Mini-Van Mama?!

Yes, it is true.... last week we bought a Toyota Sienna Limited. It is light blue with taupe interior! The kids love it and I have to say that I see that practicality of it. David just put a spoiler on the back to add a bit more shade in the back from our intense Colorado sun. He asked me as I drove it home from the dealer if it drove faster... I thought it was funny- do mini-vans drive fast and wouldn't I be looked down upon if I were blazing a trail down I-25 in a mini-van full of kids? I know David was kidding but it is funny how much a mini-van does define you!

This week was full of tasking. All our Clearances came back this week, all but one submitted the 2nd week in June, which is not bad turn around time. We had to have background checks in California, New York and Colorado. All the places we have lived since the age of 17. It was funny coming up with all the addresses we lived at since 17. It was not as long of a list as David's was! Then we had to get fingerprinted by Colorado as well. All of this information goes into our Home Study along with our Family Health forms, financials and three references from our friends. We also had to provide basic information about our house, which we originally had to supply a floor plan for approval. I think we are almost done with this process. The Home study, once completed and approved by our Agency, will then go to the State for an approval. This should take about a week. When the State approves it, the home study will then go to Department of Homeland Security with our Immigration/Visa request called I-800 (use to be I-600A but they have changed it since 2006 and it requires more info of course!). I am not sure how long this process takes but part of it is then receiving our I-800 Application and "inviting" us to go and get fingerprinted again for another check by Homeland Security. Meanwhile when our I-800 Application goes in China is working on their end. They need to find our Dossier, review it, approve our intent to adopt Jordan and notify us that we officially approved. Then they provide an invitation to travel to pick him up, one usually had 4-6 weeks to go and get the child from there. These steps in China can take a few weeks. This is from what I understand of the process. I think we are still looking at September so that is great. This is becoming a reality quickly!