Progress

I received an email from my social worker today. She has completed the home study report.

YES!!!!

She said that I should receive 2 hard copies and that the agency will send a copy to USCIS, next week.

That's all I need for my dossier. I am finally making progress.

Frustration and Anxious Anticipation

One of the PAPs in my agency yahoo group put together a really nice spreadsheet with information regarding where each of is in the adoption process. It is a very good idea but for me it just brought on so much anxiety so I opted out. I was comparing my adoption journey to that of the other families.

I sent my application into the agency and was approved in September and I have yet to send in my dossier. (I am waiting on my home study report.) There are PAPs who were approved as recently as November who have received referrals or are waiting on referrals. This was most likely due to the fact that many of these families have switched agencies. Their paper work was already complete when they came to the agency. It seems that their process was quick, however I realize that this most likely was not the case. They probably experienced many of the same feelings and anxieties that I am experiencing now.

One of our agency administrators said something that was really key and made me think. It also calmed me down. She reminded us that each journey is unique and that we should not compare ourselves to one another. Throughout this journey I have been praying. Praying for the little girl that is meant for me, not for the next available. So I have to have faith that when my process is complete my little girl will be waiting for me.

The Pony Express/Snail Mail No More...

I am so anxious to get this process further along. I am still waiting for the completion of my home study summary, the written part, so that I may send it off with my dossier. I mailed all necessary paper work to my social worker who's office is nearby. Why did it take so long for her to get it? Her mail carrier decided not to deliver it in a timely manner.

I spoke with the post office and it miraculously was delivered on the very day that I inquired. The carrier admitted that it was in her truck and she had to go and get it. Excuse me? Well the good news is that the social worker has it and I pray that she completes the study soon so that I can send off my dossier. I do have to wait for the I600A approval. I long to be officially waiting.

Writing Life

I used to be a writer. Even as a child you would see me with a book in hand, pen and paper close by. Family members would tease me but I didn't care, writing was such a release for me. I kept a journal since forever, for as long as I can remember. But since Q's death it has been so difficult for me to put thought to hand, hand to pen, pen to paper. If I could just do so, I could release a lot.

But now I blog. This is my first attempt at one. This is such an accomplishment since lately I have had such writer's block. And look, two blog entries in one day. Maybe I am on a roll. Let's see how things evolve.

Paper Chasing Mama

I was hoping that I would be done with this portion of my journey by now. Things were a bit delayed because I moved and my mother came to live with me. That meant receiving background checks as well as medical approvals for her. I am happy to say that I have received the final piece of paper that my social worker needed from me. I pray that my home study agency has received necessary items in order for her to write the final report.

I have already collected the other items for my dossier. I long for the day that I receive the message that my dossier is on the way. I will keep you posted.