*jumping for joy*
We FINALLY got our referral today!
I am kind of skipping ahead from the last post, sorry, I am just so excited. :) We were I-800A approved on May 9th, and ever since then we have been waiting for our referral (which is a letter from Hungary officially referring Arabella to us).
Today the I-800 document has been sent off to USCIS with the referral. The I-800 is a petition to classify Arabella as an immediate relative once she is adopted and as a Convention adoptee from a Hague Convention country. It can take about 2-4 weeks to get the approval, and then we get to travel! Our case worker said that they are hoping to get us over to Hungary in a month!!!
More good news: We are a CMomA grant recipient! CMomA has awarded us a $5000 medical grant that will go towards any and all of Arabella's medical expenses. We are beyond blessed and thankful that we have been awarded this grant! Thank you CMomA and many thanks to those who wrote recommendation letters on our behalf.
Stay tuned for baby shower announcements and pictures of Arabella's room being decorated. I am now beginning to feel like a pregnant Momma, and I love it!
If any of you moms have suggestions for things to buy or add to a registry for a toddler I would love to hear them!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
USCIS Fingerprints
Another thing is checked off of our list!! When we went to get fingerprinted last week for our biometrics appointment, it took all of about ten minutes. Thankfully, we did not need to travel far for the appointment. There is an office for the Application Support Center in downtown Baltimore, so Nick and I were able to walk over there quite easily. We just filled out a short form, waited about one minute until they called the number we were given, then they took our fingerprints (no ink here, these prints are digital). We were given a receipt, and then we were done, easy peasy. This little part of the process has probably been the easiest by far. haha
We are one step closer to getting our referral for Arabella!
We are one step closer to getting our referral for Arabella!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
It has been toooooo long
I know, it has been forever since I've posted. It is completely my fault, and I am sorry. Things have been really busy, BUT we have exciting news.
After a lot of prayer and discussion we have switched countries again, and are now in route to adopt from Hungary....AND....we have a baby girl in Hungary who we are currently pursuing!!!!! I wish we could share her pictures/videos over the internet, but we will not able to until we make the adoption official. Let me tell you, Nick and I were in love at first sight. She is the cutest little two year old in the world. My heart sings every time I watch her videos and look at her pictures.
A short bio of Arabella (that name is just adorable on its own): she will be two years old in May, and was diagnosed with leukemia in November 2013. According to her doctor in Hungary she is doing really well with treatments, and currently undergoing her second round of treatment.
In other news, our home study was approved about a month ago, which means that the sanitation and Fire Marshall inspection wentflawlessly just fine despite the nerves and frantic cleaning. Thank you Jesus! We are now in the process of being approved for international adoption by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), and have a biometrics appointment on the 28th, where we will basically get fingerprinted and a background check done again. Other than that we have just been waiting, applying for a few grants, and doing some paperwork here and there.
Thank you to everyone that has kept us in your prayers (please keep praying ;). We have truly been blessed and humbled by your support.
After a lot of prayer and discussion we have switched countries again, and are now in route to adopt from Hungary....AND....we have a baby girl in Hungary who we are currently pursuing!!!!! I wish we could share her pictures/videos over the internet, but we will not able to until we make the adoption official. Let me tell you, Nick and I were in love at first sight. She is the cutest little two year old in the world. My heart sings every time I watch her videos and look at her pictures.
*This awesome picture of Budapest, Hungary will have to do in the meantime.
A short bio of Arabella (that name is just adorable on its own): she will be two years old in May, and was diagnosed with leukemia in November 2013. According to her doctor in Hungary she is doing really well with treatments, and currently undergoing her second round of treatment.
In other news, our home study was approved about a month ago, which means that the sanitation and Fire Marshall inspection went
Thank you to everyone that has kept us in your prayers (please keep praying ;). We have truly been blessed and humbled by your support.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Change (it is a good thing)
Nick and I have officially switched adoption programs. :)
We are now adopting from the Republic of Georgia! About a month or so ago our case worker for Bulgaria notified us of an eight month old baby girl in the Republic of Georgia. As soon as we heard about her, Nick and I were praying and thinking about it non-stop. We really believe that God has called us to switch countries for her, so we did. She is not going to available for international adoption until she is 12 months old, and we really do not know much about her yet because the agency's doctor has not been able to visit her because she is currently in foster care, so this is really just a leap of faith on our part.
In other news, Nick and I have finished all of our interviews/meetings with our social worker! On Tuesday the Fire Marshall is coming to inspect our apartment, and then on Friday the Sanitation Inspector will be doing the same thing. I am getting kind of nervous about them coming. Both Nick and I will be cleaning/organizing like mad people. hahaha
Nick and I have a new fundraising site: http://www.gofundme.com/544yqk
(It is simply a site where people can support us through their donations)
And as always, please keep us in your prayers!
