First we would like to say thanks to everyone for the overwhelming response to our news. We were amazed at how excited everyone was and have tried to the best of our knowledge to answer all your questions. First and foremost - I just want to say that NO - the boys will NOT be having shaved heads! (Thanks for addressing that David).
- Application to the USCIS (US Citizenship and Services) - basically this is to pre-approve us for adopting orphans from overseas.
- The Home Study - The social worker comes to our home to visit (on 2 occasions). Getting ready for this included getting 23 documents in order - such as - Child abuse, background check, doctors reports, etc. The hardest thing for this part was that we needed to write an autobiography about ourselves answering something like 50 questions. (I actually had to describe my father and how I was disciplined when I was growing up!).
- Dossier - a bundle of documents required by a foreign country to approve the adoption. This is similar to the documents required in the home study but they need to be state certified originals and then sent to the government of the country we are adopting from to be translated and approved.
So there are two stages where we have to gather documents one for the Home Study and one for the Dossier. We have gotten the first done - meaning we have gathered all the documents needed to present to the Social Worker during our home study. We had our first home study visit last Friday and reality set in. Our social worker, DeNese, had us give her a tour of the house and when we got to the bedrooms she asked "Which one of the rooms will be the boys' room?" and Scott and I couldn't help but smile at each other - it was like it became real. We think the visit went pretty well - she reviewed our paperwork and started to discuss some of the things we should be expecting down the line both with the process and the boys. Our next visit is tomorrow morning after which she will write a report based on all that she observed and read in the paperwork.
The first two stages went really smooth and really quickly. I am hoping that the Dossier process goes just as smooth. I'll be happy when the paperwork is all complete so that I can focus on preparing the house for the boys. Scott and I have already started to talk about their room and to answer everyone's next burning question - NO the colors will not be black and gold...at first...Terrible Towels WILL be taken to Colombia.
Overall though we have really been running pretty smoothly. I have created folders for all of our work with checklists and such - so I've really been trying to stay organized. I have kind of assumed the role of 'gatekeeper' with being able to make calls and do mailings during the day. Scott has done really well with the tasks I've assigned him - filling out forms is not his favorite thing to do - but he hasn't missed a deadline yet!
I know Jesus has a plan for us - we can feel it through the support everyone has given us and in the happiness we feel in our hearts as we complete each stage. He is guiding us through every step as we wait to make the boys part of our lives and speaks to us through His Word. One passage that jumped out at me just the other day was from Matthew 18:5 where Jesus says: "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me". Whenever I hear that verse I can't help but think that He is right behind us watching over our family as we become four instead of two.
Keep your responses coming - I LOVE reading them!
Donna
You brought tears to my eyes!!!
As i read... "He is right behind us watching over our family as we become four instead of two."... tears filled my eyes! I can't wait to see you two with your boys! I cannot wait! What a CELEBRATION we will have!!!
Miss Organized
Donna, see all that time you spent organizing my office had a purpose b/c you know how to keep a million papers and lists of things to do all neat and tidy! I loved the question "which one is the boy's room?" - makes me smile too!
Railroad Engineers
Hello Donna and Scott! I can't wait until your two engineer sons invite their uncle to help them build a railroad. You have the perfect new home for this. Just think of it, multi-level (steep hills), tunnel through to the back deck . . . In all seriousness, both of you will reap mountains of joy from having children; indeed, they will be your own, the best part of your life ... even when they both want to borrow your car on the same night. UncRege
I am so happy!
I was so confused when I started reading your journal entries because I thought you were writing this for your sister. Then I realized this was for you and Scott and I got so giddy I wanted to call you right this minute - forgetting that not everyone is still functioning into the wee hours of the night. I am so excited and happy for you guys - it fills my heart to know that you are going to be able to make 2 children's dreams come true - to grow up in a loving and supportive household! You will make wonderful parents and your boys will fill your hearts with such joy it is unimaginable! Jim and I will keep you in our prayers. Love, Jennifer & Jim
Boy's Room
What's wrong with black & gold? I'm not sure I have ever seen Scott in any other colors. I think he even wore a black tux for your wedding. I am extremely happy for the both of you. I will be praying for you guys. Mike
Make them Xbox Fanatics
Get those boys playing Xbox immediately! Then I can come over and show them how a real gamer does it! Scott I'll be praying you pass that background check! Hahahaha! - Don
Proper English!
eeze m' neeze, yinz'll teach them there boyz gud Engleesh n' nat dere kina stuff, k?
Good English
Actually, now that you mention it - we are going to start learning Spanish ASAP. If anyone nows of good references or anything that could help we'd surely appreciate any and all suggestions. Scott
ummm chocolate cake
and jello pudding pops can't wait willy wonka
What a Surprise!
Our prayers for you both on your journey to becoming Mom and Dad. Linda, Jon, Corey and Alec.
BURGUNDY and Gold
I must warn you now that through strategic and continuous subliminal (gibbs) messages the boys will (portis) one day rebel, as all teenagers do, and drop (NFC East) the black and substitute BURGANDY and show up on game day wearing Redskins jerseys that inexplicably appeared in the mail from NE Washington.
Bite yer tongue
Listen Egan, you better watch yourself - 'Redskins' is a four letter word in my family...
Thrilled 4 U!
Congratulations, Scott and Donna! We're very happy for you both and will pray for you throughout this exciting journey. This blog is not only *awesome* in that you can easily keep everyone up-to-date, but one day you can show your boys all the love and devotion you invested in them--even before you knew them! ~Jill and Peter
A few good questions
Hey everyone - we had a coupla really good questions come up over the weekend and I thought I'd post the questions and asnswers here cuz some of you may be wondering the same things.
Questions:
Have they already identified the two kids you will adopt? Or for the moment you only know that they will be two boys?
Answers:
No we haven't been matched with any children yet - they needed to do the home study (which we had our last visit last Wednesday! - now the Social Worker needs to do a bunch of paperwork on us and then it'll be done) before we can even start to think about looking at cases. They have what they call 'waiting children' who are actually listed with the agency and ready to be adopted that we can start to look at their cases. But it isn't until we finish what they call the 'dossier' - which is a bunch of forms and records we need to submit to the Colombian government to be translated and approved - that we can actually be given a 'referral' for two children by Colombia...and that's when the action really starts. Right now we are requesting 2 boys It could possibly become 3 boys if the situation is right - we said 2 but are willing to take a sibling group of 3 so that we could increase our chances of a quicker 'match up'.
:]
wow! I'm learning a lot - thanks. I know it'll all be so worth it for you guys when your boys come home! how do you say "Go Steelers!" in Spanish? love, Keewan, Billy, and the boys
Go Steelers ... in Spanish
Vamos Acereros de Pittsburgh!
Great having kids around
Hellow D and S. Sunny and Bruce are here this week WITH Milan and Rowan. It's great having them here. Brings back a lot of memories when Cathy and Marnie were tiny. Both boys are doing great. Milan is very active, and holding, or trying to hold Rowan is like holding onto a squirming worm.
This is totally awesome!
Hearing the process you two are going through is all new to me. I thought it was totally awesome when the social worker came to you house and was checking it out and where the boys rooms would be. As you described that had to be an amazing feeling!! We wish the two of you the best of luck through the whole process. God Bless!!