I-171h.

We've been waiting for our last document for four weeks now. Yeah, yeah, I know we shouldn't really expect it for a few more....actually these weeks have passed painlessly due the holidays--documents were the last thing on my mind. Even now we're peaceful and fine. I admit, though, that I've entered the "checking the mail expectantly" phase. You never know, people!

Where we stand.

Friends and family have asked us, "What's next?"

Everything for our dossier is basically done, at this point (can I get an amen?). However, we are still awaiting our CIS (Immigration) fingerprinting appointment. So far, we've been waiting about 2 weeks to hear from immigration about our appointment--we've been told to expect 6-8 weeks just to get the appt. date. After we get fingerprinted, (yes, we've already been fingerprinted, but this is different,) we can expect to wait a number of more weeks to get the ever-elusive I-171 document, which states that Immigration has approved of us. That I-171 is the last document that will go into our dossier. The dossier will then make its way through several levels of authentication, which will take several more weeks.

We'd be thrilled if our dossier were headed off to Ethiopia by late Jan./Feb. It could take less time, or it could easily take more. We're praying for the former. :)

Thanks for praying.

Almost Finished!

With only my employer letter and our life insurance letters left to obtain, we are nearing the end of the dossier process! I can actually mentally peer beyond the paperwork process now, and into the next stage--the waiting stage!!!! It's feeling a little more real each day!

On Saturday night we had a feast with sweet friends---to celebrate God's goodness and blessing on us all. Pictured above with us at that dinner are Shawn and Jami. Thanks for the pic, Jami! :)

Full-ON

...Full-on into our dossier prep---yay! Still rejoicing that we have Kate of KBS Dossiers to lead us through it all.

Greetings.

Hi, there. Not too much to say. I have my physical tomorrow, and Michael has his next week. We're on the verge of completing our Gladney app. Yay. God bless Michael for doing most of the work.

Last week was my first full week of my new, "tutoring all evening, every evening" schedule. It went well overall, but it took me just a week to realize that we WILL be hiring KBS Dossiers to assemble our foreign dossier for us!!! Heavens. Once Michael starts back to school, I can't IMAGINE us pulling together a dossier. Despite the cost, we are extremely content with our decision! : )