May 30, 2006

We sent our dossier to Houston to the Guatemalan Embassy to be authenticated by the Guatemalan Consulate. Del's birth certificate went to the Guatemalan Embassy in New York. They will go to A Helping Hand Adoption Agency in Kentucky from the Embassies. We notified the adoption agency we had sent the dossier overnight express.

May Pics

May 26, 2006

We took our Guatemalan dossier to Austin to be authenticated by the Texas Secretary of State. Then we celebrated by going to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. When we got home Del's certified birth certificate was back from Pennsylvania and had been authenticated by the Secretary of State in Pennsylvania. Hard to believe we have all of the dossier finished on the same day.

May 23, 2006

Our home study is complete and we mailed a copy to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) along with an application.

May 16, 2006

I received a copy of the first homestudy and there were mistakes. I was told to show them to Tinya Thomas when she came for the next home study visit.

Tinya Thomas came for two home study visits today. She said she would make the necessary changes to the first draft of the home study and the final draft should be finished within a week. She said our home study had been an easy one to complete.

May 12, 2006

Dawn Ford called and said our home study had been sent for review. Later in the day we received another call stating that we needed more home study visits. It seems we must meet Kentucky standards as well as Texas. A Helping Hand Adoption Agency is located in Kentucky so we need two more visits. What a disappointment. Hope International did the home study as if they were doing it for their agency in Texas.

May 3, 2006

On May 3, 2006 we received our criminal background checks from the State Police.