Gratuitous fun family photo from our church retreat this past weekend:
Yeah, that's how we Edmunds roll.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Wild Olive does it again
Y'all know those cool t-shirts I wear from Wild Olive Tees? They've got some new designs that are "awesome-sauce" and I'm sure you will love. Check them out here: http://store.wildolivetees.com. Here is one of the newest and coolest for your viewing pleasure
Thursday, September 20, 2012
On to the next stage of this waiting game
For the purpose of putting our wait into perspective, I want to share with you some information that another blogging adoptive mom has graciously shared with other blogging adoptive waiting moms (thank you Christina Boyce):
IBESR Approval and Dispensation (where we are now)
First Required trip to Haiti/Parquet/I-600 filing
Civil Court/Parquet
National Archives (NA) and Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Ministry of Interior (MOI)
Passport Office
What Happens: Application for child's passport.
Estimated Timing: 2 weeks-3 months
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Child's Visa Medical Exam
Estimated Timing: 1-2 weeks
U.S. Consulate
Family's Second Required Trip to Haiti
And there you have it! This is what we know and what we've been led to believe we can expect. The timeline may vary some (it is Haiti), but we've also been told these files are going to be "expedited," so we can only hope and pray.
IBESR Approval and Dispensation (where we are now)
What Happens: Case is assigned a number and reviewed by social worker, lawyer and other government personnel specializing in certain areas. Questions must be resolved before moving to the next person. IBESR submits the file to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the MOJ gives it to the President for approval. Once approved by President Martelly, notice of approval is published in a government newspaper (Le Moniteur). MOJ gives the file back to IBESR for final approval by the IBESR director.
Estimated Timing: 2-18 monthsFirst Required trip to Haiti/Parquet/I-600 filing
What Happens: Prospective parents appear and sign papers at the local court (where relinquishment occurred) and the Civil Court "Parquet" in Port-au-Prince. File I-600 and Adjudicate Orphan Status First paperwork at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office in Port-au-Prince. Prospective parents visit with their child(ren) and their child(ren)'s caregivers and spend quality time in their environment.
Estimated Timing: 2-4 weeks after IBESR approval/DispensationCivil Court/Parquet
What Happens: Civil Court "Parquet" reviews the file and IBESR's recommendation and issues a judgment of adoption. The judgment is typed up by an office within the Civil Court and then hand-written/officially recorded in a Court Book. Transcription of the judgment is then done by Birth Certificate Officer to add adoptive parent's last name to the child's name.
Estimated Timing: 4-6 monthsNational Archives (NA) and Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
What Happens: The case is attested at the NA, a higher office than the Civil Court/Parquet. MOJ is the highest office. Once the MOJ has reviewed everything to insure it is complete and correct, they issue their stamp of approval.
Estimated Timing: 2-4 monthsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
What Happens: Upon completion of NA/MOJ, cases go back to MOFA again before review and approval before going to the Ministry of Interior.
Estimated Timing: 4-6 weeksMinistry of Interior (MOI)
What Happens: The MOI reviews the file and if approved, the Director of the MOI signs off. A child's passport cannot be issued until this signature is received.
Estimated Timing: 2-5 monthsPassport Office
What Happens: Application for child's passport.
Estimated Timing: 2 weeks-3 months
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
What Happens: DHS interviews child's birth parent(s) or other family members. DHS may require clarification about a document or have questions. After DHS approval, the U.S. Consulate must review and grant approval. They sometimes request additional documentation.
Estimated Timing: 2 weeks-2 monthsChild's Visa Medical Exam
Estimated Timing: 1-2 weeks
U.S. Consulate
What Happens: Consulate reviews the file and lets the creche/orphanage know if any questions or action is needed before they will issue the visa.
Estimated Timing: 2 weeks-2monthsFamily's Second Required Trip to Haiti
What Happens: Prospective parents appear at IBESR with the child and show the child's visa. IBESR provides a "travel authorization document" that will be required prior to departure. Spend a few days visiting and bonding with the child. Come home!
Estimated Timing: Any time after the child's visa is approvedAnd there you have it! This is what we know and what we've been led to believe we can expect. The timeline may vary some (it is Haiti), but we've also been told these files are going to be "expedited," so we can only hope and pray.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Read This Friends!
It was a quiet weekend.
I decided that today would be the day we move forward. My plan was to contact the attorney and determine the best route for our paperwork to be turned over to Heather.
Once again, my plans are not His plans.
First, I received a message that another IBESR extension was announced.
Two more weeks to submit.
Funny how doors keep opening when it seems that we've hit a brick wall.
I sprung into action.
