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.

April 29, 2006

We have finished our home study visit with Tinya Thomas. She said our home study should be finished within two weeks.

April 21, 2006

We met with Dawn Ford today. It was our first face to face meeting. All went well. She said another agent, Tinya Thomas, would be doing our home visit.

April 20, 2006

Our home study packet is finished. We called Dawn Ford and scheduled our first meeting for tomorrow.

April 14, 2006

We went to the Rockwall Police Department and were fingerprinted. We sent the fingerprints along with a request for criminal background check to the Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas State Police).

April 7, 2006

We signed our home study agreement and faxed it to Hope International. We then received our home study packet of documents.

April 6, 2006

We received our home study agreement today.

April 4, 2006

We called Dawn Ford at Hope International today. Hope International will be doing our home study.

March 28, 2006

Received word that our adoption application was approved.

March 18, 2006

Today we mailed our adoption application and the application for Del's certified birth certificates.

March 17, 2006

After many weeks of prayer and research we called A Helping Hand Adoption Agency and were able to get an appointment that afternoon. We met with Carrie McKean and picked up an application. During the meeting, Carrie emphasized that a referral would be made two months after our dossier was completed. After returning home, we paid our application fee on-line and filled out the application. We also filled out the application for Del's certified birth certificates from Pennslyvania.