Here is to lazy long weekends!

Hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend!! We have had a really nice weekend of not doing a whole lot of anything.

My mother came in to town on Friday and stayed until Sunday. We had a great time. It is always so nice to have her here.

Rich and I just watched another section of our adoption videos and took our tests. A 100% each!

My fingers are crossed that we will get our I-171H this week!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Nothing really to report today. Just thought I would add a quick entry as I wait until it's time to leave work for the day.

Saturday was a month since we sent in our Home Study to CIS and had our finger prints taken. We should (hopefully!) receive our I-171 H approval any day now.

I am so consumed with thoughts of the adoption and the baby. We have such a long way to go. If this process teaches me about anything, it will be about patience.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:27

Waiting

Not much to report on the adoption front. We are still waiting for our I-171 H so that we can be added to the 'list'. It will be a month May 19th since everything was sent in to Immigrations. Another family that is adopting from VN and who lives here in the Nashville area received their 171 H in about 4 1/2 weeks. If we receive ours around that time, that should still put us on the list by the end of May, very early June. I really, really hope by May. I am keeping my fingers crossed!!! Once we are on the list that is considered a paper pregnancy in the adoption world. I think that is cute. I might even get a shirt that says Pregnant on Paper, I'll be so excited! I saw another shirt I liked that said Pregnant with Love for my son in Vietnam. I don't want to be too corny, though. I guess if anything I could get it and just wear it around the house. It would make me smile =)

I'll update soon. Hopefully to announce that Rich and I are finally on the list. Then everyday that passes gets us closer to the referral of our son.

Love,
Shannon

Adoption Education

In order to adopt, it is a requirement that you have 10 hours worth of adoption education. We have 4 dvds to watch and a huge book.

Yesterday Rich and I watched the first dvd and took our test on line. We both scored a 100% =) I have also gotten half way thru the adoptive parenting book. It is full of very interesting and useful information.

We are still waiting on our I-171H form. No surprise, it hasn't even been a month but I have a feeling we will get it by the end of may. My fingers are crossed anyway.

Home Study Complete!

We finished our Home Study April 13. We went and had our finger prints taken today and Sara mailed a copy of the home study to CIS today! So, it possible we could have our approval and be on the list by June! At the very least we should be able to make the list by July!! Needless to say, I am very excited about how quick the first part of this process has gone.

Making Progress

The interview yesterday went okay. She just asked a lot of general questions about me and my family. Describe your parents. What were you like as a child? Are you close to extended family? What is your relationship with your brother? Then she moved into questions regarding Richard and I and our relationship. Our views on child rearing, discipline and such. The interview lasted just over an hour.

We can possibly have the home study done within the next two weeks, as long as all the referral letters come in. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that everyone sends them in soon so we can put the home study under our belt and start the wait for the 171-H form. We mailed in our I-600A form certified mail today! Sara said we should get an invitation to get our finger prints in a couple of weeks!

We have really done a good job and I am scared to say it because I don't want to jinx it....so I won't say it, yet.

What we have left to get before completing the home study

Medicals for Richard and I
Richards letter of employment from his advisor
local background checks
pass port photo page (still waiting!)

Richard has his interview tomorrow and then we will schedule the home visit for next week.

I am coming home(Memphis/Mississippi) this weekend for Easter. I am so excited to see all my friends and to see Luke and Edward. It will be a nice break.

**I just checked on line and my passport is being processed! I really hope I get it before the end of April...we'll see.**