Would he turn over our file willingly? Not likely.
I was told that many attornies are literally fighting to hold onto dossiers, rather than relinquish them to agencies per families requests, because dossiers = income.
I believe he would fight also.
I contacted my husband.
I got online and found a flight.
I called the Sisters and arranged for airport pick up and transportation to the attorney's office.
I called my father-in-law and told him I needed help - my parents are out of town and Eric has games to coach and the kids will need to be picked up after school . . .
and I tried calling the attorney,
over and over and over and over again.
Finally, he answered
and in his non-chalant tone stated that Oh, I forgot to email you - you were submitted.
Excuse me? Come again.
Blah, Blah, Blah . . .
I had so much more written, but there was an internet mishap and it was lost.
More importantly, it isn't relevant or important because
WE ARE IN.
5 digit number confirms that our son has a file number in IBESR and all that really needs to be said is this:
I can't even breathe! So very blessed.
I decided that today would be the day we move forward. My plan was to contact the attorney and determine the best route for our paperwork to be turned over to Heather.
Once again, my plans are not His plans.
First, I received a message that another IBESR extension was announced.
Two more weeks to submit.
Funny how doors keep opening when it seems that we've hit a brick wall.
I sprung into action.
Would he turn over our file willingly? Not likely.
I was told that many attornies are literally fighting to hold onto dossiers, rather than relinquish them to agencies per families requests, because dossiers = income.
I believe he would fight also.
I contacted my husband.
I got online and found a flight.
I called the Sisters and arranged for airport pick up and transportation to the attorney's office.
I called my father-in-law and told him I needed help - my parents are out of town and Eric has games to coach and the kids will need to be picked up after school . . .
and I tried calling the attorney,
over and over and over and over again.
Finally, he answered
and in his non-chalant tone stated that Oh, I forgot to email you - you were submitted.
Excuse me? Come again.
Blah, Blah, Blah . . .
I had so much more written, but there was an internet mishap and it was lost.
More importantly, it isn't relevant or important because
WE ARE IN.
5 digit number confirms that our son has a file number in IBESR and all that really needs to be said is this:
I can't even breathe! So very blessed.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Where do we go from here?
Thank you friends for your prayers and support.
The question is this: if not submitted into IBESR, where do we go from here?
We will need to collect our files from the attorney and get them to an agency. They are willing to work with us and are eager to help us move forward . . .
but, what laws will apply to us? What will our timeline be? What costs will be repeated / applied?
How much longer will our son be without a family?
I cannot answer these questions, but truly appreciate your love and concern for us. When I know more, be sure that I will share.
In the meantime, Hallelujah for all the families who received receipt into IBESR at long last.
God is good and knows His plan for us. Our job is to be open to His will and follow.
The question is this: if not submitted into IBESR, where do we go from here?
We will need to collect our files from the attorney and get them to an agency. They are willing to work with us and are eager to help us move forward . . .
but, what laws will apply to us? What will our timeline be? What costs will be repeated / applied?
How much longer will our son be without a family?
I cannot answer these questions, but truly appreciate your love and concern for us. When I know more, be sure that I will share.
In the meantime, Hallelujah for all the families who received receipt into IBESR at long last.
God is good and knows His plan for us. Our job is to be open to His will and follow.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Weekly Rant
I've felt peaceful this week, despite the looming deadline for our attorney to submit paperwork to IBESR prior to the Hague Convention regulations being put into place.
I spoke with Ashley and Shasta and feel absolutely certain that with them is where we will move forward. They have Haiti's orphans in their hearts and understand our heartache, and that of other families in similar situations, who wait and long for their faraway children.
That nice feeling has changed though.
Today, the attorney emailed.
I have very little to say because I am so angry that I have literally been gritting my teeth for the past three hours. I was fortunate to have a short day at work . . . although that allows me to come home and fume about his words and lack of all caring or motivation regarding our case or adoptions in his country at all.
jackass
With tears in my eyes, I sip a glass of Riesling at 1:45 in the afternoon . . .
ears burning and blood pressure pumping . . .
So, I returned his email.
No more nicety nice -
do not worry friends, I kept my respectful balance and tone -
however, I let him have it.
Why has our dossier been in your office for 11 months with no urgency until we informed you of this impending deadline?
Why haven't you been more proactive and diligent in pursuing this adoption when you were handsomely paid to do so?
Why has our child lost another year of life living without a family who loves him?
