Submitted!!!!

On Thursday April 4, I got an email from our attorney.   Our dossier has been submitted.  Now, we wait on travel dates.  We should be traveling to meet our boys in 5 or 6 weeks!

I also can now officially introduce you to the little guy.  He is known as Bradyn on reece's rainbow.  We are not positive yet what his name will be when he joins our family.  He is one day older than our little Aubryn, so we will have twins!!!

 

This is the first picture we saw of this precious guy.  We have been able to get an updated medical report and more picture.  He is doing great and cant wait to see him!

 

Big Easter Week News!

What a week...we committed to a second boy from Bulgaria. We drove to Austin on Tuesday to get the commitment docs appostiled and Fedexed to Bulgaria. Because he is not in the same orphanage as Stephen, we will have some hurdles to clear with respect to our initial visit as we try to meet the required visits to both boys while minimizing our time away from our kids. We are very excited with this commitment as he is one day older than our baby Aubryn, so she will remain our baby.

How fitting it is that this news should hit during the week of Easter when we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of our savior who delivered our adoption as sons of the living God. One day, Stephen and ???? will learn and experience the reality and joy of God's adoption.

Our Dossier should be submitted at the end of this week.  Please pray everything processes quickly and we get the signatures we need.   With our kids busy schedules, there are definently weeks that would be difficult for us to be gone.

Dossier Translated!

I got word last night that our dossier has been translated and is currently being authenticated.  It should be submitted next week.  What that means is..... we should get travel dates in about 3 weeks and could possibly meet our son in about 6-7 weeks!  We are so excited!

It does get a little scary.  All we have of this 5 year old boy is one picture.  One picture.   I can't wait to see what he is like, who he is, what things he likes, and what he doesn't.  I can't wait to hold him, to teach him and to love him.   He has been without love for so long, I can't wait to give him the kind of love he should have gotten all along.

Financially, it means we still need help.  To be funded for our first trip and for the agency fee that is due as soon as we return, we still need to raise $3360.  Our account on Reece's Rainbow needs to be at $7600.  We know that God will take care of this!  This was his plan all along, not ours.  So far, we have paid cash for all our expenses, but we are at the point of needing help!  The $7600 will cover most of our first trip along with a $4000 payment on our return.

This last week has been good.  We have done "spring" stuff.  Planted our garden.  New baby chicks (along with added security for the chicken coop). 

Dossier Sent and Spring Break

Our completed dossier was sent by fedex to Eastern Europe last Tuesday.  It was delivered on Friday to our attorney.  We only have Steven named on it, but did put we are open to another child also.  We have found several children that would be great with our family, but they have all been listed with other agencies.  I have found that agencies don't like to share kids (which is sad...since the whole purpose is to find families for them).  We have been brokenhearted several times, but we know that if God has planned for us to adopt 2, he will make it clear which child.

Our kids are on Spring Break this week.  On Saturday, we headed up to the Dallas area and spent the evening with Troy's dad.  Sunday morning, we drove to Murfreesboro, Arkansas.  We stayed in a cabin there for two nights.  One day we visited Old Washington Historic State Park.  It was a really neat town that has over 30 restored building that you can tour from the early 19th century. 

Years ago, we heard about the crater of diamonds mine and thought our kids would love it...going and looking for diamonds.  So, we planned this trip with the crater of diamonds as our main stop.  Well, we were wrong.  It was cold, wet and muddy.  There was lots of whining and no diamonds.  Colton and Aubryn were covered with mud and were great.

That evening we headed to a beautiful lake and then went out to a great dinner.  Our vacation was short, but gave us some much needed, relaxed time together.













One the way home, we stopped in West Monroe, LA.  My duck dynasty fans got to shop and meet part of the Robertson family.  I thought it was funny that she asked, "are y'all all one family?"

USCIS approved!

I called the USCIS office this morning to let them know that we had walked in early last week to get our biometrics done.  I was surprised to find out that the approval was in the mail this morning.  I am so excited!  There has been alot going on in the Bulgarian government over the last week, so we would like to get thing there asap.

What that means for us is I have a lot to do this week.  We have several forms and pictures that I need to finish, have notorized, then drive to Austin to get appostilled.  It is all good. 

We will have a payment of $5500 due.  Praying.

We also have to know which child we are committing too.  We know that, right?  Yes,  we are doing this for Steven.  We already have 5 children, so it isn't about having another child.  It is about follow God.  With that in mind, we have been feeling like God is calling us to save another child from life in an orphanage (then would go to institution)  The thought of having 7 children scares me to death, but we are trying to remain open to that possibility.  We are trying to find out if there is another child who has needs that are "doable" by our family.

To adopt from Bulgaria, the cost is roughly $25000, but it ranges from about $3000-$7000 to add another child.  A very small cost to follow God's command of caring for the least of these.

Please pray!

Getting Closer

Thursday we were able to have our biometrics done for our I800.  This is basically an application to US immigration to adopt.  I tried to contact our officer to let her know the fingerprints were done, but there was a snowstorm and no one was in the office.  Hopefully tomorrow, Monday, I will be able to reach her.

My new short term goal is to have USCIS approval this week (please pray), then I will need to go to Austin early next week to have all our documents apostilled.  A family in Waco will be going to Bulgaria on March 7 and I would love to have them hand deliver them to our lawyer there.  Please pray.

This was another busy weekend at the Blackmon house.   Friday, two girls had sleepovers at friends.  Adelin had a youth conference at church and Troy helped with security there.  Colton, Aubryn and I had a fun time together.  Colton choose to go to the mall ( I questioned this, but he had an agenda).  He had some money from allowance and wanted to look for toys and clothes.  He was great, he knew exactly what he wanted to look and was a little picky about the toys when he found the prices.  He found 2 hats and a bowtie that he had to have.   I love that little guy!  He has his own style and ideas!

Saturday night we had the Gala for Providence Classical School.  It was fun to go with friends.  We didn't do any shopping this year since we are working hard to fund our adoption.  It was a great night for the school!  We have been blessed by Providence. 

Troy went to Florida today for a funeral.  Quick one day trip, I know he will be tired when he gets home in a few hours.

Still Waiting...and good news!

We really do not have alot of "new" news...We are still waiting.  We sent our I800 application in about 3 weeks ago and are waiting for our biometrics appointment.  We hope to be mailing our dossier in about a month.  

We still need to raise about $8,000 for the adoption.  I am going to add a detailed expense page to our blog incase anyone is interested. 

Our good news is that we have been offered a matching grant of $250 dollars!  What this means is that what is donated into our account will be matched up to $250 dollars.  Please consider giving, it is tax deductible and we could use your support right now!  Any amount will help $5, $10...it all adds up.  Our grant need to be at $3450 for us to receive this match!

What else has been going on with us? 

Caitlin has continued voice lessons.  She is singing at our schools gala this weekend. She will audition for Cyt's "the little mermaid" in a few weeks.

Adelin is getting big.  She will be 12 next month.  She is currently running track and just announced she has her first boyfriend.  I told her she wasn't allowed too!

Payton is playing basketball, her last game is this weekend.  She will also audition for "The Little Mermaid" in a few weeks.

Colton is in Tae Kwon Do.  He is doing well, still waiting on MRI results from a few weeks ago.
He loves duck dynasty, and got a neat gift of a duck call today!

Aubryn, my sweet little one, does not like to sleep anymore.  It makes me very sad because I really like to sleep.  She loves to take care of lots of babies and loves to put them to bed