Hello! I am in the “paper chasing” stage. I call this a “very expensive immaculate conception”. What it really means is I have to have documentation on every aspect of my life. If you are in my life you are apart of that documentation. The reference letters that many of you wrote, my autobiography, blood test,every orifice has been checked and deemed healthy and disease-free, police, FBI, and DCYF background checks, fingerprints, employment documentation and verification, passport, birth certificate, divorce decree, full financial disclosure for the past three years, increase all my insurance coverage, appoint a guardian in the event of my incapacity or death, a will, sworn statements that I want a child and that I am not a homosexual. All of these documents needed to be notarized. To obtain many of these documents I have needed many copies of my birth certificate and divorce decree. And yes folks, all this cost money to obtain. No one gives you documentation on yourself unless you pay for it. Again, many thanks to all of you who have provided me with references, verifications and sworn statements. The final piece of paper I am waiting for is my Approval to Adopt an International Orphan from the USCIS (a.k.a Immigration and Naturalization). This should be in the mail any day now. Once I get that, I need to take all the above paperwork, which is called a dossier, to the Secretary of the State of New Hampshire and have all the documents certified. Then the dossier is off to the Chinese Consulate in New York for Authentication. When the dossier comes back, my adpotion agency will send it off for translation into Chinese; actually, I believe it’s Mandarin. Yup, it’s gonna cost me. You maybe asking, what is the point of all this paper work? I need to prove to the Chinese government that I have the capacity and capability to adopt a child. Once the dossier is notarized, certified, authenticated and translated, the adoption agency will send it to China. My hope it that China gets my dossier by mid July. Then the waiting begins. Currently it is taking China up to 12 months to match orphans with parents. The wait time may change it could take longer. Once I am matched, it’s called a Referral, I need to wait for my Travel Approval letter from the Chinese government. It will take another 6 to 8 weeks before I can travel to China. Also, I have to submit two pages of photos. (Eric, I would really like to add your pictures) If you would like to see the pictures let me know. You maybe included!!! Tee hee hee. Thank you all for your support, encouragement, letters of referrals, love and friendship. The fun has just begun and I can’t wait for part two of this wonderful and magical journey to bring Hazel home. I still can’t believe I am going to have a little peep-squeak calling me mommy. Love,Me P.S.Many of you may be wondering where I have been lately, not home. Since May, I have been traveling, Indianapolis, Toronto and New York oh and I cannot forget “paper chasing”, the most exciting adventure I have ever been on. I plan to stay close to home and paperless the rest of the summer. See ya’ soon!
