Last Tuesday we received an email from our caseworker at Gladney with the opening line….
“Congratulations, you are now Gladney approved!!!….”
This is HUGE progress, and means that our adoption agency and all the power vested therein has officially approved our full adoption application, home study, etc. From what my adoption friends tell me, this approval means we can officially say that we are “paper-pregnant” for our little girl! We are so excited! (Be sure to look for a little counting “Ticker” to show up soon on our web page.)
Currently we are waiting on US Customs to approve our application for our I-600A forms. This the biggest piece of red tape that remains between us and a spot on the waitlist in Ethiopia. What is an I-600A, you ask? Good question!
I found this sweet little explanation on an International Adoption Website which is pretty reader-friendly. I just love the ending note “Keep in mind that processing your I600A may take as long as 90 days – if everything goes smoothly.”
Jay and I are learning that expecting everything to go smoothly really isn’t very realistic in general in the adoption world. Rather, it is best to assume that things will happen when they happen for a reason, and that ultimately no waits, lags, mistakes, or even oversights on anyone’s part is going to thwart our being matched with the little girl chosen for our family. Which is not to say these lags or delays are going to be easy or pleasant; after all, there is a tiny little girl waiting at the end of all this, and we’d love for her to be with her new family sooner rather than later.
For now, we are thankful for receiving our Gladney approval, and excited about the next steps in our process!
WHOOO HOOOOO!!
Most of the Texans I know are getting their I171Hs back in about 3 weeks. None are dealing with the nightmare we did!!
That’s such good news Tricia! We shall pray for an amazingly fast release of that form I600A.
Congratulations on this big step!
I have added your family to Ethiopian Adoption Blogs. I wish you all the best on the rest of your adoption journey!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Sorry this is a late “YAAAAAAAAAY!” BUT I’m still excited and happy for you guys…we are praying for our newest cousin/niece and we love you very much.