En Route to Paris!

...our dossier that is :)! We were able to mail it yesterday to Alina's country!

In the package: 32 documents--including our completed homestudy report, verification of employment, proof of home ownership, medical certificates, marriage certificate, copies of our passports, police clearances, Power of Attorney documents (3), 2008 tax return, copies of licenses for professionals who signed our forms and several other petitions and forms--each one notarized, then certified by our county, then certified by the State of Ohio.

In the past two months, it seems like we have not stopped moving. On our way to get our new daughter, every day counts. We can't get to her fast enough.

There have been many days recently when we have truly felt like contestants on The Amazing Race...and I have the best partner.

Chris was in South Carolina yesterday morning and was due home in the afternoon. His flight was delayed--and he had hoped to be home in time to finish a few last certifications and mail our package by the end of the day--so he had a friend drive him 1 1/2 hours to a different airport and caught a flight that would get him home in time (THANK YOU, JOHN!). Chris did not give me details until he was already home, but apparently there was nowhere to stop for gas and their car was on EMPTY for the last 10 miles of the trip. Chris got to the airport just 20 minutes before the flight left, but he made it home. (Alina will never have to wonder if her daddy loved her right from the start. He has done everything he could possibly do, without once questioning or hesitating, to get to her as fast as we can.)

If it were up to us, we would have boarded a plane the day we committed to be Alina's family. But there are plenty of steps in the process that we cannot control.

There have been many people who have helped us along the way, and a few who have unintentionally held us up. There have been things that have gone in our favor, and also some things that have created hurdles. But our paperwork is on the way--finally--and we are thrilled!

As I tried to get a picture of our dossier leaving for Alina's country, Bridget jumped into the picture. She knew that there was a huge flurry of activity and lots of excitement over here yesterday, but she has no idea how the package behind her is going to change her life :)...
Alina, your wait for a family is almost over! We'll be there before you know it :).