Animal Crackers for Two

Last minute review on our Dossier and then off for Apostilles.  The last couple of days our family has to make some very tough decisions on our adoption.  During this time we ask for prayers and support.  We are still in need of raising the travel funds for our adoption..  So please donate to our FSP on Reeces Rainbow or directly to our Paypal account.  All donations will be used towards travel and airline.. Thank you and God bles

AS hard as we tried to figure out travel plans to reach little Ellie in time we will not be able to make it happen.   So today little Ellie will be relisted so another family traveling will be able to adopt her.    This was a very tough decision we had to make and the best one for our family.

Our updated Embassy Letter arrived the other day in the mail :O)) And our medicals have been updated.  So the next step is heading to the Commission's Office to apostille our Dossier. WE have been praying through our journey to adopt and we know that God has his plans for our family.  In prayers we pray that both children are available when we travel.  Not sure if we will be able to travel early to meet Ellie.  But also praying she is available when we do.  If not I am praying that she finds a family, not just any family but a family who will love her dearly like we do.  I think about her and also Clyde.  God knows what is best for everyone and I turn my heart to him.. I give thanks to him daily as I take each breath.  Inside I know both Gary and I have been so blessed through the years and thankful for our Lord bringing us through this journey.   My prayers are that when we get closer to travel time he guides us even more with his l...

Yes we are almost there... This week we had to get update letters from the Embassy in Washington for our children we adopted.  Next updating our TB test and finish up the medicals and we are done. YES DONE, FINISHED and next we are off to Baton Rouge for Apostilles. Once this is done we can ship our dossier.  There is no better feeling than to finally be able to send off a years worth of paperwork.  Each piece was cried over, some were searched for and others we had to give our blood for.  Yes these children are adopted from both Gary and my blood.  With out blood tests, our blood we would not be able to adopt these two or our other children. The photo shown reminds me of both Clyde and Ellie.  Even though we still have to meet I pray each night for them and also their little friends they live with.  I pray that each child is adopted and finds a family.  Once at age 5 years children are transferred to older children's homes and some to instit...

The other day I received several Built A Bear Coupons.  Since I was unable to go to the your age event I was able to on line receive coupons to print out.   Katya's Unicorn Jake a Puppy Each of the children today and a few of my grandchildren got their stuff bears and animals.  After the 15 dollar coupon was deducted a few of the bears were free and some a dollar or two.  So back to Built a Bear to purchase both Ellie and Clyde their very first Built A Bear.  These we will bring to leave after our court hearing for their adoptions. So going back this weekend to chose each of them their very own Built A Bear.  And letting the little ones all vote which one to get for Ellie and Clyde.. Poppy A Kitty WE decided to record their new names into each animal to tell them we love them in their language.  We did this with Chrissie for her Gotcha Day.

All other blood work has been completed and next is our TB test. We will have to wait 48 hours for it to be read and then we can pickup our final medical reports.  We just had this done last year but the prior reports have expired. Also we will be having to update our Embassy report from Washington on all adopted children.  Praying this one document does not take forever to receive.  Every family who has adopted has to file a Post Placement report yearly.  Part of our adoption agreement with their country showing the children's progress and their medical. Once we received this report our dossier is being carried to the State's Commission's Office for Apostilles.  Once this has been completed, I double check my list and off to the Adoption Center to be translated and registered. Normally it takes about two months to receive a date and a month later we will be able to travel to meet our little ones.  On July 27th 2017 it has been one full year from commi...

Guess who is growing up and turning 5?

IN less than two months we will have to raise the fees for our first trip with Ellie.  (7 to 10 Days) These are estimates of what fees are involved: Depending on Airlines Etc. Break down of Fees:         8500 Facilitator fee           150 Dossier Preparation         2600  Airline Gary and Me           400   In country Travel            800   Lodging for 7 days    $12,450  Needed for first trip ******************************************************************************* Second trip:  Court Ellie and Daps Clyde  (10 to 14  DAYS) Estimate Airlines                          $2600 IN country travels          $750 Clyde's F Fee                  $8500 Lodgings  10 ...

So far this week fees paid and fees to be paid: Medical: Gary and Me Insurance pending, blood work pending for approval, if not we self pay Notary fees:   38 documents  $760   PAIDED Apostilles:                                             58 Total @ $20 =$1160 Travel to State's Commission's Office  2 tanks of gas=   $150 Hotel for two nights in BR                                             =   $260 Food for trip for 8 people 2 days 3 meals                       =   $150                                                         ...

