Update

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but I've been BUSY with our homestudy!!

The first step in re-doing our homestudy for the state of California was to apply with a homestudy agency. The application process meant a big pile of paperwork, copies of birth and marriage certificates, and an initial interview with our new social worker. It took us about 5 days to complete this first step, about one month ago.

Then we moved on to the homestudy step. This required an even bigger pile of paperwork:

*A packet of questions for me to fill out,
as well as an identical one for Paul
(questions ranged from our family background,
our life growing up, our greatest weaknesses/strengths,
etc. etc.), and one combined packet of questions
about our marriage and home life, and how we intend
to raise a child, among other things.

*Autobiographies

*Physicals

*Background checks from each and every state in which
we have lived since we were 18 (which for me was
relatively easy- only 4; Paul's end was considerably
more complicated with 10 different clearances needed)

*Fingerprints- again- for background checks with the FBI

*Financial statements and copies of IRS statements

*Job verification letter from the Navy

*Copies of passports and drivers licenses

*Proof of CPR certification

*Character reference letters

*A long, 4- hour home visit with our social worker

*And lots and lots of forms to sign, releasing every
agency and company in this hemisphere from absolutely
all fault of everything (sorry Dad, I had to do it, and
no, using a black marker to cover over parts was not
an option).

Phew! We just completed this part of the process on Friday with the home visit. Now we can move on to Step 3: finishing up our education requirements (an online course on possible medical issues, as well as a required book and several recommended books), and an all-day workshop on attachment on May 1st. I'm actually very thankful for all the training; it has been invaluable. I just wish all teenagers had to have such training before being allowed to date. Perhaps we would not have the current problems with teen pregnancies...

I am also beginning the 4th step, which is to, again, get clearance from USCIS (Immigration) to bring an "immigrant" into the country. It's called the I-800A, and those of you who have been along on our journey since the beginning remember what a pain this part was last time. I am not looking forward to this part, but one must do what one must do! We cannot apply until our homestudy is complete (which will not happen until we finish our education requirements), but I can begin the stack of required paperwork now so we will be ready.

After all our paperwork is submitted, we just sit and wait. The I-800A process took us several months last time, and there is nothing you can do to speed it up.

I did want to take a moment to thank all of you who have helped us with this journey so far; whether you graciously filled out grueling character references for us, or gave us a pep talk just when we needed it to help keep us going, or prayed for us, or even just followed along with us through our blog or talking to us in person (it tells us that you care), we sincerely appreciate it. Our family and friends have just been wonderful, and honestly, I don't think we could have made it this far without you all. We cannot wait until the day when we can introduce you all to little Caitlin, and we will tell her all about how much she was loved, by so many people, before we even knew who she was!