Prayers for our Children
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Given to us after our court proceeding
Also given to us after court
About Us
- Tiger & Kar
- Our journey to adopt our son from Russia began in October, 2007. Our 1st trip to Moscow was March 15-22, 2008, and our 2nd trip was May 10 - 31. Our court date was May 15 and we officially gained custody of Ilya on May 27, 2008. We are thrilled to have you join us as we embark on the greatest journey of all - PARENTHOOD! Our pets Bailey & Bandit (dogs) and Ivan & Pogo (cats) welcome you as well!
Feel like chatting? Email me anytime!
Just Tuning In?
Catch the First Episode of our Journey Here!
The Day Ilya was Born
Given to us after our court proceeding
Ilya's Referral Photo
Also given to us after court
Photos of Us!!
BubbleShare: Share photos - halloween photos
Bay & Bandit
BubbleShare: Share photos - Thanksgivingtime!
Our Timeline
- 5/27/08 - GOTCHA DAY!
- 5/15/08 - Court!!
- 5/10-5/31/08 - Trip 2
- 4/30/08 - Recv'd Trip 2 Visa's from Consulate
- 4/25/08 - Travel arrangements made for Trip 2, May 10-31 2008
- 4/23/08 - Recv'd news of our court date, 5/15/08!
- 4/4/08 - I-171H and FBI fingerprints notarized, apostilled and FedEx'd to Susan in TX to hand carry to Moscow for us on Wed. 4/9/08!!
- 4/3/08 - Recv'd approved 171H & finally removed countdown ticker (last reading on it was waiting 2 months, 2 weeks & 6 days!)
- 3/21/08 - Ilya's 1st Birthday
- 3/15-3/22/08 - Trip 1
- 3/6/08 - Recv'd Visa back from Consulate
- 3/3/08 - FedEx'd Visa app to NY Consulate
- 2/23/08 - recv'd confirmation of 1st travel dates 3/15/08 - 3/22/08!!
- 2/19/08 - recv'd confirmation from USCIS, fingerprints cleared sometime last week
- 2/8/08 - USCIS Fingerprint Appt
- 2/1/08 - Received FBI fingerprint clearances (4 days earlier than requested!)
- 1/23/08 - FedEx'd fingerprints to FBI (needed for Moscow region), asked for expedited service to be returned 2/5/08
- 1/19/08 - Turned in dossier to C , spoke about regions, decided on Moscow :-) ; unable to meet Ana & Russ due to weather :-(
- 1/18-1/20/08 - Trip to Asheville to meet C, Ana & Russ
- 1/15/08 - Dossier Apostilled!
- 1/14/08 - I600A submitted; dossier notarized
- 1/11/08 - Fingerpint drama is OVER! Received 5 copies of our HS
- 1/10/08 - FPL rejects Judy's fingerprints
- 12/19/07 - Judy's HS fingerprints resubmitted - will they be "expedited"?!
- 11/27/07 - SW had us review first draft of HS - still waiting on CPS and Fingerprints to come back...hopefully will have them the 1st week of December
- 11/16/07 - Final interview w/ SW!
- 11/15/07 - Request Judy's criminal history from VSP (again!)
- 11/7/07 - Norm's HS Interview
- 11/5/07 - Kar's HS Interview
- 11/1/07 - Autobiographies (for both of us!) DONE!!!
- 11/1/07 - Karyn & Chef Judy physicals completed!
- 10/31/07 - Mailed Child Protective Services Release of Info - for home study
- 10/31/07 - Visited Sheriff's Office for National Fingerprint Backround Check - for home study
- 10/31/07 - Received our Criminal Histories from the VA State Police - to be forwarded to CSS
- 10/30/07 - Purchased money orders for: National Background Check (3) and Child Prot. Svc. Release (3)
- 10/29/07 - Joint interview with SW
- 10/25/07: Receive Dossier requirements from CSS and begin the Paper Chase!
- 10/23/07: First meeting with SW to get home study papers
- 10/07: We realize "Agency A" isn't the agency for us. We apply to and are accepted by CSS (Catholic Social Services in NC)
- 09/07: Decide to adopt from Russia and apply to "Agency A".
- 08/07: Begin researching IA again.
- 2006: We're pregnant again but it's another ectopic. This time, surgery is required.
- 12/05: We begin researching international adoption.
- 2001: We're pregnant! Sadly, it's ectopic..
- 08/95: Our wedding day!
- 10/12/94: We meet while both stationed at Andrews Air Force Base
Acronyms & Definitions
- AACK!!! - Kar stressing out!! :-)
- IA - International Adoption
- Paper Chase - Collecting documents needed for the HS, Dossier, I600A and I171H
- HS - Home Study
- SW - Social Worker (person doing our HS)
- Dossier - Legal documents requested by Russia (birth certs, marriage lic, financial statement, photos, and MUCH more!)
- Apostille - Legalization of a document for international use
- USCIS - US Citizenship & Immigration Services
- I600A - Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition
- I171H - Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition
Followers
Our Favorite Blogs
- A Place to Call Home
- Aidan is Home from Russia
- Almost There - Russian Adoption Story
- Ariana's Story
- Back From Russia with Hope and Faith
- Building a Family
- Bun in the Airplane
- Coby, Brandy & Neil
- Confessions of an Over-Caffeinated Housewife
- Craven's
- Finding Emily
- Finding Malibu
- Gerard & Joy
- Heart's Desire
- Jamison Family
- Jojo
- Keith, Becky & Andrew
- Life with Phillip
- Little Patch of Heaven
- Littlest Tsarina
- Mark, Sinzi & Diego
- Martin Family
- Meghan, Bill & Nick
- Michael, Carrie & S
- Nick, Beth, Luca & Jaxon
- Norman & Carey
- Our Adoption Adventure
- Our Life on the Little Screen
- Our Russian Adoption
- Precious in His Sight
- Renae & Joe
- Rob, Dede & Liam
- Russ, Ana, Eli & Claire
- Ryan & Amy
- Simons Family
- Smiles & Trials
- Sumwalt Family
- Susan & Nate's Journey
- To Russia - With Love
- Troy, Rachel & Daniel
- Voice of the Voiceless
Blog Archive
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2008
(175)
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October
(16)
- Ilya can't drive 55!
- 365 / 194
- Celebrity Sightings in VA
- Mailbox Visit
- Look Who's 19
- 1 hr. and $350 later, it's confirmed...
- Blessed!
- October 15, 2008
- You're Bootiful!
- Footprints (and a special invitation)
- What's a girl to do when boredom sets in?
- Twilight Zone/Great Minds/Inquiring Minds/Travel
- So, you tell me...
- Turtles, Kayakers and Waterfalls - OH MY!
- Friday Greeting
- I am SO INTERESTING...
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October
(16)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
7 comments:
I think it is cute. I would leave it alone.
Happy Halloween!
I think it is very cute! Very creative! I'm so excited about Halloween too this year. I cannot wait to see all of the kiddos costumes on all of the blogs the day after Halloween! :)
Looks great! I like it when things are off centered. . .Catches the eye more.
Love the header - its great as is
I like the look!
You can't center the header on that template but you can change the color of that tiny skinny outline to black so it's black on black and you won't see the line off set from the header. Does that make sense?
Very cute. I need to take some time to work on a holiday one for our family.
I really like it! Great job!
Happy Halloween season!!
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