Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Sign Sealed and Delivered



Time is flying!! Our Gotcha Day has been one month ago, we traveled in June to reunite with our twin girls – Amazing! 
Here we are Baby
Signed, Sealed , Delivered, I’m yours
You got my future in your hands. 
 
Four more Hands, Four more Feet, Our Family is now Complete. 
 
 
 
Keath and Teresa made an Awesome Welcome Home Banner!!!!!
 
The girls were marvelous on our journey home – way better than I ever imaged.  As they say Zoom Zoom America.   We made it home safely and tired.  We are settling in for a Wonderful Life.  More to come. 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Shout!!!


Well, you know what makes me wanna SHOUT! 
Kick my heels up and SHOUT
Throw my hands up and SHOUT
Come on Now - I'm SHOUTING OUT!!!

We made it through court and those sweet girls are now officially our daughters. WooHoo!!!!! "Vesta" contacted us Thursday giving us the good news and to say they are now waiting on our adoption decree so they can give us the go ahead on travel plans - booking flights. So, we are now looking to make last minute flight reservations during prime time summer travel - YIKES!!!! Are they worth every penny - YES - I do think our agency along with Vesta should schedule pick up travel dates as soon as they know your court date - instead of waiting till court was successful and giving you dates that leaves us scrambling to book airfares. Everyone seems to act like this is okay. I guess no one really cares AP are paying premium rates for airfare - it's not their money - it's ours. 

We are so excited and looking forward to our pick up trip. We can't wait to get them in our arms - holding them tight - giving these girls many hugs and kisses. It is hard to even image. We have been very fortunate to be able to Skype with them and they have caught many of our kisses already. Their foster mother is awesome and gives us many opportunities to Skype. This has helped in so many ways for us and them - bonding - familiarity - excitement. 

Please keep us in your prayers as we will travel and unite as a family. 

We are following that dream. 

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

It's a Small World

I've spent the last 4 days watching World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando Florida. My niece, Ashlyn, is so so good and performed just like a champion - everything was awesomely wonderful - with lots of screaming. LOL This World Championship competition brought so many people here from all around the world - all every talented!!!!! Disney World was magical day and night. It's a small world after all. There is just one moon and one golden sun and a smile means friendship to everyone!!

 
An update on how we are movin' along.
Our embassy issued the article 5 letter back on March 1st. From there, our paperwork went back to the MOJ and then slowly moved to Court. They told us Thursday ---- We FINALLY have a court date - May 21st. Our FBI fingerprints/background checks are complete - we still need to update our medicals with that official letter of health - notarized and apostilled - then all of these papers will be ready for Bulgaria. Hopefully this will be our last hoop to jump through before our pick up trip - woohoo!!!!
 We are excited and I'm disappointed too. I was trying so hard and wanted so much to be able to travel on our pick up trip in 4 months from our first trip. I thought everything was moving long pretty fast and we got all of our US approvals in excellent time - everything just STALLED in Bulgaria.
 Once we are represented in court by our attorneys - our precious little twins are officially ours. Hopefully we will be able to travel for our pick up trip by mid or late June - I know it's only 4 weeks from what I hoped!! ! So ready.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Moving Right Along

Movin’ right along in search of good times and good news.  We are trying to keep this show on track.  In January, our I-800s along with supporting documents were sent to the USCIS ---- they never arrived – YIKES……. I must say --- We have the nicest Officer at the USCIS ever---- she has been great and helped us so much!!! After much frustrations, I picked myself up to re-gathered everything and resend our documents.  On February 14th, we received news that our 2 I-800s were Provisionally Approval and our files have been moved to the National Visa Center for upload into the Dept. of State system.  This part was so quick! Thanks Office Cindy!  I think the NVC is where the Article 5 letters are issued.   Once the MOJ receives these letters they will pass everything along and a court date will be issued.  We also did fingerprints again for the FBI - sent - hopefully these are our last ones to do.  Movin’ right along – they say getting there is half the fun. Movin’ right along (doog-a-doon doog-a-doon)

