Month: June 2016

doss e aye

Posted on by crystalahollis

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When we first started the adoption process the whole dossier process seemed so daunting. I couldn’t even imagine having it all finished. Well, today we submitted our 300+ pages and our 42 page family book. The book turned out wonderful! Thank you to everyone who sent us pictures to add to it. We really think it accurately portrays our family, friends and our life.

Of course, it wouldn’t be authentically me, if I didn’t forget a thing or two. As I was packaging up the envelope and triple checking the check list, I realized I forgot to notarize and apostille one page. Thankfully I am able to send it to Austin to be apostilled and then  send it in with our immigration forms when they are approved.

So many people are asking “So what happens next” So here is the process. The dossier was sent to our agency, they will make sure it is all perfect and they will send it down to Colombia where it will be translated into Spanish. In the meantime we are waiting for immigration to be approved and we have to get another (our 3rd) set of fingerprinting done. Once we have all the immigration approval and fingerprinting done, it will all go to Colombia and then it is all submitted to the Orphanage where they will review it all and then match us with our precious little girl, then they will send us her file and photo!

In pregnancy terms, this is like the end of the first trimester. I didn’t have any morning sickness, but I got 3 paper cuts yesterday and a case of writers cramp. It has been a wonderful first trimester, we are ready for the 2nd one now.

Thank you all for following our journey, supporting us, praying for us and loving our little girl! If you want to make a tax deductible donation towards Ellie’s adoption, click CLICK HERE it goes straight to our agency.

We appreciate y’all!

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Finally

Posted on by crystalahollis

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Today, I had to go to the court house to get a copy of Cody and my birth certificates and our marriage licenses because I didn’t want to send my only copies to Colombia. The clerk who printed them out for me said that she was the person who issued Cody and me our marriage licenses 5 years ago. She and I started talking about where life had taken us in the past 5 years. She was impressed with Easton showing off his jumping skills and was excited to hear about our adoption plans. Another clerk was there too and we had a nice chat with these sweet ladies. It is nice to be able to share our journey with people and give them a glimpse into our journey. They said they were going to follow our blog, so ladies, if y’all are reading this, it was nice to meet y’all today!

Today we also got all of our paper work notarized and tomorrow it will go to Austin to be apostilled. I remember when we first got the dossier process started it was so overwhelming and seemed like it would take forever. So many times it seemed like the end would never be in sight. Now seeing this pile of papers all grouped together and ready to go, makes all the stress diminish.

I also want to thank so many of y’all for doing fundraisers for us and helping us pay for this adoption, we really really appreciate y’all! Many people do not know it costs over $35,000.00 to adopt a child. We have been so blessed and have been able to meet every deadline and so far we haven’t had to go into debt either. A few people keep asking where they can make a tax deductible donation. if thats you you can Click Here and make a donation. These next couple of weeks are going to be expensive, but we serve a BIG God and we know He will keep providing for us to be able to bring our Ellie home.

Easton has been asking about Ellie every day lately. He says “Ellie sissy Mommy baby” He also asks if she’s “bye bye?” It is challenging to know how to explain adoption to a 2 year old, but it is so sweet to see how loving he is already towards her. I love my sweet boy and I know he will be such a great big brother.

Thank you all for following along with us on this journey, we appreciate each and every one of y’all. We are one step closer to bringing our Ellie home.