Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.  Proverbs 13:12

Sunday, October 19, 2008

I've Been Tagged


Leann and Amy tagged me and now I am under pressure to reveal seven random things about myself you may or may not know. This is an especially difficult activity for me because...
  1. I don't like bring attention to myself. This often comes as a surprise to people that know me well, because I am not exactly a quiet person. However, I much prefer to highlight others using my volume and extroverted personality. Once the conversations begin to flow, I can go from extrovert to introvert. I love to listen and garner information simply from observation.
  2. I hate mushrooms. So much so that I tell people I am allergic to them in restaurants to make absolutely sure they do not touch my plate. The thought of them can send my into a very dramatic downward spiral of "ick" and "ewww" and "yuck."
  3. I have been to six continents and hope to someday go to Antarctica. Traveling has provided me with my love of country and my deep appreciation for other cultures, beliefs, customs and needs. I am grateful to have the life I live and hope for a better future for so many in our ONE world.
  4. I absolutely, positively, completely LOVE my job with all my heart. I feel honored to represent and advocate for children every day. As a teacher I spent most of my time planning for the individual needs of the children I taught. I almost never planned lessons for the group (don't tell my previous principals). I found my personal challenge to be turning each child's light bulb on every day. When I saw that look in their eyes, I always marked that off as a point for the future. As an administrator, I try to do the same for teachers balancing my role as a preservationist of school culture and a change agent. It is hard to measure whether or not I do this, but if I go back to my whole reason for being as educator, than hopefully I keep my eye on the prize.
  5. I learned how to drive on a '66 Ford semi-automatic on the column pick-up truck. My friend Cindy and I drove from farm to farm through unchained fences for summers on end. At the age of twelve. We had far too much freedom and became adventurers by default. I credit those amazing summers with my need to question and explore everything.
  6. I love the Grateful Dead and the Doors. Enough said.
  7. I once walked from Battery Park City to 125th Street in Manhattan in one day. I stopped along the way to meet with friends for coffee, window shopped, and take in the many different neighborhoods just blocks apart. It was one of my top five days on the planet!
My turn to tag:

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5 comments:

Robbin Hopkins said...

Okay, I'll work on my tag.... since I recently did 6 things maybe I can spice it up......

Robbin

October 21, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Kristi J said...

thanks for the tag...I'll definitly work on it...I'm just a little slow with the technical stuff (: nice to meet you, kristi

October 21, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Leann said...

I hate mushrooms as much as you do!!

October 21, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Maria and Family said...

Thanks for the tag shout out :) Cant wait for your court date!! Maria

October 22, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Shauna said...

So... are you going to join the sourtoe cocktail club?! ha!

October 24, 2008 at 6:24 PM

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So...what's next?

Below is an overview of an Ethiopian adoption process from the time my agency receives adoptive parents' completed dossier and home study.

Agency Sends Dossier for Authentication and Translation Check!
Agency will forward adoptive parents’ dossier to the U.S. State Department and the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication. Once processed, the agency will forward the dossier to our staff in Ethiopia where it is translated
Referral Process Check!
Once the dossier is in Ethiopia, adoptive parents can wait six to eight months for a referral of a child. Once referred, the agency will send the adoptive parents referral photos, medical information and the child’s background information, including any known family history. Upon acceptance of referral, the agency's foreign staff will submit adoptive parents’ dossier, with the referred child’s documentation to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA).
Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) Reviews Documentation Check!
MOWA is the branch of the Ethiopian government that reviews all documentation submitted by the adoptive parents and on behalf of the referred child recommends the adoption to be finalized to the Federal Court of Addis Ababa.
Federal Court Date November 11, 2008 Check!
Once MOWA recommends the adoption to be finalized, a court appointment is scheduled. At this appointment, the judge can either finalize the adoption or ask for further documentation and set another court date. Once the adoption is finalized, the court decree, new birth certificate and passport are issued, and the adoptive parents can travel.
Travel December 6, 2008 - December 11, 2008
Adoptive parents should be ready to travel within two to four months after accepting a referral. One parent is required to travel and the in-country stay in Ethiopia is five to seven days. During this time, adoptive parents will complete the U.S. Embassy Immigration appointment for the adopted child, which is necessary to bring the child to the United States. The agency's in-country staff will accompany each family throughout their entire stay in Ethiopia.
Post-Adoption- Until the child turns 18 years old In Process
In Ethiopia, an adoption is finalized before entrance into the United States. Upon arrival, post-adoption reports are due at three, six, and 12 months on the anniversary of the U.S. Embassy appointment date. After the first year, family authored self reports are due every year until the child reaches 18 years of age.