tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.comments2009-05-26T14:39:49.079-04:00The Shannonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738135865814114817shannonjerry@gmail.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-26893214942382473922009-05-26T14:39:49.079-04:002009-05-26T14:39:49.079-04:00Yeah! We've yet to accomplish that step!Courtney and Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271445161782890118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-77694082851110937032009-05-26T14:38:40.507-04:002009-05-26T14:38:40.507-04:00Very excited for you guys! I didn't realize there was another blog. I guess I have my reading cut out for me...Courtney and Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271445161782890118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-76504666050644219332009-05-22T10:31:22.073-04:002009-05-22T10:31:22.073-04:00Oh my goodness! We still remember your daughter, so preciously loved in the care center, rocking and rolling to the cell phone music she loved so much. Ethiopia? Really? How monumental!M and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557944772547796979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-19533926092506982472009-05-22T09:07:56.219-04:002009-05-22T09:07:56.219-04:00We are so happy for you! God is so good and faithful!<br /><br />We are excited to follow along on your journey and we hope to see you there when we come for our second adoption!<br /><br />God bless,<br /><br />laura, tymm &amp; meron hoffmanLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12418540076920078137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-59994100573443256572009-04-25T14:11:00.000-04:002009-04-25T14:11:00.000-04:00Lindsey,<br /><br />Sure. Our update involved the social worker coming out to the house for another visit. I believe it cost $400. It was basically to make sure all of our information was still current. We sat with our social worker for probably 30 mins to 1 hour. Our original homestudy expired 1 year after it was completed. <br /><br />We did have to redo all of our clearances. In PA, this means that we had to have our State Police Check and our Child Abuse check redone. We also had to have FBI Fingerprinting done since the rules had changed and we did not need them for our original home study. We also had to have our physical exam redone.<br /><br />In PA there needs to be a current Homestudy report for the re-adoption (or finalization) hearing, so we knew we'd have to do an update no matter what along the way. <br /><br />Because this homestudy did not have to go to USCIS, because our paperwork with them was still good, it only had to be notarized. It did not have to be certified or have to go through any of the other authentication procedures like you have to with the initial one. <br /><br />It is pretty painless. It just takes a bit of time and yes a bit more money. <br /><br />With our agency we also had to do a 3 month and 6 month post-placement with our social worker. These cost like $150 each. They too are fairly straight forward with the social worker coming to the home and seeing how well adjustment and attachment is taking place. <br /><br />We now are to the place where we will simply have to do yearly post-placement reports until Hanna is 18 which are just self-reported and do not require a social worker. <br /><br />Hope this helps...please let me know if i can answer anything else.The Shannonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738135865814114817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-40783972762886792712009-04-24T19:32:00.000-04:002009-04-24T19:32:00.000-04:00Could you post more about what the update includes? Do you have to pay an additional fee? Thanks!Lindseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-63033438066051913892009-03-30T18:50:00.000-04:002009-03-30T18:50:00.000-04:00We have the same chair that Hanna is sitting in! My parents picked it up at a garage sale last summer. Crazy!Courtney and Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271445161782890118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-56439644210092685272009-03-28T19:41:00.000-04:002009-03-28T19:41:00.000-04:00oh my, look at her! She's grown so much and yet she looks just like the smiley girl I met in August. How beautiful! Give her a hug from her roomie, Lirenso, please!M and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557944772547796979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-13553849861775408832009-02-22T10:54:00.000-05:002009-02-22T10:54:00.000-05:00I second Jean the amazement of attachment and the look-what-happens-when-I-miss-a-couple-days!<BR/><BR/>Tizita follows Paul around the house all the time and tells me how she's going to hug and kiss him when we pick him up from work. That's a long way from not going anywhere near him in Addis!<BR/><BR/>Much love to all of you!Courtney and Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271445161782890118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-42073182620086986692009-02-21T21:31:00.000-05:002009-02-21T21:31:00.000-05:00Wow.... I check on your blog all the time and look what happens when I miss a couple days!<BR/><BR/>Yes, this attachment thing is amazing, isn't it. Today Aklilu had his pic taken professionally and he kept looking at me and saying, "mama!" Like, why are you letting her do this? Pick me up! (he also tells me, "up up!!"")Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10486003325079801445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-2616267403000208812008-12-27T23:26:00.000-05:002008-12-27T23:26:00.000-05:00Hi there - my sister went to school with you (I think) and turned me on to your site. You have a BEAUTIFUL daughter.