Timeline
06.21.04 (9:24 am) [edit]
Dear son,
In January of 2004 I began a serious review of my life to date. After setting aside my fears and aprehensions, a basic core truth emerged - my desire to be a father was still burning deep inside my heart. Knowing there was no easy way to share this with my partner and knowing that most everyone was going to dismiss the idea, sighting finances, age, lifstyle etc., I addressed the issue quickly and directly. During this time, I was traveling all over the US, my brother died, and we seemed to be diving deeper and deeper into debt. Needless to say, there were not very many favorable responses. Still, I stood my ground and worked through the challenges. Finally, after receiving the "green light" from my partner, the great American paperchase began. The first form was filled out on April 8thand our dossier was completed and immediately sent via FedEx to Ukraine today, June 21st! I am excited, relieved, terrified and drained! Now we wait....more to come...
I love you, hang in there!! XOXO ~ Daddy
In January of 2004 I began a serious review of my life to date. After setting aside my fears and aprehensions, a basic core truth emerged - my desire to be a father was still burning deep inside my heart. Knowing there was no easy way to share this with my partner and knowing that most everyone was going to dismiss the idea, sighting finances, age, lifstyle etc., I addressed the issue quickly and directly. During this time, I was traveling all over the US, my brother died, and we seemed to be diving deeper and deeper into debt. Needless to say, there were not very many favorable responses. Still, I stood my ground and worked through the challenges. Finally, after receiving the "green light" from my partner, the great American paperchase began. The first form was filled out on April 8thand our dossier was completed and immediately sent via FedEx to Ukraine today, June 21st! I am excited, relieved, terrified and drained! Now we wait....more to come...
I love you, hang in there!! XOXO ~ Daddy
Everything Has New Meaning
06.19.04 (4:03 am) [edit]
Dear Son,
Once again, it's been several weeks since my last entry. And once again, I have been traveling. This time, I went to Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio. I leave this Friday for a 5-day business trip to California. There is no doubt that all this travel will come to an end once we have you home. Either, I will change positions or change jobs.
Before I left for this last trip, Nikki (one of our dogs) had something wrong with her left eye. Within days it became much worse and she had become blind. A specialist performed surgery on her to remove the eye 2 days ago. So we are taking care of her as she recovers.
Now - on to the good news! I wondered why it was taking so long for our pre-approval from the US CIS to be approved. The woman who handles these approvals is over-worked and under-paid. When I reached her, she still had not read the home study. She promised to do it immediately and call me right back. Several hours later, she called to say there were 2 things missing and I had to submit a new homestudy!! :cry: My heart sank. But somehow, the universe came together to make things happen. First, I called our Psychologist and left 2 messages. When he called me back, he explained he was out of town, but had his laptop and would make the changes and email them to me - which he did. I then called Immigration and asked them if I could hand-deliver the new home study. They agreed. When I arrived yesterday afternoon, they accepted my new home study and handed me the PRE-APPRVAL!
I then sent our American facilitator an email and she immediatley responded with 2 Power of Attorney letters to be signed and notarized. The bank was still open, so I drove there and after a long wait, the lady said they weren't allowed to notarized Power of Attorney letters outside of company business, but...since I was so patient, she would make an exception!! Yahooooooo!! Our dossier is complete!! Monday morning I will take it to the Secretary of State to have it stamped and send it to Ukraine via FedEx to be translated and submitted to the National Adoption Center for their pre-approval and invitation letter. Whew!
So, now we wait. Once the NAC receives our dossier, they have 20 business days to respond with a denial (which has never happened) or an invitation letter. Once we receive that letter, we are asked to submit a request for an appointment. This is usually 8-12 weeks after their letter. We supply our desired date and then wait for their reply with a assigned date. Then....if I don't die of sheer joy and terror, I find my way to you and bring you HOME.
You have already changed my entire life. Everything has new meaning. Sometimes my heart starts to race and I can't believe this is really happening. Then, almost frozen with fear...what makes me think I can do this? If you only knew what I am up against, what I've been through...I'm lucky to even be here...maybe I should just play things safe and take care of me. And then my mind and heart turns to you. We haven't even met and yet I KNOW you are waiting for me, needing me, expecting me...And then my heart slows and swells. Nothing can stop me from finding you and bringing you home...nothing :!:
Once again, it's been several weeks since my last entry. And once again, I have been traveling. This time, I went to Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio. I leave this Friday for a 5-day business trip to California. There is no doubt that all this travel will come to an end once we have you home. Either, I will change positions or change jobs.
Before I left for this last trip, Nikki (one of our dogs) had something wrong with her left eye. Within days it became much worse and she had become blind. A specialist performed surgery on her to remove the eye 2 days ago. So we are taking care of her as she recovers.
Now - on to the good news! I wondered why it was taking so long for our pre-approval from the US CIS to be approved. The woman who handles these approvals is over-worked and under-paid. When I reached her, she still had not read the home study. She promised to do it immediately and call me right back. Several hours later, she called to say there were 2 things missing and I had to submit a new homestudy!! :cry: My heart sank. But somehow, the universe came together to make things happen. First, I called our Psychologist and left 2 messages. When he called me back, he explained he was out of town, but had his laptop and would make the changes and email them to me - which he did. I then called Immigration and asked them if I could hand-deliver the new home study. They agreed. When I arrived yesterday afternoon, they accepted my new home study and handed me the PRE-APPRVAL!
I then sent our American facilitator an email and she immediatley responded with 2 Power of Attorney letters to be signed and notarized. The bank was still open, so I drove there and after a long wait, the lady said they weren't allowed to notarized Power of Attorney letters outside of company business, but...since I was so patient, she would make an exception!! Yahooooooo!! Our dossier is complete!! Monday morning I will take it to the Secretary of State to have it stamped and send it to Ukraine via FedEx to be translated and submitted to the National Adoption Center for their pre-approval and invitation letter. Whew!
So, now we wait. Once the NAC receives our dossier, they have 20 business days to respond with a denial (which has never happened) or an invitation letter. Once we receive that letter, we are asked to submit a request for an appointment. This is usually 8-12 weeks after their letter. We supply our desired date and then wait for their reply with a assigned date. Then....if I don't die of sheer joy and terror, I find my way to you and bring you HOME.
You have already changed my entire life. Everything has new meaning. Sometimes my heart starts to race and I can't believe this is really happening. Then, almost frozen with fear...what makes me think I can do this? If you only knew what I am up against, what I've been through...I'm lucky to even be here...maybe I should just play things safe and take care of me. And then my mind and heart turns to you. We haven't even met and yet I KNOW you are waiting for me, needing me, expecting me...And then my heart slows and swells. Nothing can stop me from finding you and bringing you home...nothing :!: