The missing papers arrived today....

The papers from the psychologist came this afternoon!

Now to get them Apostilled on Monday.  Copies made then send overnight mail via FedEx. 

They should arrive at Buckner Tuesday morning.  They will send them out to Russia that afternoon.  Papers should arrive in Russia by the end of next week.

YEAH!!!

Talked with our caseworker this afternoon.  The judge that will be hearing our case has resolved his issues with the apostilles and our papers should get to his desk in time to get a court date.  Our caseworker thinks that we should be able to get a court date for around the end of February (unless it comes earlier).

YEAH!!!!

Getting closer......

Please keep praying that the process goes smoothly.  Once we get a court date, we will have to apply for multiple entry visas (a little higher cost than expected), buy plane tickets to Moscow and make sure that we have everything we think we will need in Russia for the court date.

Please continue to pray for our boys as they are waiting for us.

Oh, by the way, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Papers...

Apparently, our Dossier made it to Russia without some necessary documents.

We thought that we had it all ready to go.  Checked the list & documents before heading to Austin.  Checked the list & documents after getting them Apostilled.  Checked the list & documents at the FedEx Office after making copies.  Checked the list & documents before sealing the envelope. 

The papers we are missing were not listed.

Papers they need:

*2 notarized copies of the Home Study with the correct ages listed.  (check)
*2 notarized copies of the Psychological Evaluation for Chris (No check)
*2 notarized copies of the Psychological Evaluation for Rachael (No check)
*2 notarized copies of the psychologist's license (No check)


I have contacted the psychologist.  He should be able to get it all together tomorrow and get it in the mail to us.  He is in Houston, so it shouldn't take long (mail wise that is; not sure on the timing of the psychologist).

We have copies of the Home Study ready to go.

Now we wait again.

This shouldn't put us behind as the judge that will be hearing our case (along with several other families) is having some issues with the Apostilles.  He wants the Apostille to verify the signature of the person signing the paper, not the notary's signature.  The whole point of the notary is to verify the signature of the person signing the paper.  The Apostille is to verify that the notary is legally allowed to verify the person signing the paper.

Confused yet?????

Either way, we should be 'back on schedule' by the end of next week.

On a different topic, our water heater decided to spring a leak yesterday.  Thankfully the home warranty assigned a great plumbing company to it.  By the time I got home (around 4:00 pm), we had a brand new water heater installed and heating water!  Our cost: $55 service fee.  Home Warranties Rock!  Since the date on the old water heater is from 1979, I think it had a good life......

Papers are on their way...

We got the Dossier papers Apostilled Wednesday morning and sent them to Buckner the same day!

It took less than 2 hours total to get what we needed done:

*pulled into a parking garage at 10:14
*walked to the Secretary of State office, signed in & went to the basement office
*waited about 10 minutes for the papers to be processed & brought back to us
*spent 2 minutes checking them to make sure they were ready to go
*went back to street level, signed out, walked down 1 block and then down Congress about a mile (Chris said it was more like 17 miles!) to the FedEx Office
*made copies of the Apostille papers
*mailed the package via FedEx Priority Overnight to Dallas
*walked back to the parking garage and left there around 11:50

All in all, a good day's work.

Got an email from our case worker today stating that they were going to forward the papers to Russia today.

Now to wait for a phone call letting us know the court date!

Getting closer!

Please continue to pray for our boys and us during this time.  So far we think we are okay financially with what we have in our Adoption Account (based on estimated costs, unless things change or go wonky).

Dossier Part 2

Dossier Part 2 is ready to be Apostilled! 

*The last of the papers we were waiting for came in Thursday (it took almost 11 weeks out of a possible 12 weeks for the FBI to send a paper for each of us confirming that we do not have a record with the FBI)!

*We got all of our signatures notarized this afternoon.

*Just finished printing signing, attaching to the papers the request/application paper for each of the different sets of notarized papers (and the certified copies of our marriage license).

*Now to find the directions to the Secretary of State's office in Austin so Chris and I can drive over & back this week to get the Apostille papers.

*We will then send it all (after making copies of course!) via overnight FedEx from Austin (the place I used last time is only about a mile or less walk from the SOS office).  Hopefully the package will be in Dallas on Thursday. 

*They will check it over and send it on to Russia.

*Now we will wait some more (hoping for less time to wait this time around).

Dossier Part 2 is ready to be Apostilled! 

Please continue to pray for us and our boys during this time.  We don't have any contact with them (and won't till it is all finalized), but are trusting God that they are in good health and are looking forward to being with Mama & Daddy soon!  So far, we think we are okay financially, but any extra would be helpful!