What's in a dossier?

... or perhaps the question should really be "What's NOT in a dossier?"  The dossier is a very large "file" of paperwork that families send over to their adoptive child's birth country.  I'm not sure what other countries' requirements are for their dossiers, but I'm sure they're quite similar to what Haiti requires.

For our family, completing the dossier requirements has been the most drawn-out part of our process so far.  Not because it's difficult, but because there are so many pieces to put together.  Collecting some of the documents takes a while.  Most of what we have needed to collect requires a third-party, and there has been a lot of phone calls, driving around, and emailing.

Items 1-9 need to be notarized, state authenticated, translated, and legalized:
1) Letter to the Director of the IBESR requesting approval for the adoption of a child (done!)
2) Approved Home Study (yay -- done!)
3) Psychological Evaluation for each adoptive parent (done!)
4) Power of Attorney (done!)
5) Two letters of reference (done! Thank you dear friends!!)
6) Letter of good health from medical physicians (done!)
7) Bank letter (done!)
8) Employer letter for each adoptive parent (just waiting for Ryan's... corporate runs a bit s-l-o-w-l-y)
9) Police clearance for each member of house 18 yrs. or older (wasn't sure I'd pass... but I did! Just kidding. Done!)

Items 10 -12 must be state authenticated, translated, and legalized:
10) Certified Marriage License (done... thanks Dad for getting a certified copy at the courthouse in Grand Forks! I didn't want to send our original)
11) Certified Divorce Decree (not applicable)
12) Certified Birth Certificates for each adoptive parent (done!)

Items 13 - 21 must be included only:
13) Notice of Favorable determination from USCIS (not quite to this stage yet)
14) Progress Report Agreement (done!)
15) Lab Tets showing results of HIV, VDRL/RPR, CBC (done!)
16) 8 passport pictures of each parent (not done)
17) copy of most recent Federal tax return (done!)
18) copy of most recent bank statement (done!)
19) photocopies of three forms of photo ID for each parent (not done)
20) 3 photos of house and yard and 3 photos of family (done!  Thank you dear friend Amber, for taking our family's very 1st "formal" pictures for us!)
21) copy of Home Study Agency's license (coming!)

Now, when I say "done" I only mean ready/collected/notarized. We have not had anything state authenticated, translated, or legalized yet.  We first need to get everything approved by our agency before we can send it all off for authentication, translation, or legalization.  Whew!! It's a process!  But I keep reminding myself that we are not the first or the last family to go through this... and it will all be worth it when we finally get to bring our little one home!!!

We are SO close to having everything ready for the final steps before sending it off to Haiti.  We are full of anticipation and hope!

The kids are feeling just as excited as we are, and it is so precious to witness how they are preparing for their brother or sister.  Johnathan and Grandpa Dan were at MOA several weeks ago.  When they heard music playing in the large center part of the mall they went to check it out.  One of the tables had a large sign, "Haiti Initiative".  Grandpa said that Johnathan spotted the word 'Haiti' right away.  When they approached the table the young woman shared with my dad about the organization... and Johnathan soon said quietly, "My baby brother or sister is coming from Haiti."  Makes my heart flutter just picturing this sweet exchange of surprising looks from the woman, a nod of affirmation from my dad, and then the gift of a t-shirt for Johnathan from the girl.  The t-shirt has Haiti's flag on the front, and the words "Haiti Initiative".  The first day back at preschool following this day, Johnny came into our room in the morning all dressed and ready for the day.... wearing his Haiti Initiative t-shirt proudly!  Quite a few sizes too big, I was able to convince him to save it for pajamas.  He wants to wear it to bed every single night.

And just this morning Tenleigh grabbed the newsletter with pictures of little ones at our orphanage.  We keep it on the fridge for all of us to constantly look at and pray for them!  I grabbed my phone and video-taped her pointing to the little faces and making all sorts of sweet comments.  "Ohhhh... you love this baby, Mom!?" was her question after touching each child's face.  And when I'd nod and say "Yes" she'd reply with, "Awwww... me too."

Praying for the Lord to not only protect the heart of our little one 2,186 miles away... but to also protect and prepare the hearts of the Vicks right here in Minnesota.