Blaschke Family Adoption Journey

Adoption To-Do List 1. Homestudy 2. Dossier Preparati on 3. Approval 4. Match ing 5. I-800 finalization 6. Travel I keep thinking we can cross more things off the list, but then we look and we are only 85% or 99% of the way done with stuff. The Dossier, for example. We have 22 of 23 items crossed off. The last item is completed, but pending a final approval before getting notarized here and then submitted. The whole packet of original documents had to be Notarized in New Mexico and mailed to our Adoption Service Provider (ASP). The ASP is having the entire file apostilled into the state of Alabama (a legal process for certifying that thing is indeed the original thing of the thing it is). Then it will be translated into Portuguese and submitted to CEJA (Brazil's Central Adoption Authority). Or the I-800, which we were delighted to hear has been approved by US Customs and Immigration. But I guess there are some outstanding specifics once we have been officially matc...

I remember the day that we found out we were expecting Nesira. I was so young. We were so not ready. Suddenly being a grown up and adult wasn't just a hypothetical someday, it was right now. The "honeymoon" phase with my darling wife was over and it was time for the "parenting" phase. There was joy mixed with fear, excitement with intimidation, it was a wonderful time. Now I sit here on Father's Day 10 years later, and my heart aches because 4 of our 7 kids are not at home. At least, that's how it feels. I should be celebrating with my girls. Enjoying the breakfast they made for me. Playing outside. Going fishing. But I'm just relaxing and feeling a little bit sad. L's birthday is June 18. He will turn 7. I wonder if he is watching the Copa America in the group home? I wonder if he is outside pretending to be Neymar and playing with his brothers and sister, or with neighborhood kids. I wonder if I'll be a good dad for them. Being a ...

Erica and I took the girls to the Carson & Barnes CircusSaurus event in Clovis a couple of weeks ago. It was a great night with acrobatics, elephants, jugglers, clowns and more under the big top; but the very best part for me was watching the wonderful awestruck expressions on my kids' faces. They were absolutely beaming and glowing and enthusiastic to tell everyone about it afterwards. It also reminded me of the tightrope balancing act that we are walking these days. We have adoption fundraisers and grants to apply for and appointments to make and we are working on enclosing our garage to include an extra bedroom and schoolroom and a big enough dining room to fit 9 of us! It seems like every day results in more items added to the to do list and fewer items crossed off. We don't want to get so caught up in preparing for the future that we miss out on the meaningful moments today.  These are the Summer Fundraisers we are currently working on: 1) Nesira has a drive...