Paper Pregnancy

In the picture above is our completed dossier--after China Embassy authentication. April 11, 2005--Documents were logged into China's computer system (CCAA)! (This is known as LID--log in date) Since they logged it in several weeks later we may have to wait an extra month. But it is all in God's timing! Right now we are still hoping for travel in November or December! March 18, 2005--Document were sent to China TODAY! (Also known as DTC) This is significant! 6 more months before we will see her precious face! March 21, 2005--Dossier delivered and ready to be translated. Here's a run down of the paper-chase process also known as the "paper pregnancy". 1. We had to choose an agency and submit an application with fee. We chose America World Adoption Association (AWAA). They have been wonderful to work with! 2. Homestudy-we began the home study knowing that America World would be able to provide this service as well. Rachel, our social worker has been great! Within the home study you must write an autobiography about yourself. (Yes, Brian and Angela had to write one.) AWAA provides you with a list of questions that you must include within your paper. Items needed for the homestudy: Birth certificates for each parent and child. Marriage certificate and divorce decrees Copies of verification of employment letter (notarized)Current income tax returnThree letters of Reference (AWAA took care of this for us)Signed guardianship statementStatement of net worth (AWAA provided)International disclaimer (form from AWAA)Medical reports for all adults and children living in the home. (AWAA provided)Criminal Background Check State Fingerprint Clearance Next we began the papers for our dossier. Some of the document overlap and we were able to provide copies to our social worker for the home study and kept the original for the dossier. The dossier is the part that is actually sent to China.
1. Application letter-we wrote a letter to China Center of Adoption Affairs telling about ourselves and why we had a desire to adopt from China.
2. Husband and Wife Birth Certificates
3. Marriage Certificate
4. Husband and Wife General Physical Exams
5. Financial Statement
6. Husband's Employement Verification letter
7. Wife's Employment or non-employment letter
8. Home Study Report
9. Husband's and Wife's police report
10. Photo Copy of USCIS I-171H (Keep the original) **This piece of paper is for immigration and will allow us to bring our child home. We had to be federally fingerprinted to obtain this piece of paper and then had to wait 4 weeks to receive it.
11. Photos (10) of your family and things that you do as a family as well as pictures of your home inside and out.
12. 2 Passport photos
13. Copy of the photo page of each adoptive parent's passport.

All of these document except numbers 11-13 had to be notarized. Next we had to get county and state certification. Followed by US State Department authentication, and lastly China Embassy Authentication. All of this took about 5 months including our wait for the I-171H as mentioned above.
Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.