Application tidbits

While earlier this month we completed an online application, there was some additional paperwork to complete (there's ALWAYS additional paperwork to complete). We were able to get that completed and sent back out to Portland. It will hopefully arrive there in tomorrow's mail. From this point, we will wait to receive a serious packet of information to complete (see, I told you). We have talked about setting artificial deadlines for ourselves in order to help facilitate the completion of paperwork. Going back to when we first met in college, we have done most paperwork-related things at the last minute. Because there is no official deadline for any of this to be completed, we must generate our own, or next year at this time we might be typing about the paperwork we still have to complete.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

I am tired and don't feel good, but I felt it was important to get something up here on the day that we have made our official decision. Today as of about 4:30pm EST, we submitted our application to Holt International to adopt a child from the country of India. As a family, we are excited but know that there is a very long road ahead for us. Because of India's adoption rules, this process in many ways will be more complicated than our adoption from China. India gives preference to Indians living within the country first, then to non-resident Indians living in other countries, and finally the least preference to non-Indians. Whereas China discourages (for the most part) in-country adoptions, India very much encourages them. By definition, we can only qualify for a special needs and/or older child. We have had two people from Holt tell us that we should expect a child at least 3-4. It remains to be seen how this will all play out. That is good by us!