 months and 3 years and 9 months
9) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a child aged 8 years and 3 months, male
10) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a child aged 9 years and 1 month, female
11) Italian dossier from 2010 referred two children, female and male, aged 7 years and 5 months and 9 years
12) Italian dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (# 18) with a profile on the MOJ site
1) German dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 2 years and 9 months, female
2) Greek dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 4 years and 2 months, male
3) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 4 years and 6 months, female
4) U.S. dossier from 2008 referred a child aged 4 years and 9 months, female, with features in health status
5) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 4 years and 10 months, female, with features in health status
6) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 5 years and 9 months, male
7) Dutch dossier from 2009 referred a child aged 5 years, male
8) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a two female children, aged 6 years and 3 months and 3 years and 9 months
9) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a child aged 8 years and 3 months, male
10) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a child aged 9 years and 1 month, female
11) Italian dossier from 2010 referred two children, female and male, aged 7 years and 5 months and 9 years
12) Italian dossier from 2011 referred a waiting child (# 18) with a profile on the MOJ site
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Our Daughter's Birth City
Our daughter’s birth city is located on the eastern side of Bulgaria, not far from the shores of the Black Sea. It has about 90,000 inhabitants and its earliest settlement goes back to a few centuries BC. We had a wonderful time there and were especially impressed and affected by the atmosphere of content, purposeful activity and happy interest that seemed to permeate the entire place and its population.
Our hotel was located on the edge of a large and beautiful park, one of many green spaces we enjoyed while in Bulgaria. More often than not, we chose to walk from the hotel to the orphanage as most of the way led through this park, then through a complex of apartment buildings. The park includes tennis courts, soccer fields, walking/jogging/biking paths, and exercise equipment open to the public. One night we heard a spirited soccer game last until nearly midnight. The park is well maintained and heavily frequented by locals which makes for a great combination.
For me, having grown up in East Germany, so much of what I saw in this town was familiar. I felt very much at home in the atmosphere there and it almost seemed to my mom and me like we’d been transported back in time to the very best of an era that ended over 20 years ago.
Our hotel was located on the edge of a large and beautiful park, one of many green spaces we enjoyed while in Bulgaria. More often than not, we chose to walk from the hotel to the orphanage as most of the way led through this park, then through a complex of apartment buildings. The park includes tennis courts, soccer fields, walking/jogging/biking paths, and exercise equipment open to the public. One night we heard a spirited soccer game last until nearly midnight. The park is well maintained and heavily frequented by locals which makes for a great combination.
Our daughter’s city also showcases statues, monuments, and public art from big to small:
Here’s a tribute to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the inventors of the Cyrillic alphabet:
We spent a lot of time exploring the immensely long and wide shopping promenade of this city and still never quite made it to the end. Trees, shops, banks, apartments, businesses, and restaurants line this pedestrian-only zone which is currently being improved with new pavement:
There’s even a church tucked into the middle of this bustling area:
We saw a great mixture of old, new and everything in-between as we took in the city. Cars from the communist period to brand-new luxury automobiles zipped along the roads while old ladies with kerchiefs tied around their heads carrying baskets of groceries shared the sidewalks with teens listening to music on their i-pods. Homes ranged from newly constructed to barely holding together:
For me, having grown up in East Germany, so much of what I saw in this town was familiar. I felt very much at home in the atmosphere there and it almost seemed to my mom and me like we’d been transported back in time to the very best of an era that ended over 20 years ago.Monday, May 23, 2011
Another Baby Shower
I know I am woefully late in writing this entry, but I did not want to leave this chronicle of our adoption journey without a note about the wonderful baby shower my friends had for me a month ago. These women know me so well that they catered the entire shower to two of my favorite things: desserts and books.
The shower was held at The Burr House Bed & Breakfast which is owned and operated by my dear friend Cheryl and her husband. It’s a beautiful place and the Grand Kitchen was all set up for the shower:
I am so lucky to have such caring, thoughtful women as my friends. I cannot thank them enough for this baby shower or, more importantly, for the support they and their husbands have given us throughout this adoption journey. It means so much to Craig and me that everyone is excited to meet our children and ready to welcome them into the fold of love, help, discussions, encouragement, laughter, challenges, and celebrations that we share with our friends.
The shower was held at The Burr House Bed & Breakfast which is owned and operated by my dear friend Cheryl and her husband. It’s a beautiful place and the Grand Kitchen was all set up for the shower:
Look at this scrumptious dessert bar to which all of the guests contributed one sweet treat. Of course, I tried them all from the snicker doodles to the lemon squares to the strawberry mousse torte. NomNomNom.
