Paperwork is done; waiting period begins!

Today we received our I-171H (last immigration document) back from our state capital with the state certification. So we fought the clock to get our entire paperwork mountain (aka dossier) to the post office by 5:00pm tonight. Our dossier will make a quick stop in Oregon to be reviewed by our adoption agency (PLAN,Inc) and then on to the Vietnamese Consulate!!



This is a snapshot of our dossier (paperwork to Vietnam)



This officially ends our paper chase. Now we enter the waiting game. We now wait until the Vietnamese government matches us up with our baby girl. When we receive this "referral," we'll receive a few pictures, a medical report & brief history (if known) and her location. Our agency works out of 5 orphanages from 3 different provinces. She will likely be between 5 and 8 months old at the time of referral. Shortly after the referral, we will get our travel date, which is typically 1-4 months after the referral date.
Help us pray for the government officials as they match us with a baby girl.
In Christ,
Dennis and Kathy
"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba Father!" Romans 8:15

Another step closer!!!

Today we received our I-171H form ---- this is an immigration form that puts the final stamp of approval (here in the US) for us to adopt an international orphan. We've been (patiently) waiting for this form for 6 1/2 weeks now. And finally, today it arrived!
Tomorrow, we will take this last document & go through all the hoops like all the other documents (notarized, county certified, to state capital for state certified). When we get it back from the state capital......we will be ready to mail the entire packet to the Vietnamese Consulate (final step before the Vietnamese government receives it).
We are getting ready here at home. My sister and her husband have us stocked with 2 pack-n-plays. A college friend made me a couple of "girly" spit cloths! Fun stuff!! One of our close friends is expecting a baby girl next month. At her baby shower last week, we made fun because she received baby nail clippers with magnifying glasses on them (like me....she is past 40 years old). She was quick to remind me that I'll be wanting some too!!! And she is right!! Good to know some manufacturers are thinking about us "older" moms! I know we are in for an adventure. This waiting has been hard.
Oh, and by the way, (in case you were wondering) we will be adding posts everytime we get another step closer. And for the 3 weeks we are in Vietnam, I'm sure we'll post just about everyday. How wonderful that our friends and family can share this adventure with us via the internet. And I'm sure I'll load up our blogsite with lots of baby pictures!! Thanks for your interest. Keep praying for us, our new baby & our baby's birth mom!!!
Dennis and Kathy
"You are the defender of orphans LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless..." Psalm 10:14