The last few days have been filled with picnics for the family as we wait away the time until we hear about Katelin.
Thursday Liili and I went down to Pine Grove Furnace State Park and met up with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Shelly, Cousin Megan and Cousin Luke for a little family pcinic before the latter head back to Texas. Lilli had a great time as we hiked through rocks in the creek, saw frogs, tadpoles and fish, had a picnic lunch, and then went swimming in a lake formed by an the old quarry. I was so proud of her, she took off her water wings.
Then today we had two picnics. The first was for the volunteers at Kids Town. It was a nice intimate gathering and we all had some good food an relaxation. Then this evening Lilli's class had an end of year picnic. More hot dogs and sno cones. I think my taste buds have exploded from all the fruit I have eaten today. It has been a wonderful (warm) few days.
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About Us
Our Timeline
12/28/08~We finally arrive home.
12/26/08~We say goodbye to Vietnam.
12/25/08~MERRY CHRISTMAS
12/24/08~Received visa and had exit interview.
12/23/08~Received passport and medical clearance. Flew to Hanoi. Apllied for US visa and exit clearance.
12/22/08~Applied for Katelins passport and medical clearance.
12/21/08~Katelin crawls
12/17/08~GOTCHA! Katelin Lan Foster
12/16/08~Giving and Receiving ceremony could not be held today since the orphanage director must be present. So we must wait one more day to receive our Christmas Angel.
12/15/08~Arrive in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Check into the Somerset Hotel.
12/14/08~Leave Harrisburg International Airport for Saigon Airport. Harrisburg to Chicago to Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh.
12/09/08~We had our travel meeting today and...SURPRISE we're leaving in five days.
12/05/08~We received word from our social worker that we're traveling on December 20th. Merry Christmas!
12/01/08~We received our preliminary I-600 approval from USCIS.
12/01/08~We sent in to have our fingerprints re-done.
10/07/08~We got a health and picture update from the agency.
10/07/08~We got a receipt from U.S. CIS stating that they had received our I-600 paperwork, and that the investigation to process will take about 60 business days.
08/29/08~Out of the blue, by God's design, we have received a referral. Nguyen Xuan Lan (to be named Katelin Lan Foster) was born on June 15 of this year, and currently in Vietnam. We will be traveling to Vietnam in November or December to bring her home.
05/31/08~We receive addendum. THE END!
05/28/08~We receive notice that the agency is changing directors on the Vietnam program, and that we will receiving an addendum.
05/22/08~We redo our health verification. Yes we are still alive and able to parent (but we're not getting any younger.)
04/25/08~US Embassy in Hanoi confirms information obtained by us on April 12.
04/15/08~Agency informs us that we have a referral pending?
04/12/08~Sources inform us that the program will be shutting down, and if a referral is not received by June 1, the likelihood of completing by September 1 is slim. When we asked the agency, they said they were not aware of this information.
04/11/08~Notified that we have to redo our State Police, Childline Clearance, and medical reports...for the third time.
04/10-11/08~JSCIS meeting with agencies
04/08/08~KEEP THE FAITH!
04/04/08~Received new I-797. 3rd time.
04/03/08~USCIS informs that they will now be requiring DNA family tests on all adopted children. When 85% of children in the orphanages are abandoned, how is this logistically possible?
03/31/08~STILL WAITING!
03/25/08~US-Vietnam joint agreement not ratified. At this point adoptions from Vietnam may end September 1.
03/13/08~Had to refile for I-797.
03/12/08~Sent a list of concerns to agency. We were told to hang in there and we should hear soon.
01-02/08~Many agencies have facilitated many adoptions except ours. STILL WAITING!
12/31/07~STILL WAITING!
12/20/07~JCICS approves all procedures.
12/12/07~Agency informs us that new laws in HCMC have been set for how long a child must remain in an orphanage before they are eligible for adoption.
12/10/07~Agency informed us that they have several referrals going out and that we should hear any day now.
11/30/07 STILL WAITING!
11/29/07~JCICS held a meeting in DC to review new procedures and plans to hold a vote in late December.