Medical exam complete but we have to update all blood work, TB test also needs to be updated and also a letter from the American Embassy needs updating.  All documents have been cleared for approval and these last documents will allow our Dossier to be submitted in August.  Normally it takes 2 months for a travel date.  Our plans will be to travel to review Ellie's file and meet with her.  Secure her and file for a court hearing.  We will leave country and return for court, during Court hearing  we will also be allowed to view Clyde's records and file for his Court Date.  Praying we are able to waive the 30 days of waiting for Ellie if not when we return for Clyde's Court Hearing pickup Ellie and apply for Ellie's passport.. During Clyde's court hearing we will apply for the 30 days to be waived. If not we will have to make four trips which we had not planned. This means additional funds for Ellie's and Clyde's adoption  SO far we have not sold ...

Today we notarized the last of our documents.  Tomorrow a quick trip back to our doctors to get an updated medical exam.  Praying no more blood work... If all goes well it is off to the State's Commission Office and get all our documents apostilled.  Once this is done we can send off our Dossier with a friend who is traveling.  After tomorrow a long road trip and a few days to rest after the drive.  Our FSP has been standing at the same amount.  Praying we are able to raise the funds to travel to meet our Ellie.  If not we will have to wait when we travel to meet Clyde and pray that  Ellie is still available.  Once a child reaches five years they are moved into an adult setting. Once this is done they remain until they exit out of the orphanage.  Sad to see that on your birthday your life will change forever.  Many of Ellie's friends have been adopted or either moved.  Please pray for her as we fight to get there in time...

Clyde and Ellie Our paperwork is finally done and now we have both our paper babies ready to ship.  There are two copies of our Dossier.  One for Clyde and the other for Ellie.  We did two Dossiers since both children will be turning five years at two different times.  Also we may be traveling sooner to secure Ellie before traveling to meet our Clyde.  I am so thankful for this part of our adoption to be completed.  From committing to a home study, from a home study to FBI clearances, from FBI Clearances to Immigration's approval, and then updating all documents. How I the fun part of our journey waiting for submission of our Dossiers to their country.  Once in Country the Dossiers will be translated, registered, reviewed and approved.  Once approved we will be scheduled a travel date to meet our little ones.  Normally it takes a few weeks to a month or so to get a travel date.  During this time please pray that our Dossier rea...

 Gary and I will be needing to update our medical form since the previous one will be close to expiring.   But one of the wonderful things is that the doctor's office has a notary on hand so one less worry.  I just hate exams and blood work but it will be worth it for these two little tappers. Currently we have 40 documents waiting to be notarized @ $20 per document ($800.00) :'o(  Once each document  is double checked and reviewed we will be ready for apostilles for a grand total of 58 documents @ $20 per document (1,600).  :'0(((((  With it being so many documents and the fear of them getting lost in the mail we decided we would travel to our State's Commission's Office  for apostilles.  SO 264 miles there and another 264 back.  Roughly a 5 to 6 hour trip and with rain most of the week.  When we traveled to Arkansas this pass  Friday we got  caught in a really bad storm and had to pull off the road till the stor...

Ellie is the little girl in the back ground in blue dancing. Let's talk about Ellie.. :O)) You have seen many photos of our son to be Clyde and then there is little Ellie.  Ellie is a few months older than Clyde.  Through friends we were told Ellie is full of spunk like our Katya.  Ellie likes to dance and play and loves attention.  She told my friend to find her a family like her friends have one.  Since Ellie has been transferred it will be harder for her to be adopted an a group home.  We were blessed she was found and she will become apart of our family.  Please share our family and our Family off of Reeces Rainbow.  Reeces Rainbow has a Family Sponsorship Page set up for us to receive donations.  We are currently short about $6,000 to travel in the fall for trip one to meet her. www.http://reecesrainbow.org/120346/sponsordavis-11  This is our link to our Adoption Page for Ellie and Clyde.   Please if you church or group c...

I just love this photo of our son to be. He has stolen our hearts. There are nights I want to sit down and add in my thoughts on our adoption.  Like most adopting families there are a lot of emotions, worries and fears of the journey.  Have gone through seven adoption each has been filled with the excited and unknows of what to expect.  So much through preparing our dossier.  Having to update our dossier has added up quickly and also taken away from the funds we have saved to travel with. This adoption will be different from our prior adoptions.  We will be taken an additional trip to the three we normally take.  So we may be traveling 4 to 5 trips.  This means extra funds involved for both adoptions.  Our first trip we are going to begin paperwork for our Ellie.  We will be traveling in September or early October for one week and then return back for her court hearing.  Hoping we are able to arrange her court hearing during the ti...

Our boy Clyde  Tomorrow we will be loading up all the children to head to Arkansas to get 4 new Marriage Licenses.  Next to the State's Commission Office to get Apostilles.   Trying to also make this into a mini vacation for al the children. This trip will involved driving out of state. Breakdown of costs: $80 for 4 licenses                                   $80 for apostille                                   $70 Gas for Van                              $125.00  hotel for 7 people.                              ($355.00)  Total   Next week we will be updating both Gary and my medicals..  Praying we do not have to update any...