We are nearly half-way through April and nearly half-way done with our dossier!  This last month has been filled with tracking down a variety of documents for our dossier and there have been obstacles every step of the way.  The process was not created for people who either (a) travel around for the country for work during the week or (B) those who are working between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and we fit under both categories.  As a result things like TB tests (Michael) have been a challenge to schedule because they require 3 week days at home and other things such as appointments (Karen) which are squeezed in during prep periods at school become a problem when there is something wrong with the paperwork (AKA- the money order was made out for the wrong amount).  However, I cherish the feeling that I get knowing that each obstacle overcome brings us one step closer to our baby boy.

The faces of the people who have been helping us along the way are engraved on our hearts for the kindness that they have shown.  I will never forget the kind Solano County Sheriff who was finally able to successfully get my finger scans and the woman in my HR department and Michael's amazing office manager who took the time to double and triple check our employment verifications.  Also a dear friend of ours is notarizing the papers every step of the way and we have been blessed by her willingness to follow us all over the place.

We will be starting the home study visits this month and then we can start to finalize the paperwork stage by submitting to USCIS!  Below is a break down of what we need and where we currently are at in the process.  In addition, once the home study is complete we can apply for grants to pay for some of our adoption costs!  When we finalize our dossier and submit to Ethiopia we will need to make a $7700 payment (see blog "Adoption 101: The Cost" from February for a breakdown).  Until then, we are going to continue to sell coffee (click here to be re-directed to our store front) and t-shirts (see the full web version of the blog for details), and I am collecting items for a silent auction in May.  We are so thankful for those who have already donated and excited about the items that we have to offer next month, but we are still in need of addition donations.  Please consider donating something for the silent auction such as a craft (I know that some of you out there are extremely talented in this area and we would be blessed by your creativity), gift certificates, beauty or bath products, kitchen or household items, etc.  Please let me know if you have something that you would like to donate via an email or Facebook message.   One day closer...

The Dossier
Application Letter to the Ethiopian Government- Complete
Michael's Birth Certificate- Complete
Karen's Birth Certificate- Complete
Marriage Certificate- Complete
Michael's Physical Exam- Complete
Karen's Physical Exam- Complete
Proof of Medical Insurance- Complete
Proof of Life Insurance- Complete
Financial Statement- Complete
Michael's Employment Letter- Complete
Karen's Employment Letter- Complete
Home Study- Live Scans Complete; visits will start soon
Letters of Reference (3)- All Complete
Michael's Police Report- Complete
Karen's Police Report- Complete
Agency Post Adoption Commitment
Agency Recommendation
Power of Attorney- state certification needed
Dossier Cover Sheet- state certification needed
Copies of Passports- Complete
Additional Passport Photos
Family Photo Pages