Shirts are Shipping!

Happy Monday!  I have heard many of you have gotten emails saying your shirts have shipped!  Several of you received your shirts today!  I'm jealous because I haven't gotten an email yet :(  When you get your shirt PLEASE text or email me a selfie!  I want to include all of your pictures in Bryson's memory book!  Here are a few who have already received their shirts.

Gigi Jean sporting a blue v-neck

Ms. Rachell sporting a purple v-neck

A lot has happened in the past week or so!  At this point in the process I am completing my home study.  The funny thing ... today I got an email ...

YAY!  I'm excited I'm on the fast track!  China requires that parents meet with a social worker four times as part of their home study.  Tonight I finished my third visit.  I had my first last Friday, my second (which was also my home inspection) on Saturday ... third tonight ... and this coming Saturday I'm going to "Empowered to Connect" seminar and after I will meet with my SW for the last time.  

Good news ... the house was up to standards :)  I only cleaned and organized for a week solid.  I was ready for her to open closets, cabinets ... the whole nine yards.  She didn't.  But hey, I guess my house is clean now.  Cotton was on his best behavior showing her how ready he is to be a big brother.  

After my home study (four meetings with SW) is complete she will write a report.  She says it's very detailed and typically takes her 10-12 hours to write.  She promises she will get it done as fast as possible.  I'm not sure she realizes I will be emailing her every three days checking in.  

Once my home study report is done, things can start moving.  The report is my golden ticket.  Once I receive the report I can start applying for grants.  This is HUGE!  Once I have the report I will be spending my nights and weekends writing grants.  

I can also fill out Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country ... this is a Department of Homeland Security US Citizenship and Immigration form.  

Once I get my I-800A back ... I get to be fingerprinted.  Yup, you read that right ... fingerprinted.  Again.  Apparently the FBI and Homeland Security don't communicate with each other.  So, back to get fingerprinted I go.  

THEN ... once my fingerprinting comes back from USCIS I can complete my dossier (I'm just waiting for home study report and I-800A) and send off to Austin to be authenticated ... then when I receive from Austin ... send to the Chinese Consulate in Houston.  

Each of these steps should take ... ???  

I'm praying all will fall into place.  I'm praying I get to bring Bryson home in December.  From start to finish that would be 9 months.  

Thanks for following my journey to bringing Bryson home!

Remember, if you ordered a shirt ... send me a selfie!!!

Have a great week!