Approved!! Now the real wait begins!

So for all of those who have been in the inner circle this post will be no new news (try saying that five times fast). We have been APPROVED!! This means our name now goes on a long list of waiting parents for siblings 0-4 years old. We have been told the current wait for a referral is 3 years and 3 months. This is a blessing because we need that time to save so we can royally spoil them when they come! I'm excited and will start a new "countdown" timer on this blog to help tick off the years (don't we all know they will go faster than they sound!) Until then we are continuing to read all about being good parents (hoping some of it sinks in) and enjoying our sleep and carefree lifestyle while we still can!

Our official approval date is April 2, 2011, so every year when Colombia publishes the "wait tables" we will watch to see that date moving to the top of the line. There is (of course) no promises that our referral will take exactly that much time and I like to amuse myself by thinking that "The call" could come anytime. We keep our eye out for "waiting children" that might call our name and of course one never knows the path we will be lead down.

It has been almost a year since we first completed our Dossier and so we are starting the process of renewing all of our paperwork! Only 4 more times.... (GRIMACE)! Luckily the amazing Lara Raper at the Babyfold makes this very easy!

The summer is flying and I say... fly on right through the next 3 years and 3 months!!

(PS. The picture is of the cutest little dog I bought at IKEA while shopping with Mich, Mel, Deb, and G'Ma a while back and the little adorable stool is a gift for the kids from Grandma Haegele!) We're pacing ourselves most admirably by only buying one thing at a time!! (Below) Some other purchases (sale items) from the past year... couldn't resist the little bumble bee luggage tags... I've been eyeing some little toddler backpacks but don't want to commit just yet... I have time to be picky!

Spring is springing!

Hello family and friends!

Just wanted to post a quick update to let everyone know there is no news from Colombia. We are waiting to hear back if our dossier will be approved or not. I have contacted Childrens' Hope to ask if they might have an estimate/guesstimate of how much longer we could expect to wait for news but I am sure they will say they do not know. Actually it will go something like this... "Please refer to your handbook." :) Any bets?

The sun is out and the cheery optimism is returning to the dark halls of my workplace. I am not ready to let this group of kiddos go, so I have yet to feel that anticipation for summer vacation. Also I will be teaching summer school so although there will be a "transition," but there will be no break until middle of July. I think I'm starting to like to sound of year-round school. Summer break when you have no children and most of the other people you know (besides other teachers) are working isn't as much fun as it used to be.

I hope all are having a beautiful day and enjoying the warming weather before it gets so hot we all stay indoors again. :) I'll let everyone know when I hear anything!

Waiting list

So here is a waiting list from Colombia published this January. (Thanks to another Colombian Adoption blog)

Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Jun 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office.

Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF

Child 0-12 months ------ Jun - 2007
Child 13 - 23 months ---- Jun - 2007
Child 2 years ----------- Apr - 2006
Child 2 - 3 years -------- Feb - 2007
Child 3 years ----------- Jun - 2006
Child 3 - 4 years -------- Nov - 2006
Child 4 years ----------- Dec - 2006
Child 4 -5 years -------- Aug - 2007
Child 5 years ----------- Aug - 2009
Child 5 - 6 years ------- Jul - 2008
Child 6 years ----------- NOT LISTED ON NEW FORM
Child 7 years ----------- Jul - 2010

2 Siblings 0 - 4 years --- Nov -2007
2 Siblings 0 - 5 years --- Nov -2007
2 Siblings 0 - 6 years --- Jan -2009
2 Siblings 0 - 7 years --- Oct-2009
2 Siblings 0 - 8 years --- Oct - 2010

A Christmas snuggle from Eli

Christmas of Hope, New Year and addendum

As most people that follow this blog already know... a lot has happened since our last post in November! We had a beautiful and hope filled Christmas. We are so blessed. Upon returning to Rantoul in the New Year we received word that our Dossier had been reviewed in Colombia and our reviewer had requested additional information. We were a mix of emotion. We were so excited to know that our Dossier had been looked at and was actually on someone's desk and yet disappointed that we would need to procure additional papers and then go through the translation and certification process.

As of right now the papers have been notarized, apostilled, and are on their way to Colombia. I am not sure how long it will take to be translated and reviewed again, but we are hoping to be approved soon. We have discovered through various websites and through our agency that the wait right now seems to be around 2 1/2 to 3 years. I am so glad for the children of Colombia that there are so many people waiting to make them a part of their family that there is actually a wait for the adoptive families. Colombia, despite what many people may think of it, has shown a value for life by outlawing abortion.

In other news I recently attended a workshop for Bilingual teachers in Chicago. I was so pleased that God put another source of hope and inspiration in my path. I met Anna Marie at the conference. I noticed right away how spunky and beautiful she was. She shared that she is Colombian and it took all my strength to keep decorum and not blurt out that my children are in Colombia. I quitely observed her for the better part of a day and was brought to tears of laughter several times by her lively stories. Finally she asked about children and I was able to share the joy of our plans. She was immediately excited as she is not only from Colombia but has friends that have adopted from Colombia. She shared her email with me and told me that when we get our referral we should contact her so her family in Colombia might be able to help us find an apartment and meet us. Over the two days of the conference she continued to share tidbits of information about Colombia and her journey from Colombia to the United States. It was a meeting that made the conference even more worthwhile than just the information from the presentation.

During my stay in Chicago I was able to spend a few hours out and about with my fabulous co-workers/friends Becky and Rachel. Becky, a master navigator, chauffered us to IKEA where I couldn't resist a very adorable plush barn/animal set. I had been eyeing one at Toys R Us but never wanted to spend the money. At IKEA prices I could not resist. The barn folds up nicely and all the animals fit inside. The animals can all be thrown in the washing machine (which I think is a good thing). Morris has been very frusterated because he has been unable to break into the barn. Jason and I had fun playing with it a few times so it must be a good toy.

Soon we will have an "approval date" to celebrate! We'll let everyone know as soon as we do!