Documents Received and Documents Sent

Yesterday I was out of the house at a training a seminar for the entire day then a second trip to Ikea and out to dinner with Am and Eddie (Sister and Brother-in-Law). I called to check in on Dottie and to let Gerard know that I was be home late. As everyone knows I wait for the mailman daily as does Dottie. I just happened to ask Gerard "Did you get the mail today?" He answered with "Yes I did and you got a package from the State of New Jersey"



You all know what that the package was the dossier is back and apostilled. So today I spent the day looking at all the documents. I pictured them, stacked them, wrote a check and sent them off to the agency. I figured it was best to not worry so much about them and send them off. What a relief to know that the dossier is on its way.



I have always loved the pictures of the apostilled documents. I just could not wait to be able to post this picture. According to the agency my dossier should be in Moscow by mid March. So I have set the time line for my referral. Compared to this time last year my life has changed completely. I was exploring which agency and country and know I am so close to a referral. All I can say is WOW.

How Much do I love the Post Office?

Our post office is within walking distance of our home. I love the fact that it is so close because usually I put Dottie's leash on and away we go. Today I finally finished putting together all my documents that needed to be sent to Trenton.

I went to Wal-Mart to have the pictures of my home put into a collage. Putting the pictures together took a little time but they turned out so nice. I was able to edit the pictures so that I could include the label of each room right in the photograph.
So the documents are on their way.

Unlike the Postman who delivers the mail the Post woman at the Post office thinks I am very nice. She does not know my stalker side (Just Kidding). Curtsey of my favorite Post woman she took my picture with my package before I gave it to her to be mailed out. Unlike with my I-171 I have put the tracking information in a very safe place. I will not lose it this time.

I thought about driving to Trenton for the one day service but then I figured it out that each document would cost $20.00 or $580.00 as opposed to just $5.00 or $145.00 for the 4 day service by mail. That is enough money for at least 2 nights in an apartment in Moscow so that is what I did.

I want to thank everyone who has helped through my frustation last week. I have thought about something that Ana has said about how her delays brought her to her little Eli. I know that many of you all are waiting for referrals or to return to your little ones and I pray daily that they come in God's time.

Ready, Set, Apostille

Yesterday I drove 1 1/2 hours and picked up my updated home study. What a relief! I can not believe that I now hold everything that needs to be apostilled for the initial dossier. I have to say I am lucky to have the resources, the time and yes the patience to get all this done. Today I have spent much of the afternoon putting everything together so that I can send all these beautiful papers to Trenton, New Jersey.

I can not believe it. So many months of putting these papers together looking at them, keeping them safe in plastic cover sheets and re-reading them. The days of holding on to them are coming to an end. I do need to take a couple more pictures of the house and attachment to the notarized cover sheet because I did not read the directions properly. So Monday is the day. I will send it all out. Hooray!

I'm Afraid Frustration Has Taken Over

I think I am having an off day. I am waiting one document to be finished so that I can have the Dossier apostilled and sent to Russia. The crazy thing is the document that needs to be changed is one that I have had done for quite some time.

When I changed agencies I had to get my home study changed to reflect the new agency. Well there seems to be either a hold up or a miscommunication. I sent all the things that need to be changed to my home study agency in the end of January.
When I talked to them in January I was told that it would take at least a week before the changes could be made. I am trying to be patient but I guess I am not that patient after all. I have called them once and I am contemplating calling them again this week to see where we stand with the changes.

I know that these tiny obstacles have been put in my way to slow things down a little bit for one of many reasons. Maybe I am supposed to finish my degree first and then be free of writing papers and researching for hours at a time. I know that once the baby comes I will want to spend most of my time reading and playing with the little one. Gerard keeps telling me that I have to wait until it is my turn in God's plan. I have to say thinking about it that way does help me to cope.

Strange Dreams

I think I may be a little over worked because I have had the strangest dreams the past couple night. I think I must be reading blogs too late into the night. I have been dreaming about all the people from the blogs that I read. All of these dreams that I am having are so peaceful and happy. Usually I am plagued by night terrors.

Last nights dreams consisted of oddly enough Jane and Jim. I was in the room when a baby was brought to them. The baby was so beautiful sweet and quiet. He kept looking up at Jane with big round eyes. I could not tell what color these eyes were but I just knew it was Jane. The funny thing we have never met.

Then Dede was in the room all of a sudden we all were looking to her for parenting advice. Dede if you are reading this in my dream you were very confident and all knowing. I know this sounds crazy but I just thought I would let you guys know how much I am enjoying reading about your experiences.

No Real News!

Gerard and I are both sick. He has quite a fever and is miserable. I am so glad that we are not scheduled to travel right now because it would be murder.
I have enjoyed reading about all my blogger friends who have traveled recently or are in Russia. Because we switched agencies we are waiting on the update from the agency that did our Homestudy. That is the last piece of the puzzle. I am hoping that I will hear something by the end of the week. I am going to offer to pick it up so that I can kept on traveling to get everything apostilled.

I started looking at apartments and airline tickets. I know that I have to buy refundable airline tickets so I am in a little bit of sticker shock. I live about 2.5hours from New York City so I am hopeful that I can get a direct flight only time will tell.