People have written that foreign adoptees are too cordial and polite to these individuals paid to represent them and their child's interests at the highest courts. Why do we continue to politely ask for updates instead of demanding the information we should be getting on a regular basis from the one responsible for advocating on our behalf? It is so difficult to be assertive without fearing coming across as disrespectful or harsh, yet we witness their behavior that is less than ideal, and say nothing. We wait so long with our hands tied. We pray and cry and keep paying for extensions and updates and supportive measures. When is it okay to ask for answers?
When you are about to change roads, that's when.
We probably won't be submitted on time, and ya know what?
That's okay.
Not that Dimitry will be institutionalized longer, but that his file and our adoption will finally be in the hands of people who truly care about him getting a family forever.
To those of you who may not be submitted either, it's okay.
God's hand is surely still in this,
and maybe,
it'll be even better this way.
In the meantime,
look at this -
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.464912393539248.113982.291700304193792&type=1
Holy mackerel!
Brings tears to my eyes again :)
I spoke with Ashley and Shasta and feel absolutely certain that with them is where we will move forward. They have Haiti's orphans in their hearts and understand our heartache, and that of other families in similar situations, who wait and long for their faraway children.
That nice feeling has changed though.
(CODE: Be forewarned. Read at your own risk. Angry adoptive mama about to write.)
Today, the attorney emailed.
I have very little to say because I am so angry that I have literally been gritting my teeth for the past three hours. I was fortunate to have a short day at work . . . although that allows me to come home and fume about his words and lack of all caring or motivation regarding our case or adoptions in his country at all.
jackass
With tears in my eyes, I sip a glass of Riesling at 1:45 in the afternoon . . .
ears burning and blood pressure pumping . . .
So, I returned his email.
No more nicety nice -
do not worry friends, I kept my respectful balance and tone -
however, I let him have it.
Why has our dossier been in your office for 11 months with no urgency until we informed you of this impending deadline?
Why haven't you been more proactive and diligent in pursuing this adoption when you were handsomely paid to do so?
Why has our child lost another year of life living without a family who loves him?
People have written that foreign adoptees are too cordial and polite to these individuals paid to represent them and their child's interests at the highest courts. Why do we continue to politely ask for updates instead of demanding the information we should be getting on a regular basis from the one responsible for advocating on our behalf? It is so difficult to be assertive without fearing coming across as disrespectful or harsh, yet we witness their behavior that is less than ideal, and say nothing. We wait so long with our hands tied. We pray and cry and keep paying for extensions and updates and supportive measures. When is it okay to ask for answers?
When you are about to change roads, that's when.
We probably won't be submitted on time, and ya know what?
That's okay.
Not that Dimitry will be institutionalized longer, but that his file and our adoption will finally be in the hands of people who truly care about him getting a family forever.
To those of you who may not be submitted either, it's okay.
God's hand is surely still in this,
and maybe,
it'll be even better this way.
In the meantime,
look at this -
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.464912393539248.113982.291700304193792&type=1
Holy mackerel!
Brings tears to my eyes again :)
Sunday, September 9, 2012
One week left
Five work days in this week ahead.
Five business days to submit paperwork . . . or, at least, that's how I assume it works there just like it does here.
Then again . . .
someone raised an interesting point this past week:
Are we SURE this whole September 15th submission date is legitimate?
Hmmmm.
Nice to think it could be rumor, but better to act on it as fact.
I fluctuate between heart ache and fear over losing more time to be a family with Dimitry, but I also have to admit that there is a positive side to this --
If we move our file to an agency, we will actually be working with someone who cares about orphans in Haiti. Wow, that will be refreshing.
We also might be eligible for grants to assist us in this costly process.
That would be totally cool.
How many more trips?
How many more months, or worse yet, years??
How many more hurricane seasons and natural disasters and birthdays and Christmases?
So many unknowns.
So much to worry about.
So much to let go of and let God handle.
Whew. It's hard to be strong this long.
It's even harder to be an orphan.
Five business days to submit paperwork . . . or, at least, that's how I assume it works there just like it does here.
Then again . . .
someone raised an interesting point this past week:
Are we SURE this whole September 15th submission date is legitimate?
Hmmmm.
Nice to think it could be rumor, but better to act on it as fact.
I fluctuate between heart ache and fear over losing more time to be a family with Dimitry, but I also have to admit that there is a positive side to this --
If we move our file to an agency, we will actually be working with someone who cares about orphans in Haiti. Wow, that will be refreshing.
We also might be eligible for grants to assist us in this costly process.
That would be totally cool.
How many more trips?
How many more months, or worse yet, years??
How many more hurricane seasons and natural disasters and birthdays and Christmases?
So many unknowns.
So much to worry about.
So much to let go of and let God handle.
Whew. It's hard to be strong this long.
It's even harder to be an orphan.
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