An Online Journal of Our Adoption Journey

Delving Deep

"What is a fond memory from your childhood?"

We went on a number of camping trips when I was young, to Colorado, where my father grew up, and to places in Arizona, and once to the Baja of California in Mexico.  We had a pop-up tent trailer -- a red and white striped canvas number -- that we slept in.  I vividly recall a night of summer thunderstorms where every flash of lightning would light up the stripes of the tent.  My father told us to count the number of seconds between the flash and the sound of the thunder.  Every five seconds was a mile.  I remember lying there and counting the seconds, measuring how far the storm was. 

We did a lot of hiking, fishing, and playing around in the outdoors on those trips, and I remember the times fondly.

On July 9th, 2001, we sent off the last of the required documents to Holt.  It took us six weeks to gather info, fill it all out, and send it off.  And last week we had a set-back.  On Tuesday, July 3, we got our I-600A back from INS with a notice that they do not accept personal checks!  Looking back over the instructions from Holt it mentions, sure enough, that one should send in a certified check or money order.  Bummer.  And, with July 4th a holiday I knew I couldn't turn it back around until the fifth.  Two weeks wasted!  Arrggg.

Tuesday was also when we visited the doctor to have blood tests done for Hepatitis A and B, HIV, and Tuberculosis.  One tries not to stress over those things but I noticed that I felt more and more uneasy over the next two days awaiting the results.  On Thursday I sent back the I-600A form, this time with a Post Office money order. 

On Friday we stopped by the doctor's office for the results and signed documents.  Our doctor is so wonderful, she came in just for us!  And the test were negative!  *Whew* what a relief that was. 

The hardest part of putting all of these documents together was filling out the Personal Data Information questionnaire.  Many of the questions were personal and difficult to answer.  It had such questions as, "How well do you think your parents raised you, and what would you do differently?" and "What are your religious values and how do you to intend to impart them upon the child?" as well as the one I've answered at the top of this page.  All in all a stressful several weeks. 

I even had to go to DMV to get my driver's record because last year I paid a $300 fine for going through a left turn arrow as it changed from yellow to red -- one of those photo-enforced intersections that are now being challenged in court.  We each had to sign a no criminal past statement, and include any traffic volitions where the fine was over $100.  I needed the driver's record because I couldn't remember the exact date.

We ordered some more certified copies of our birth records and marriage license.  The ones I had went into package to the INS (The instructions mention that photocopies may be accepted, but after the personal check delay I didn't want to take the chance). 

Our Updated Spend List