11/19/07~Agency informed us that the DIA is implementing a new process for families dossiers.
11/12/07~Agency informed us that we should see a referral by the end of the month.
10/31/07~Completed all new paperwork. STILL WAITING!
10/25/07~Medical report, police report and I-171 redone.
10/24/07~Agency informs us that USCIS regulations regarding I-600 are changing, and that this document must be completed before travel instead of after adoption finalized.
10/22/07~Agency informs us that they have six children (4 girls, 2 boys) awaiting referral.
10/11/07~Completed new contract with agency.
10/02/07~Agency informed us that they are changing facilitators? The transition to new facilitators will take a couple months as they re-license their re-license?
09-10/07~Agency informed us that that they are awaiting re-licensing from Vietnam?
09/21/07~Received new I-797
09/13/07~Got re-fingerprinted.
09/04/07~All documents updated and sent to agency.
08/31/07~Had to begin updating documents.
08/16/07~Social Worker said that we should get a referral in just a few weeks.
06-07/07~Agency says that a few changes are being made. STILL WAITING!
04-05/07~STILL WAITING!
03-04/07~Watched as Angelina Jolie successfully adopted a child from Vietnam...through the same agency we are using.
03/06/07~Had travel meeting.
03/02/07~Received travel guidelines and info regarding travel meeting.
02/28/07~NO REFERRAL YET!
01/31/07~NO REFERRAL YET!
01/17/07~All documents were translated in Vietnam.
12/31/06~NO REFERRAL YET!
11/15/06~Social Worker informed us that it looked like we would have a referral by Thanksgiving.
11/02/06~All dossier paperwork approved.
10/18/06~All paperwork legalized by Vietnam.
10/11/06~All paperwork authenticated.
10/06/06~Had dossier meeting and all documents notarized and certified.
10/04/06~Received I-797
09/04/06~Home Study report sent to immigration.
09/01/06~Home Study
08/31/06~Home Study officially completed.
08/22/06~All paperwork and documents completed for home study.
07/22/06~Child abuse clearance received.
07/11/06~Agency receives local police report.
07/05/06~Filed for local police report.
07/05/06~Filed for child abuse clearance.
06/30/06~Fingerprints taken.
06/26/06~Received notice to get fingerprinted.
06/15/06~Received 2 certified copies copies of our marriage license.
06/14/06~I-600A was received by INS.
06/08/06~1st meeting with social worker.
05/06~Application completed.
04/06~Decision to adopt a sister for Lilli from Vietnam is made.
12/26/08~We say goodbye to Vietnam.
12/25/08~MERRY CHRISTMAS
12/24/08~Received visa and had exit interview.
12/23/08~Received passport and medical clearance. Flew to Hanoi. Apllied for US visa and exit clearance.
12/22/08~Applied for Katelins passport and medical clearance.
12/21/08~Katelin crawls
12/17/08~GOTCHA! Katelin Lan Foster
12/16/08~Giving and Receiving ceremony could not be held today since the orphanage director must be present. So we must wait one more day to receive our Christmas Angel.
12/15/08~Arrive in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Check into the Somerset Hotel.
12/14/08~Leave Harrisburg International Airport for Saigon Airport. Harrisburg to Chicago to Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh.
12/09/08~We had our travel meeting today and...SURPRISE we're leaving in five days.
12/05/08~We received word from our social worker that we're traveling on December 20th. Merry Christmas!
12/01/08~We received our preliminary I-600 approval from USCIS.
12/01/08~We sent in to have our fingerprints re-done.
10/07/08~We got a health and picture update from the agency.
10/07/08~We got a receipt from U.S. CIS stating that they had received our I-600 paperwork, and that the investigation to process will take about 60 business days.
08/29/08~Out of the blue, by God's design, we have received a referral. Nguyen Xuan Lan (to be named Katelin Lan Foster) was born on June 15 of this year, and currently in Vietnam. We will be traveling to Vietnam in November or December to bring her home.
05/31/08~We receive addendum. THE END!
05/28/08~We receive notice that the agency is changing directors on the Vietnam program, and that we will receiving an addendum.
