I-171H IS HERE!!!!

The mailman can now rest easy! My stalking will now CEASE!!!!

Our I-171H arrived in the mail TODAY!!!

So, I had just come home ~ mailbox was empty ~ again. However, it was totally empty, which meant that the mailman had not come to our house yet today. "So there's still a chance" it will come today, I thought to myself.......

I was sitting at my desk in our home office when I heard the mailman put the mailbox lid down. I wanted to RUSH to the door like I did every day these last several weeks......but for some reason......this day......I told myself, "Debb, it is only Monday. Chill. You know it isn't there. Don't rush, just to feel let down again. Finish what you are doing first. THEN you can go look and see that it is not there." {okay, I publicly announced my flicker of negativity. BUT I really wasn't bummin' about it. I was okay with it not being in the mail today.)

I did just that. I finished what I was working on, which happened to be wrapping up some details for our Dossier.

Then, Jeff pops in to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch. As I get up to greet him, my heart skips a beat as I remember that I didn't check the mail! Talking myself into accepting that it is okay that it won't be there, I step outside, and I SEE IT!!!! The big white envelope from Homeland Security! I immediately let out a huge SQUEAL. One that confused our doodle bugs and was heard by neighbors, I am sure! This JOYOUS squeal brought Jeff and the doodles running.

The GREAT thing about this, is that JEFF WAS HOME to share in the excitement! God KNEW how special it would be to me to have him home when we received the I-171, and he orchestrated that small detail out for us! YAY, GOD!!! Yes, and Jeff even thought clearly enough to get the camera to capture the long-awaited moment!

Well, after much prancing and dancing around, we went immediately to the notary and then the Secretary of State (advantage of living in Boise ~ state capital!). We then marched over to Staples to make our Dossier Copies!

Oh yeah, another miracle of the day: I also discovered last Friday that our Police Reports given to us by our caseworker was not notarized. I immediately contacted a dear AWAA momma and friend, whom we've come to know since starting our adoption process (Cacey and her family have been DTE for a month or two now). Cacey gave me the info of who she contacted with Health and Welfare, to have the police reports notarized. This lady was so nice, she typed up the letters within ONE HOUR of our conversation and I was able to go pick them up today before getting our Dossier cover letter notarized and certified!

AAAHHHHHHH........God's blessings are raining on us today! LET IT RAIN!!!!! THANK YOU, GOD!

Well, we are almost there! We saw one glitch where the notary for the post placement commitment form expires this October (they are s'pose to be good for at least one year). Yes, its a bummer that our caseworker didn't ask the notary when it expired, and we didn't catch it until Friday night when we were getting all our dossier together.....to be ready! Little did we know God was prompting us to get it all ready because MONDAY would be our I-171H day!

Well, it is HERE! We will finalize our last photo page (house pics) tonight and we should be able to mail out the Dossier tomorrow, God willing! I hate to count on dates anymore, as you never know what is going to hold you up. But, with much excitement and with bold expectancy, we claim that we plan to mail it all off to AWAA TOMORROW!!!!!!!! Will let you know how it goes! {smile. smile. BIG SMILE!}

THANK YOU! To ALL of you who have agonized with us in our waiting for this one important paper! Your prayers have helped MOVE this MOUNTAIN! We so appreciate each and every one of you!