So I wasn't going to post another blog until we mailed off our application but I have a lot on my mind so here goes.....
I've been trying to find how we can get certified copies of our birth certificates and our marriage certificate and I think I finally found the right place to call. It's so annoying though, do I call the counties we were born in, for Chris what about the one we're residents in OR do we call the capital of our states?! I found my certificate so I should be able to call tomorrow. Too bad they charge $10 per copy of the birth and $6 per copy of the marriage! I know what you're thinking though, "why can't I order them online these days?" well I could except it would be another $8 charge for the company that does it! Geesh! I thought this would be the easy part! I'm pretty sure we only need one certified copy of each but someone who has been through the international adoption process several times told me to have an extra set just in case. I think that's wise, especially since it takes about a month to get them.
I ordered a couple books on amazon the other day, one's a guide to international adoption and the other was written by a woman who adopted like 3 or 4 kids from Ethiopia (after having 4 of her own and adopting another from Bulgaria!). AND I ordered a language cd-rom so we can learn Amharic. =) You may be thinking how could I afford all this, but remember, it was amazon, less than $35 for all three including shipping. YAY! They all shipped already so I just have to wait. I need to get used to waiting I guess. Well I figure I already have been though........
Once we get paid (14th or 15th) we will mail off our application and be on our way! Oooo we do have to get something notorized, remind me to do that tomorrow. ;) I hate having to wait because of finances. Money sucks, let's go back to trading. I'll trade 5 baby blankets for the application fee, 10 stationary sets and a plethera of crocheted baby items and winter wear for the home study, birthday and celebration cakes and sewing and mending for life for the rest of the fees. See, that's simple. We have to come up with possibly as much as $2,500 for the homestudy before we can even apply for grants and such. The wise woman who suggested an extra copy of certificates also told me about a ministry called lifesong, check out their website http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/ we can apply (after having a completed homestudy) for a matching grant. That means, for every dollar we raise, they will match! My new friend raised $28,000 that way when adopting her last three (sibling group) out of her now ten children. So once we get this homestudy done, expect me do ask you for money hehe.
I did get some news today that kinda irritates me. Chris' unit has been up for deployment only to have it taken away probably four times just in the last year. Well now they're getting a little more serious about a deployment in 2011. While the Army does give the option to defer your deployment by four months in order to bond with a newly adopted child, if Chris is in command, he won't do it. I know, he's horrible right?! Just kidding babe, I know you have your duty. Well I suggested to him that perhaps, since his typical command time would be up during the deployment, and they may switch him out last minute anyways, to ask to be the rear detachment commander. For you non-military people, that just means he would stand in the place of the commander that is down range doing the things that are necessary for a physical body to be there. Clear as mud? Whenever a unit is deployed, a small skeleton crew stays back to manage things stateside. The Rear-D Commander is kinda like a substitute teacher of sorts. SO I suggested that Chris explain the situation and ask to be the rear-d commander since he already knows how to do the job. It's not an actual command position so it's totally do-able. AND our adoption may not even be complete by the time they go. He would have to use his R&R just to go pick up our children, most of that time would be travel and hardly any bonding time....not good. Here's the thing, we will not postpone the adoption for anything. There is no good time in the Army to adopt or to have children. Unless of course your soldier has some medical condition that prohibits him (or her) from deploying. Other wise just go for it and hope for the best! Now my hoping for the best of course is that Chris doesn't deploy. Not just that the timing will work out. He doesn't really mind deploying, he loves playing soldier boy BUT he hasn't had to leave any children behind and miss a lot of "firsts". So we'll see.
For some cheery-er news, I took the dogs to the vet today for regular check ups and there were a lot of kids in the waiting room. Now my pups are used to kids, get beat up by them and everything but usually in our home when they can leave if they've had enough. Well today they were stuck, I was holding their leashes and sometimes their collars to keep them from lunging to go play with the other puppies there. The two girls right next to me kept coming up and petting the dogs, they were about two and four. Well the two year old kept grabbing their tails and saying "I like his tail, it's happy" (they were wagging of course). Well I wasn't sure what the dogs would do with a little girl grabbing their tail and jerking it around, especially with me holding them down by their collar. BUT they did NOTHING! Sure they may have looked back at her but never did they pull away or growl or anything! YAY!! I knew they were good with kids but wow!
Ok I promise not to do super long blogs every time. I guess I just needed to share. :) As my little sister always reminded us "Jesus wants us to share". Have a great weekend! OH and check out the flare I have over to the left. Got that idea from some other bloggers. Click on the flag, click on the flag!
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