Cheri Strange, Christian Speaker and Author

     Today is the day!

       The submission of the dossier marks the end of the paper-chasing phase of our adoption. In most cases, this ends "paper pregnancy” and begins long waiting period. Generally, paperwork is submitted to the country from which you are requesting a child and it remains there until you are matched with a child / or children, depending on your request. There is nothing for you to do, except wait. However, our situation is a little topsy-turvy. We looked on a list of children that are categorized as "special needs." Although the children we chose are healthy -- there are four of them -- which make them less likely to be adopted in the regular systematic process. Not surprisingly, most families are not asking for four at a time!

       With our paperwork on its way, we now simply wait to be assigned a court date -- bypassing the long period of waiting for a referral, which can be a year or two (or longer in some countries, like China). Our agency is anticipating our court date to be soon. Once received, the travel department in our agency will make the arrangements, and Chad and I will be off to Africa for a week. I'll write more about that process as it happens.

       Thanks for keeping up with process. It is a joy-filled, while somewhat terrifying experience. We appreciate your support.