The oh-so-important dossier!

Our visit from the social worker went very well on Sunday.  She was impressed that we had all of our documents prepared thoroughly and all of the requirements  - including that the escape routes posted throughout the house - were done.  She indicated that she usually has to tell people to get that step done before she returns for the second visit.  Since the escape route posting is clearly on the list of requirements I have to wonder why it isn't done the first time?  In any case, she is to return tomorrow to finish up.  We are waiting on some references to get back to to the agency, and that is pretty much it.

With the homestudy quickly drawing to a close, that will trigger the beginning of the dossier processing.  A dossier (daw-syey) is defined as "a collection or file of documents on the same subject, especially a complete file containing detailed information about a person or topic."  In this case, as uncomfortable as it makes us, the file is on US.  Details, LOTS of details. 

The dossier is a set of specific, required documents that represent our family to the Chinese government.  Each document must be completed, signed, notarized (or certified in the case of birth and marriage certificates).  This step is completed on just about everything.  Then each document needs to be verified again at the county level; verified again at the state level, and finally authenticated at the appropriate Chinese Consulate or Embassy.  This requires many cover letters, couriers to each of those offices for each document, a fee from our agency to process the whole lot, etc. It is perhaps the most important set of documents we will ever complete.  The Chinese authorities will ultimately accept or reject us depending on this set of documents.  

We have had enough confirmations over the past several weeks to realize that this whole thing really wasn't OUR idea.  We are humbled and oh so excited that God is apparently intending for this adorable little person to be part of our family. 

We would like to invite you to be part of bringing Abigail Dawn home.  We are having a puzzle fund-raiser to help get our dossier processed and to China.  What is a puzzle fundraiser?  We have purchased a puzzle of the Great Wall (at times the fees can seem like a wall to overcome!) and are inviting you to sponsor a piece -or a few pieces!  For each $5 donation we will put the donor's name on the back of a puzzle piece and begin putting it together as we have sponsors to do so.  We will double glass frame the puzzle when it is complete so Abigail can see the back with the names of all those who graciously helped us get these documents moving. If you would care to participate, you may use the "Reece's Rainbow" donate button to make a tax deductible contribution.  It is found to the right on this page.  Thank you for your friendship, your concern for the orphans, and most of all for your continued prayers!

Our Great Wall puzzle