05/22/08~We redo our health verification. Yes we are still alive and able to parent (but we're not getting any younger.)
04/25/08~US Embassy in Hanoi confirms information obtained by us on April 12.
04/15/08~Agency informs us that we have a referral pending?
04/12/08~Sources inform us that the program will be shutting down, and if a referral is not received by June 1, the likelihood of completing by September 1 is slim. When we asked the agency, they said they were not aware of this information.
04/11/08~Notified that we have to redo our State Police, Childline Clearance, and medical reports...for the third time.
04/10-11/08~JSCIS meeting with agencies
04/08/08~KEEP THE FAITH!
04/04/08~Received new I-797. 3rd time.
04/03/08~USCIS informs that they will now be requiring DNA family tests on all adopted children. When 85% of children in the orphanages are abandoned, how is this logistically possible?
03/31/08~STILL WAITING!
03/25/08~US-Vietnam joint agreement not ratified. At this point adoptions from Vietnam may end September 1.
03/13/08~Had to refile for I-797.
03/12/08~Sent a list of concerns to agency. We were told to hang in there and we should hear soon.
01-02/08~Many agencies have facilitated many adoptions except ours. STILL WAITING!
12/31/07~STILL WAITING!
12/20/07~JCICS approves all procedures.
12/12/07~Agency informs us that new laws in HCMC have been set for how long a child must remain in an orphanage before they are eligible for adoption.
12/10/07~Agency informed us that they have several referrals going out and that we should hear any day now.
11/30/07 STILL WAITING!
11/29/07~JCICS held a meeting in DC to review new procedures and plans to hold a vote in late December.
11/19/07~Agency informed us that the DIA is implementing a new process for families dossiers.
11/12/07~Agency informed us that we should see a referral by the end of the month.
10/31/07~Completed all new paperwork. STILL WAITING!
10/25/07~Medical report, police report and I-171 redone.
10/24/07~Agency informs us that USCIS regulations regarding I-600 are changing, and that this document must be completed before travel instead of after adoption finalized.
10/22/07~Agency informs us that they have six children (4 girls, 2 boys) awaiting referral.
10/11/07~Completed new contract with agency.
10/02/07~Agency informed us that they are changing facilitators? The transition to new facilitators will take a couple months as they re-license their re-license?
09-10/07~Agency informed us that that they are awaiting re-licensing from Vietnam?
09/21/07~Received new I-797
09/13/07~Got re-fingerprinted.
09/04/07~All documents updated and sent to agency.
08/31/07~Had to begin updating documents.
08/16/07~Social Worker said that we should get a referral in just a few weeks.
06-07/07~Agency says that a few changes are being made. STILL WAITING!
04-05/07~STILL WAITING!
03-04/07~Watched as Angelina Jolie successfully adopted a child from Vietnam...through the same agency we are using.
03/06/07~Had travel meeting.
03/02/07~Received travel guidelines and info regarding travel meeting.
02/28/07~NO REFERRAL YET!
01/31/07~NO REFERRAL YET!
01/17/07~All documents were translated in Vietnam.
12/31/06~NO REFERRAL YET!
11/15/06~Social Worker informed us that it looked like we would have a referral by Thanksgiving.
11/02/06~All dossier paperwork approved.
10/18/06~All paperwork legalized by Vietnam.
10/11/06~All paperwork authenticated.
10/06/06~Had dossier meeting and all documents notarized and certified.
10/04/06~Received I-797
09/04/06~Home Study report sent to immigration.
09/01/06~Home Study
08/31/06~Home Study officially completed.
08/22/06~All paperwork and documents completed for home study.
07/22/06~Child abuse clearance received.
07/11/06~Agency receives local police report.
07/05/06~Filed for local police report.
07/05/06~Filed for child abuse clearance.
06/30/06~Fingerprints taken.
06/26/06~Received notice to get fingerprinted.
06/15/06~Received 2 certified copies copies of our marriage license.
06/14/06~I-600A was received by INS.
06/08/06~1st meeting with social worker.
05/06~Application completed.
04/06~Decision to adopt a sister for Lilli from Vietnam is made.
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