I think that we have been checked out, checked on, checked into, checked off, checked and double checked, investigated, and researched more than any other married couple on earth. Except of course other adoptive parents. I seriously think that if you are under the age of 25.......ok, maybe 22........and you want to have children now that you should have to go through the process we have had to go through to be adoptive parents. I think most people would decide to wait awhile.
We have been been interviewed, questioned and re-questioned, tested, fingerprinted, cleared, approved, certified, notarized, authenticated, approved again, educated, and then questioned some more.
Our friends and family say we will make great parents and have even completed forms attesting to that fact. My step-daughter has even given her consent and completed a form attesting to that fact.
It has been determined that we have the financial means to support a child and that our opportunity for continued employment is excellent. Our employers have completed letters attesting to those facts.
We were born appropriately, S was divorced appropriately, and we were married appropriately. We have official documents to prove all of these things.
Our home has been toured and approved to be safe enough to raise a child in. We have appropriate fire extinguishers and fire alarms. Our marriage is in a good enough state, our family supports us enough, we have appropriate guardians, and we see enough of the big picture to adopt a child. We have sworn that we will not abuse any child placed in our home. A Social Worker has determined all of these things and completed a home study to attest to all of these facts.
We are mentally, physically, and within the appropriate height and weight to raise a child. We are free of AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, VD, as well as any other sexually transmitted disease. Our physician has completed documents attesting to these facts.
Our friends say that would provide an exceptional home environment, that we have healthy values, that we are honest (enough anyway) and caring, and that we have good enough manners in which to raise a child. They have completed, signed, and sealed in blood letters attesting to these things.
We have no seedy state criminal record, have no child abuse record, and have been cleared by the FBI to adopt a child. Of course we have documents and fingerprints to attest to these facts.
The US Immigration says it is fine for us to travel to a foreign country and come back with an orphan immigrant that we will adopt and make a US citizen with all of the legal rights as any biological child born in the US. And yes, we have an OFFICIAL form attesting to this.
We have declared every name combination that we have ever used during our entire lives on a form and signed it using one of those name combinations swearing these are the only names we have ever used.
All of these forms have been signed, notarized, certified, authenticated, and then authenticated again.
We are also pretty enough and our home is nice enough to bring a child into. We have 8 to 10 photographs to prove this.
I think that about covers it..........for now.
Oh wait!
Where is that form that the dogs had to complete and sign swearing that we take them to the vet regularly, that we never abuse them, that we feed them regularly, let them outside to relieve themselves regularly, groom them regularly, give them treats regularly, pet them regularly and tell them what good girls they are on a daily basis?
What do you mean Libby wouldn't sign it until she got more treats?????


LOL! Great post! Saffie & Shadow demanded catnip but I had to explain that they couldn't tell the social workers I was giving them drugs.
So is your dossier translated yet? Where are you in the process?
Posted by: Julie | September 17, 2005 at 08:19 AM
I don't think Lucy ever did sign. One thing is for sure, if she had known about Mac's fur grabbing capabilities, she definitely would not have!
I enjoy your writing. Hang in there!
Posted by: Carol | September 19, 2005 at 12:18 PM
Libby...such a little monster!!!!! You tell Libby to sign that paper or she is hitting the road again. No more steak for her!
Posted by: Charmaine | September 21, 2005 at 07:58 AM
That was such a cute entry! And so true. I would trust a fellow adoptive parent without question. At times I felt it is a little unfair all that we have to go thru, but it's all worth it in the end. I guess if I was a Birth Mother, I would want my childs future parents to be checked out for everything. Congratulations again on youre referral!!
Posted by: Carrie | September 21, 2005 at 11:26 AM
Fantastic post.
I hope you're able to bring your child home soon.
Posted by: April | September 22, 2005 at 06:09 PM