We're on the Way!

Hey Everyone!!!

We just received word that our dossier has been sent and is on its way to the Philippines!!! We are so excited!! Now, the waiting begins! The next step for us is to obtain our passports. From what I've heard that is a big waiting game, too. Such is life!

Meanwhile, while we wait, we research. Ashleigh has been checking out hotels in the Philippines. She's our little travel agent. If you can't tell, we're all excited!

We'll keep you posted! Thank you for all your support, encouragement, and love!
The Allison Family

Major Accomplishment Along the Journey!

Okay, I wish I had a picture but Ashleigh was visiting grandparents and Kory was sleeping so I don't, but I made an important journey this past Saturday. I traveled first to the library to make $5.00 worth of copies. (At 10 cents a copy, you do the math). Then, across the street with my white envelope tight in hand, I marched up to the Post Office. I have never in my life been so exicted to go to the post office. When I handed over that white envelope containing our dossier (a.k.a important packet of papers detailing everything you could possibly want to know about us that is very helpful in helping the adoption foundation learn about who we are), I was ecstatic! I walked out of there feeling a huge sense of accomplishment. And it was. It is. Since Feb, we have been making trips to the health dept for birth cert. copies, the psychologist for a psych eval, the doctor for med. exams, the police dept. for fingerprint checks, to Cleveland to the Fed. building, and to parenting classes. We tracked down our marriage certificates because we somehow forgot the county we were married in. Yeh, you can imagine my surprise to learn that Knox county in TN had no record of our marriage. I was getting worried for a moment until I discovered Gatlinburg isn't in Knox county. Oops. Just one minor detail overlooked. Yes, we've done all sorts of things these past few months. But you know, it is all worth it. We would do it all over again knowing what the end result will be. And we know there is a very good reason all this information is required (a.k.a. the paper pregnancy). So, the dossier is on its way. And now we wait. If anyone has any creative ideas on things to do while I/we patiently wait, please let me/us know. Yes, I plan to read up on the culture of the Philippines but other ideas would be appreciated, too. I think God is teaching me patience!