We have now waited so long that we have to renew our I171H which is
our permission to make a foreign child a US citizen. It was a costly and
stressful process the first go around. However, congress this past year
said that we don't have to pay the first time we have to renew. YEAH!!! We
have to get our doctors letters renewed and get fingerprinted again. Actually
I am glad to have something to do that is adoption related. Then we have to get
our home study updated and send it all to immigration. Then we will be invited
back down to Jacksonville to get fingerprinted. Anyways, that is all that
is happening right now. No word on when things are going to speed up.

Beach Weekend

We spent the weekend at St. George Island. I took family photos. I used a timer on a few to insure that there is a photo record of me in this world..hehe enjoy.

Family Reunion

This was our yearly Williams Family Reunion (My Mom's family) held in Cadwell, Ga.. I had not been since Joe and I got mairried (5yrs.) So it was his first time meeting alot of people. We had a really good time and enjoyed our visit.

Tubin!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. We have been so busy. We went tubing about 3 weeks ago and here are a few photos. There is nothing new with Hannah, just waiting.....

ANY NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!!!!

Just so happened Joe stayed home from work yesterday. Our adoption agency called. I usually have to call them back the next day but since Joe was there he was able to talk to them. Anyways, it was our support person wanting to make sure we are okay. She also wanted us to know that we are looking at about 24 mos from November 8, 2006, which is our log in date. Which puts us at about a little more than a year from now. I didn't take it all that well. I mean logically for Joe and I it is a good thing. We are Broke :-) and any extra time can help with the finances. However, it is at the point where everyone is starting to become inpatient. I understand those that are excited for us and can not wait, it just seems like that lately everyone is asking. I am so grateful to have so many people that care about us and our journey and I really do like for people to be interested. Just all the asking coupled with the news of a longer wait has taken its toll on me this week. But on the bright side. I am ready to paint the room and I have decided to redo the trim in there so I am really excited. I also redid my bedroom this week. I will post some pictures this weekend. Also we are going to be crusin down the Chipola!!!! So I will have pics of that too........

UPDATE.....

We had some good news recently. We have a form called the I171H. This is the document from the US government that says we are suitable to adopt a foreign child. This form was very stressful and expensive to acquire. It is only valid for 18 mos. So we are going to have to reapply in a couple of months. The terrible thing is the fees we would have to pay all over again. However, starting July 30 2007 those who have to reapply for the first time gets the fees waived!!!! I mean it is a big deal for us.... We also were told that the wait is up to 20 mos now... :-( but it is okay... we are certainly staying busy....

Well, that is all for now just thought I would give a little update....


Love,
Denise

Happy 4th!!!!!!

We had a blast on the 4th.... Spent the day at Daddy's with lots of family and friends, where we also celebrated Jennifer's Birthday with lots of food and fun....
Enjoy the slide show.....

07/05/1975

Happy Birthday Sister!!!!

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown

I want to take this post to Thank all the wonderful Fathers in my life..... From the one I have; to the Grandfather that I have lost and last but not least; my Husband who I know will soon be a truely great example of a Father....

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!

enjoy the slide show of fathers that have either touched my life or the people I care abouts lives

My very sweet nephew called the other night to make sure that when we went
to pick up Hannah, that we bring him back something. He was sure to let us know that he will right us a note to remind us. At first he wanted $1 worth of chinese money, however by the time we hung up it was up to $20. He is so sweet. When he found out about Hannah, he wanted to make sure that we were going to keep her once we got her.....

CRUSIN!!!

Joe and I just got back from a fabulous cruise. It was a week of firsts for both of us. It was Joe's first time flying (which he loved) and both of our first times on a ship that big. Not to mention the first time we have actually had a real vacation (thank-you Mitsubishi). We first went to Coco Cay, where we snorkled and had some drinks. It was beautiful. We will have pics from there later they were on a waterproof camera. Next we went to Nassau, which we did not care for. Last we went to Key West and had a great time visiting the Hemingway House and crusing the streets. We met some wonderful people....... I am posting a slide show of some of our adventure. I am so glad that Joe did well flying because our next trip is quite a long one on a plane, around 16hrs

Aunt Bessie

I wanted to take a few moments to write a little something for the loss
that my family has had. I lost My Aunt 2 weeks ago. She was far too young.
I am sad for those who lost a Sister and a Mother. I was never as close to My
Aunt as some in my family. I never knew her birthday until I saw it on one of
those funeral announcements that they hand out. I don't know what her favorite
color or food was or if she liked movies or if she had any hobbies. I don't know
how long she was married, or any grief she may have had in her earlier life.

What I did know was her recipe for biscuits and how her fried chicken tasted
and that she used real cream in her mashed potatoes. I knew how her house smelled
and how she smelled when you hugged her. I knew that she loved her car, and her children.

I think knowing those few things made her special to me. Like everyone there will
be special things that only they remember. I hope we all carry those small things daily
as a tribute to her. As my family will always say " Thank you Aunt Bessie" before
eating a biscuit that she taught me to make.

Squirrely Business.....

I caught this guy sneaking into Rusty's cage and eating his food.... I couldn't get too close so I hope you can see. Also meet Puddles the new addition to our family.

If you click on the pics they get bigger.......

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NEWS LETTER

We receive a monthly news letter called "In Touch" Just thought I would share the time line exert from this month......


Child Match Department

Current Child Match Statistics
The current wait from the time a dossier is logged in at the CCAA (LID) until a match is received is approximately 18 –20 months for children with no known medical conditions. If your dossier was logged in at the CCAA in September, for example, count October as month one.

Of the matches that arrived on 4/10/07, we received expedited referrals for families of Chinese descent whose dossiers were logged in between April 16 – 30, 2006. We did not have any dossiers for families within the traditional program logged in from October 25 – 26, 2005.* There were no boys in this match group.

In the Waiting Child Program we have placed 64 children in 2007. The current wait for a Travel Notice for these families is 2-4 months from the time that both the dossier and family’s Letter of Intent are logged in at the CCAA.

*In the last match group, CCAA matched dossiers that were logged in from October 25 – 26, 2005. For our CCAI traditional program families, this match day was disheartening. However, it was a match day for hundreds of other families around the world! It is likely that there were 600-800 children matched this month as the CCAA continues to match all of the children’s files that they receive every month.