Yes folks, you heard that right. We FINALLY got a travel date for trip #1. I am beyond excited but certainly nervous as well. I will be leaving the US a week from today and will arrive in Chance and Callie's country in the wee f Monday morning, March 16th (their time).
I'm glad we got about a week and a half notice to prepare things, but I really don't feel prepared at all! We've been waiting for so long to get invited to meet the children and suddenly I feel under-prepared. I'm nervous about travelling to Europe, the time changes, not knowing the language... BUT I get to meet Chance and Callie!!! For them I will make this trek across the world.
What is this trip for? The first trip to the children's country is considered the Registration Trip. It is likely that Monday morning (hopefully after getting a couple of hours of sleep) that I will go to the Minister of Justice to get permission to visit Chance and Callie. Hopefully by Monday afternoon I will get to visit with them. Through the week I will have a few more appointments and will hopefully get to visit with the children twice each day. By the end of the trip I will sign paperwork stating that Jason and I would like to adopt Chance and Callie. That will officially start the adoption process. I will then go back home and we'll wait some more.
Once I get back home we have to wait for the Prime Minister to approve us (again) to adopt Chance and Callie. Once we get that approval, it's back to the US Government to issue us our I800, stating that the US will allow the children to come here and become citizens. After a few more dealings back and forth between governments we'll be invited for trip #2. That will be the pick up trip and typically takes about 21-23 days in total. The estimated time between the registration and pick up trips is 4-6 months. If things go well Chance and Callie will be home in the fall.
Please keep me and the children in mind over the next few weeks :)
