Toukoul Adoptive Families Reunion (TAFRU)

On August 6-8, 2010 there will be a reunion for anyone who has/or is adopting from the Toukoul Orphanage in Ethiopia.  The reunion will occur in Portland, Oregon and  will serve as an opportunity to meet some of your blogging buddies, meet new friends, make connections, learn a little and just generally have a good time!  At this point plans are not finalized but will look something like this:  A casual meet & greet type of event Friday evening, a couple speakers on Saturday and then an afternoon at the Children’s Museum or Oregon Zoo, and a short morning get-together Sunday morning.

While many of our plans are not yet finalized we have decided on a hotel–The Doubletree at the Lloyd Center.  We have received an awesome group rate of $58 per night!  I have checked out the hotel and while it is not “fancy” it is clean, huge (400+ rooms) and centrally located.  It is also located on the MAX line and bus line which will make things easier for anyone without a car.  If you would like to book a room you can call the hotel at 1-503-281-6111 and ask for the TAFRU’s group code when booking.  You make also book online and place the appropriate group code under the group code portion of the reservation process.  If you are interested in booking leave me a comment and I will send you the group code for TAFRU.

So, start planning now and get that reservation booked!  If you would like more information or would like an invite to the TAFRU blog (www.tafru.blogspot.com) just leave me a comment.

~Alisha

The Day Has Come

The Infamous Dossier

For months I have pondered, dithered, debated and procrastinated about submitting my dossier.  My reasons have been many and various but finally I am committed.  Yesterday, I dropped my dossier off to my agency and met the very nice man who is trying to unite children with their forever families.  I was very impressed with his sincerity in the short time I spent with him.  I feel comfortable that he will do his best to see that my adoption is as problem free as possible.  He actually thinks that our daughter should be home in time for the TAFRU reunion in August.  I will cross my fingers but I’m not counting on it.

I am overjoyed that this document is FINALLY out of my hands!  It took me three tries (a week per try) for my husband’s bank to get the correct form letter they would notarize.  Even then, that letter did not include our account balances.  The previous letter include our account balances but they would not notarize it.  My bank on the other hand wrote out my letter as asked the SAME day I asked for it.  No, sending back to corporate headquarters…Urgh!  Can you tell I’ve been a little irked???

Every time I thought I had everything finished there would be some last detail that had to be dealt with.  The final thing was when I took my documents in to be state authenticated ($10 per document in Oregon) and they would not authenticate eight of them.  Yes, eight of them.  I was feeling pretty balistic at that point.  The documents were from two different notaries that didn’t sign their signatures exactly as they had on their original forms.  One of the notaries was, of course, from my husband’s bank.

So, I went forth and got new copies of my documents signed.  The next morning I went back to the state office for authentication.  Seven documents got authenticated (Yeah!)…all but the document from my husband’s bank.  This time she signed her name correctly but forgot to stamp the document with her notary seal.  Can you believe it?  So, one more time around and I finally got authenticated.  Finally, off to Portland and the thing is finally out of my hands.  At this point I just feel relieved that everything is finally done…I’m sure the excitement will come later : )

~Alisha