We are now adopting from the Republic of Georgia! About a month or so ago our case worker for Bulgaria notified us of an eight month old baby girl in the Republic of Georgia. As soon as we heard about her, Nick and I were praying and thinking about it non-stop. We really believe that God has called us to switch countries for her, so we did. She is not going to available for international adoption until she is 12 months old, and we really do not know much about her yet because the agency's doctor has not been able to visit her because she is currently in foster care, so this is really just a leap of faith on our part.
In other news, Nick and I have finished all of our interviews/meetings with our social worker! On Tuesday the Fire Marshall is coming to inspect our apartment, and then on Friday the Sanitation Inspector will be doing the same thing. I am getting kind of nervous about them coming. Both Nick and I will be cleaning/organizing like mad people. hahaha
Nick and I have a new fundraising site: http://www.gofundme.com/544yqk
(It is simply a site where people can support us through their donations)
And as always, please keep us in your prayers!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Pheeeewww
I know it has been awhile since there has been a post, but nothing exciting has been happening. Just paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. Bleh.
Now, the first stage of our home study is COMPLETE! Thank the Lord! We paid the last fee yesterday, and officially submitted all of our documents. :) The next step is to meet/interview with our social worker, which will hopefully happensoon immediately. All of this waiting has gotten old, and I know that this is just the beginning. BUT it will be so completely worth it!
Until then we are preparing our little space for inspections from the Fire Marshal and the sanitation/health department, and getting it baby ready.
We have kind of hit a lull with fundraising. Nothing new and exciting yet (unfortunately), but I have a few ideas up my sleeve. Until then, we still have the coffee website (Just Love Coffee Roasters): https://justlovecoffee.com/nickandeliserichard
CoupAide: http://coupaide.com/deal/richard-adoption-fundraiser/
and
Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=richadopfund-20
More information about these fundraisers can be found under the "Ways YOU Can Help" tab.
A very appreciative thank you to everyone who has contributed. These three fundraisers have raised about $300 so far! Thank you for every prayer, encouraging word, and financial contribution. :)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Now, the first stage of our home study is COMPLETE! Thank the Lord! We paid the last fee yesterday, and officially submitted all of our documents. :) The next step is to meet/interview with our social worker, which will hopefully happen
Until then we are preparing our little space for inspections from the Fire Marshal and the sanitation/health department, and getting it baby ready.
We have kind of hit a lull with fundraising. Nothing new and exciting yet (unfortunately), but I have a few ideas up my sleeve. Until then, we still have the coffee website (Just Love Coffee Roasters): https://justlovecoffee.com/nickandeliserichard
CoupAide: http://coupaide.com/deal/richard-adoption-fundraiser/
and
Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=richadopfund-20
More information about these fundraisers can be found under the "Ways YOU Can Help" tab.
A very appreciative thank you to everyone who has contributed. These three fundraisers have raised about $300 so far! Thank you for every prayer, encouraging word, and financial contribution. :)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Today is a very special day...
BECAUSE it is our wedding anniversary! Four years ago today we said I do, and it has been the best decision of my life. I am so thankful for my awesome husband, who always encourages me and keeps on believing in me even when I don't. He is my rock, and I love him dearly. To many many more years my love!
Here are some throwback pictures to commemorate the date. :)
Here are some throwback pictures to commemorate the date. :)
*cheers*
Monday, August 5, 2013
Back from Vacation
We just got back from vacation yesterday, and I can not believe that last week went by so fast! We traveled back home to visit with both Nick and I's families and friends. We flew home to Louisiana, and traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama the next day to spend the week at the beach. We had a super fun time, and made many wonderful memories!
Seeing a shark swimming in the ocean when you are about 25 feet away from it will forever change you...hahaha. We saw two sharks one day at the beach, sting rays, and jelly fish. Needless to say there was never a dull moment. :)
My marvelous father-in-law brought his boat, so a few days were spent wake boarding and tubing around the bay. My arms and legs are still sore from being thrown from the tube multiple times (apparently I am quite out of shape).
I have posted a few pictures from the trip courtesy of Mrs. Chris Buchan Jones. :)
Seeing a shark swimming in the ocean when you are about 25 feet away from it will forever change you...hahaha. We saw two sharks one day at the beach, sting rays, and jelly fish. Needless to say there was never a dull moment. :)
My marvelous father-in-law brought his boat, so a few days were spent wake boarding and tubing around the bay. My arms and legs are still sore from being thrown from the tube multiple times (apparently I am quite out of shape).
I have posted a few pictures from the trip courtesy of Mrs. Chris Buchan Jones. :)
*Boat day! Nick got to drive us around
*Captain Nicholas
*Me trying not to fall while wake boarding
*The beautiful sunset on the way back to the boat launch
*THE BEACH! It was really beautiful and the water was super clear.
Even though we took a break from all of our adoption paper work during this vacation, we were still checking on our Bulgarian adoption group for updates from other families in the process of adopting, and keeping tabs on our fundraising websites. Now that we are back I have a few things on the top of my list that I need to check off (getting fingerprinted and getting a Maryland driver's license, which is to be done next week!).
Still loads of paperwork left and our adoption classes to be taken, but we hope to get all of it done before Nick starts graduate school in about three weeks. And so far so good. :)
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