I had so much fun playing shower games and opening all the cards and gifts from my friends. Craig and I were richly blessed with provisions for our little ones, including a great variety of children’s books. If you know me, you know how much I enjoy reading and how much I am looking forward to sharing this life-long love of literature with my son and daughter. Here are the books we received which are now awaiting our children’s arrival in their room:
I am so lucky to have such caring, thoughtful women as my friends. I cannot thank them enough for this baby shower or, more importantly, for the support they and their husbands have given us throughout this adoption journey. It means so much to Craig and me that everyone is excited to meet our children and ready to welcome them into the fold of love, help, discussions, encouragement, laughter, challenges, and celebrations that we share with our friends.Friday, May 20, 2011
Giveaway Fundraiser Success
Our final orphanage fundraiser has come to a close and Craig and I are simply amazed at the generosity we experienced from 26 donors including family, friends, and even strangers. The chip-in through Paypal met our goal of $440. I have also received an additional $135 in checks/cash and verbal commitments for yet another $80. All these funds combined add up to $655. Our sincerest thanks go out to everyone who contributed and spread the word and to those who donated items for the giveaway, making this fundraiser successful beyond our wildest expectations.
We have held four fundraisers in the last 13 months and have collected a total of $1215 for our children’s orphanages. As you can imagine, this money goes a long way in buying supplies. With the success of this last event, we will even be able now to ask each orphanage director if she has any larger, more expensive item(s) she would like us to purchase for the children in her care.
Yesterday my little nephews helped me by drawing the winners from our entry jar. As you can see, no cheating allowed:
We have held four fundraisers in the last 13 months and have collected a total of $1215 for our children’s orphanages. As you can imagine, this money goes a long way in buying supplies. With the success of this last event, we will even be able now to ask each orphanage director if she has any larger, more expensive item(s) she would like us to purchase for the children in her care.
Yesterday my little nephews helped me by drawing the winners from our entry jar. As you can see, no cheating allowed:
Congratulations to these lucky thirteen:
1) $15 Coldstone Creamery gift card – Casie S. of NC
2) Home Made Simple: Fresh Ideas to Make Your Own – Jessica & John S. of IN
3) Handmade greeting cards by Josie Virgin-Crowe – Marcy L. of AL
4) Sauces of Cincinnati Sampler – Amie H. of NC
5) Handmade glass paperweight by Yuri Okamoto – Dimitrina P. of OH
6) $10 Graeter’s Ice-cream gift card – Mary Beth M. of OH
7) P&G Beauty Sampler – Jason M. of IN
8) The Connected Child & Raising Adopted Children – Ann P. of MN
9) Photograph Where the Rocks Gather by Josie Virgin-Crowe – Sue S. of AL
10) P&G Home Sampler – Kathy K. of IN
11) Handmade greeting cards by LitBit Greetings – Robin S. of NC
12) Scrapbooking kit from Colorbok – Lucy C. of NJ
13) Photograph Linger by Josie Virgin-Crowe – Elizabeth S. of OH
Expect to see your prizes in your mailboxes soon!
1) $15 Coldstone Creamery gift card – Casie S. of NC
2) Home Made Simple: Fresh Ideas to Make Your Own – Jessica & John S. of IN
3) Handmade greeting cards by Josie Virgin-Crowe – Marcy L. of AL
4) Sauces of Cincinnati Sampler – Amie H. of NC
5) Handmade glass paperweight by Yuri Okamoto – Dimitrina P. of OH
6) $10 Graeter’s Ice-cream gift card – Mary Beth M. of OH
7) P&G Beauty Sampler – Jason M. of IN
8) The Connected Child & Raising Adopted Children – Ann P. of MN
9) Photograph Where the Rocks Gather by Josie Virgin-Crowe – Sue S. of AL
10) P&G Home Sampler – Kathy K. of IN
11) Handmade greeting cards by LitBit Greetings – Robin S. of NC
12) Scrapbooking kit from Colorbok – Lucy C. of NJ
13) Photograph Linger by Josie Virgin-Crowe – Elizabeth S. of OH
Expect to see your prizes in your mailboxes soon!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Last Day For The Giveaway
We have reached the final hours of our last orphanage fundraiser. Donations have been steadily trickling in and I want to thank everyone who has so generously contributed already. Craig and are simply amazed at the willingness to help of family, friends, and even strangers.
As soon as all the checks I have been told to expect have arrived, my little nephews will draw the prize winners from our entry jar. Hopefully we will be ready for the drawing on Thursday, but may have to postpone until Friday.
As soon as all the checks I have been told to expect have arrived, my little nephews will draw the prize winners from our entry jar. Hopefully we will be ready for the drawing on Thursday, but may have to postpone until Friday.
If you’d still like a chance at winning any of these great prizes, please make your donation by midnight tomorrow, May 18. Every dollar raised will go directly to our children’s orphanages.
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