<BR/><BR/>We too adopted from Ethiopia. What a place. What a country. What a God.Tymmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029380105703164397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-26057299024182409192008-12-03T23:07:00.000-05:002008-12-03T23:07:00.000-05:00She's gorgeous! We enjoyed meeting and holding Hanna while traveling to receive Melaku and Askala. They were roommates:)vanvoorsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635327562579445384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-8164147230495398932008-12-02T22:28:00.000-05:002008-12-02T22:28:00.000-05:00Great post - thank you! And, I LOVE seeing your daughter! She's so darling.M and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557944772547796979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-41706941341751036312008-11-20T14:39:00.000-05:002008-11-20T14:39:00.000-05:00wonderful news about your adoption! we are a family who is also hoping to travel to ethiopia to meet our new baby in January. I had been hoping to connect with a vineyard church while we were there, and hadn't had much luck. my husband and I are excited about missions, africa and the chance to see what our home church, the vineyard, is already doing in africa. do you have any contact info for the vineyard church in Addis?<BR/>thank you,<BR/>jake,diana and Bridger oestreich<BR/>robertdianashaw@hotmail.comJake-n-Diana-n-Bridgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06162054326061417947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-80457454834451376612008-10-22T18:40:00.000-04:002008-10-22T18:40:00.000-04:00Hello<BR/>I just wanted to stop by and tell you I enjoy reading your blog. I am adopted and find such encouragement knowing you are adoptive parents. I am the Director of Public Relations for a non-profit organization called World Orphans. We build church based orphan homes all over the world and our mission is simple E3 to reach each church…each child…each community. I would love for you to take a look at our website and let me know if you have any questions. (www.worldorphans.com) I hope you will have a glorious blessed day! <BR/>Jenna M. Howard<BR/>-Director of Public Relations<BR/>www.Worldorphans.org<BR/>Jennah@worldorphans.org<BR/>www.JennaMarieHoward.comJenna Marie Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02487886390540794862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-4508891374555433562008-10-09T13:15:00.000-04:002008-10-09T13:15:00.000-04:00Jerry &amp; Christy,<BR/><BR/>I thought you would enjoy this- <BR/><BR/>http://lifesong.squarespace.com/home/2008/10/9/one-less-orphan.htmlAndy Lehmanwww.lifesongfororphans.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-49517073193071877402008-09-29T12:06:00.000-04:002008-09-29T12:06:00.000-04:00We're so thrilled for Hanna and you both. We can't wait to meet her next time that we are home. She will have fun pal'ing around with Chloe. God Bless ya all!Michael and Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633891747354916686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-10851510171168837462008-09-25T10:33:00.000-04:002008-09-25T10:33:00.000-04:00Thanks for answering God's call for adoption in your lives! Trusting God to assimilate Hanna into your family in an awesome way!...<BR/><BR/>Andy<BR/>www.lifesongfororphans.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-20391187934645698482008-09-23T23:00:00.000-04:002008-09-23T23:00:00.000-04:00HI! Hanna was in our boy's room! Please let me know you receive this so we can swap some pictures and I can add Hanna's news to our boy's lifebook! His name is Lirenso and we brought him home just before you brought Hanna home! One thing I remember about playing with her is how much she loved the music on the Nanny's cell phone! She'd giggle and smile and clap. Oh, she was so beloved by the nannies!M and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557944772547796979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-23385694170187385662008-09-16T08:45:00.000-04:002008-09-16T08:45:00.000-04:00We're so glad you guys had a safe trip! Looking forward to seeing you all again, and meeting Hanna :)KimmyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13660379205849369687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-51016111905576140272008-09-14T11:55:00.000-04:002008-09-14T11:55:00.000-04:00Welcome home! We can't wait to meet the newest addition.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01821186505510656670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-89549307764981420252008-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:002008-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:00Welcome Home!Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842778531500045113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-62465824255958351632008-09-09T16:29:00.000-04:002008-09-09T16:29:00.000-04:00So cute! Have a wonderful trip home!Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842778531500045113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-66370195662142740312008-09-09T08:35:00.000-04:002008-09-09T08:35:00.000-04:00I have to admit, i've gotten a little weepy reading your posts..<BR/>Awesome. :)Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04267208049262888652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3037976355170342025.post-5085262718723928802008-09-09T08:33:00.000-04:002008-09-09T08:33:00.000-04:00oh my!!! What a beauty...<BR/>acclimate her quick.. I wanna hold! :D<BR/>yay for babies!Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04267208049262888652noreply@blogger.com