We Skyped with the girls today!! What at wonderful experience – just to see them and hear their little voices.  “Mama - Daddy” I do not have the words to describe how that made us feel.  They would even repeat Love You… we can’t wait to bring them home. 
We are still working on their room.  My sister will be coming to visit and help put the finishing touches on the girls' room in just a few weeks.  We are having a shower for the girls and I'm so excited that all of our friends and family will be together celebrating. I love showing them off.  
Movin’ right along

My Loves
 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

My Wish

Our first trip, we arrived in Sofia on Sunday then travel to Novi Pazar on Monday to meet the girls.  When we arrived, we first met with the Social Service staff.  They were all very nice and were able to answer all of our questions about the girls.  We were taken to a “play room” - as the staff opens the door – there were the girls playing.  I think my heart stopped – the precious little ones we only saw in a picture and fell in love were right here.  The moments passed slowly as we entered and were introduced to our girls.  They are beautiful, active with great personalities – I couldn’t help but stare. We played with them as they quickly warmed up to us.  That kiss, that hug, that touch will forever be imprinted into our memories - what a magical thing.  Oh, oh oh!!  The hours passed so quickly and we looked forward to the next day. 

Each day brought new memories and many “first” for our girls.  We brought play dough and they didn’t even want to touch it – it took getting use to it and by the end of the day it was a hit.  We were able to take some walks to the park where swings and slides were calling our names.  The girls were not sure what to think at first- once they figured out how much fun it was – I think they had a blast.  They were so cute and I was amazed that the teeter-totter was a hit too.   We also brought a picture book for each of them – pictures of us – of course – and our family plus our dogs.  They had so much fun looking at it – momma and daddy – Pretty Cool. 

The last day was the hardest knowing this was it until we return. I don’t think 4-5 months will pass quickly enough for us.  There were many kisses and hugs this week as well as laughter and smiles that we will hold in our memories.  Our week was absolutely amazing – we had an amazing translator – she was very good to us – loved her.  I was worried how we would be able to leave – just walk away from these two precious ones.  There must have been a plan between our translator and others to have our exit done without rush and only a tear.  We said goodbye and gave our kisses and hugs – we hope they last until our return – we made our exit before we knew it – then to the car headed back to Sofia. 

Once back in Sofia – Friday – we signed papers and then we had a free day to sightsee in downtown Sofia.  There are some amazing buildings and lots of walking to do which balances the good food we ate.  We had an early flight on Saturday – long flights are not my thing – I was miserable sitting in one place for so long.  We’ve made it back for a week– set our pictures to music and now counting down the day.  Our family and friends are helping us plan for them and get the house ready as well as lots of celebrations – I think we are going to stay busy – now and forever.  We are truly blessed with great family and friends. 

My Wish – I hope they know somebody LOVES them – Yeah, this is our wish!!!!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Referral – Girls Girls Girls!!!!

Our time has come – we survived the great wait !!!  We have received our referral!!! The call came in December 4th, Kay, our coordinator, gave us the wonderful news – the only information at first was - we had a referral.  In the following weeks, details of our referral trickled in – TWIN GIRLS!!!!! Once we laid eyes on them December 14th -  Yes, they are our girls and we are blessed – they are who we prayed for all these years.  We have our travel dates – can’t wait to meet them– so excited!!!               

We can’t stop thinkin’ about Girls! Girls!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Summertime!

We had a wonderful summer vacation.  Our family vacation just gets better each year! 
The Beach Club
It’s a smile, it’s a kiss - It’s a sip of wine, It’s summertime -Sweet summertime!
 
Double Red Flag Cautions were flying high most of the week!!!
 
Vince and Zach just hangin’ out
Loving their Aunt Pam!!!!!   
I’ll work on catching up on what’s been going on. Hope you enjoy a few pictures. This is a start!