i800a APPROVED!

Wow, it's been a month since I last posted!  I got back from Iowa on Thursday ... just in time to head to Austin on Sunday.

I got my i800a approval!!!  I was approved on June 30th and my agency got the hard copy last Thursday.  Now it's going through all of it's authentications.  I used a courier service to hopefully expedite the process.  Normally I'd have to get it notarized ... then send to Austin to get it Secretary of State authenticated ... then to Houston to go through the Chinese Consulate.  I decided to use a courier in DC ... and she will have all three steps done July 20th.  She will then mail to Hand in Hand (agency)!!!

I'm headed to Austin tomorrow for a workshop at Texas School for the Deaf.  I'm there through Thursday the 13th.  I thought about doing the SOS authentication while I was there in person ... but I wouldn't be able to do that until Friday the 14th.  Then I'd have to do the Chinese Consulate portion on my own ... which probably isn't a big deal ... but would mean two trips into Houston and I wouldn't have back until the following week anyways.  Going through Kelly (courier) has eased a lot of stress for me knowing it will be done right and sent straight to agency.

My plan is to mail all of my dossier (minus the i800a Kelly is taking care of) off to Hand in Hand on Monday July 17th.  I need to talk to Kendra (agency BFF) to make sure I have all of the pieces in order before I mail off.  I needed Visa pics, family pics, etc ... I think I have all the pieces ... but I don't want to mail off until I am 100% sure!  So that means I am meeting my goal to send my dossier to China by 7/31!!!

I am anxious to start decorating Bryson's room.  I need to clear out some old furniture (futon!) from his room and shift a few things to the guest bedroom.  I purchased a bed from a friend and have a dresser I purchased awhile back.  Once I'm back from Austin I'll start his room!

I'm still working on fundraising and grants.  I have applied for several grants.  I got an email from Gift of Adoption saying I have a tentative review date of August 8th.  I am tweaking my personal statement and will be submitting an application to Help us Adopt and CMomA in the next week or two.  The other grants I have applied for ... I have heard ... nada.

This patience thing is difficult.  Hopefully he will be here before I know it!

Thanks for following my journey!