"The Talk"

Leaa, Justin, Kelly and Kilee came to our home for dinner on Sunday. We told them of our adoption plans.

Comments included: "It’s a lot of work."

Leaa & Jesse want to be Godparents. Things are cool - we have their support and that is huge. We are blessed with two great kids that have grown into two great young adults.

Thanks Justin - Thanks Leaa.

$$$ And Paperchasing

I (Ford) went to the Credit Union today to get a check for $665 dollars made out to USICS. Next was a trip over to our friendly (they really were friendly) Clay County Sheriff’s Office to get background checks conducted on the two of us. I thought I might be able to complete my form while there and pick up a form and bring it home for Alyson to fill out. I explained to the lady behind the counter why I was there and I was fully expecting to get the forms, be told to go home, fill them out and return them later for processing. What a surprise I had. I was told to put down both our names on a sticky note along with our birth dates, sex and race. She asked for my driver’s license (which they still have – another story) and told me there was a $5 charge for each of them. I sat down and 10 minutes later I had what I came for all per the instructions – had to be on a sheriff’s department letterhead and notarized.

Done.

Life is good. Oh yes, I was relieved to know that Alyson’s report came back clean, as did mine.

Scheduling "The Talk"

Spoke with Justin yesterday and he has to work today (Saturday). Looks as though we will try and set something up for tomorrow (Sunday) regarding the “talk” to Justin & Leaa about the adoption.

PaperChase Update

Alyson’s certified divorce papers arrived today.

One more piece of the paperchase collected. We now need to gather up the paperwork that needs to be authenticated. So much paperwork; there is tons of it!!!

Autobiographies Completed!

Well the autobiographies have been completed.

We will still need to go back and update them before mailing them off to CCAI since we are planning to sit down with Justin and Leaa and share with them our hopes of adopting Alyzabeth.

In the autobiographies we wrote we had not told anyone except our references, Justin & Leaa’s not knowing will change this weekend provided we all can get together. The kids need to know what we are doing and to be a part of this. Alyson and I just haven’t figured out quite what to say or how to say it.

Autobiographical Blues

We can’t believe how hard it is to write an autobiography! This takes a lot of time as all sorts of memories come into one’s mind while thinking of the answers to the autobiography outline questions.

$$$ Begins

We reviewed, signed, notarized and mailed the Fee Policy/Agreement to the CCC main office in Colorado today along with a check for $1950. In addition, we reviewed, signed, notarized and included both copies of the Service Agreements.

Paperchasing Baby Steps

This evening we left work in time to stop by the church so S. could notarize some of our paperwork. Other than those whom we have asked to be references, Susan is the first person we have told about our plans to adopt Alyzabeth. Susan broke into a huge grin and asked if we knew that another church member, TM. was also making arrangements to adopt a baby girl from China. In fact, Terri was just in the day before to have similar papers notarized according to S. Unbelievable.

We told S about the white swan. (Like us, S believes things do not just happen) Alyson and I have decided to wait until our home study is completed and the Chinese government has agreed to accept us into their adoption process before we tell family and friends. We may sit down with our kids before that time and let them know what is happening. We both feel as though they will not have any issues with our adoption plans and at the same time it weighs on our minds. We hope they will be supportive.

Alyson is making Doctor’s appointments for our physicals. Poke, prod & swab with a little lab work thrown in for good measure and before you know it – another stepping stone in the paperwork mill will be completed.

Shall we toast to the good health of Alyzabeth’s parents.

Home Study Packet

Received the Home Study packet in the mail.

Lots of forms to complete, start writing our separate autobiography, provide directions to our home, the forms for a Doctor’s physical and lots more!

And Her Name Shall Be:

Alyzabeth An (Lizzy).

Alyzabeth is a favorite name of Alyson’s.
Lizzie was Alyson’s Great Grandmother on her father’s Redmond side of the family (E-E’s Mother).

Ford’s Great Aunt Betty was “Elizabeth”. (His father’s mother’s sister)

An means "Peace" in Chinese.

(Ann) is the middle name of Alyson’s mother, Alberta Ann (she always went by her middle name). My parents liked the name and subsequently named their first daughter (Alyson’s older sister) “Terri-Ann”.

CCAI Documentation

We received an email from N with CCAI, directing us to the forms we need to download, sign and return to the Colorado office.

We're Approved!

After a short go around of phone tag Alyson talked with N this morning while I waited patiently by trying to read what Alyson was writing down. We have been APPROVED!

Now the paperwork really begins. Notarized - Certified – Certified – Certified… AUTHENTICATED!

Our white swan was not waiting for us when we got home today. With Hurricane Dennis churning our way, our friend the swan has apparently found shelter elsewhere. Also, its work here was done. We will always believe it was our sign from God showing us His approval for what we are trying to do by adopting Alyzabeth.

Many may smile at that thought but we simply want to give Thanks to the Lord.

CCAI Calling

We had a message on our answering machine when we returned home today to call NF with the CCAI. It is too late to call now so we will make the call in the morning. The white swan is still with us.

The Sign

Happy 4th of July!

This morning I took Salty Dog out for his morning duties and was greeted by a first. A huge white swan has taken residence directly in front of our home along side the St. Johns River. I called Alyson to come look, as we have never seen a swan anywhere along our stretch the river much less in front of our home. We wish to believe that this is a sign – as in A SIGN. Why you may ask is it a sign. Just last night I was reading that most of the CCAI adoptive families stay at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. The US consulate is located in Guangzhou and is the only office authorized to issue visas to adopted children; all American families adopting must go to Guangzhou. WHITE SWAN HOTEL – Then this morning we wake up to a White Swan in our back yard.

We're thinking SIGN… as in sent by God.