It’s ALMOST Comical

Yes, I’m talking about one more glitch in the adoption process.  Yes, we have adopted the Colombian Princess.  Yes, it is final in Colombia and recognized in the USA.  She is ours. We are hers.  Done…. with papers to prove it.  She is an American citizen and we have a pretty paper to prove that too. BUT, we are in the process of re-adopting in our state so we will have an US adoption decree, an US birth certificate and the final name change decree, which the courts in Colombia wouldn’t allow. (Even though she asked for her name to be shortened, they wouldn’t change it because she was over 5 years old.)  We all know how important it is to prove that you are a natural-born citizen OR have hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover up that you aren’t…. but I digress.

I assumed re-adoption in Arizona would be easier than an international adoption.  It is slightly. Of course we had to get our fingerprints done for the ninth time.  Since our eldest daughter turned 18 in the process, she also got to join in fingerprinting fun.  More financial statements.  More home visits.  More paperwork.  You may recall a blog about the need to prove that our dog had the rabies vaccine too.  (Do they really think the type of people who go trough this whole rigmarole to adopt a child would not get their dog protected against rabies?) Seriously.

We are so close to getting our final court date here in AZ, but come to find out, we didn’t have an English translation of the Sentencia, the final Colombian Adoption Decree.  Ironically, I could not get a straight answer out of anyone at the County Attorney’s Office as to whether this translation had to be certified and/or notarized.  Our social worker was eventually able to pull some strings and get some answers for us.  We sent the Spanish version off to our friend in Colombia for translation, and we received an email back that said there is a mistake on the original, official, final, Colombian Sentencia.  This is almost comical.  Thankfully, our friend could go to the court and get it changed, so we don’t have challenges later.  OF COURSE this includes more time, more money, more paperwork.  Really?

If you are adopting from Colombia, make sure you get a translated copy of the Sentencia BEFORE you leave Bogota!!!

One translating step forward and two adoption process steps backwards.  Some day we will be done.  Some day.

Oh Say Can You See?

Today was Rick’s Naturalization ceremony and he is officially an American citizen.  Wooo HOoo!  A photo essay is certainly appropriate at this time.

Here he is in the royal blue shirt swearing allegiance to the sweet land of liberty with 91 other new brothers and sisters.  (Notice that black hair was obviously a requirement to get in to the US.)

The judge gave three new citizens the opportunity to speak before the crowd in the circular courtroom.  Of course, Rick jumped at the opportunity, being trained in hermeneutics and exegesis and aeronautics and all that. He was the best speaker, by far, no offense to the others who were speaking in their non-native tongue.  Rick briefly mentioned that he married an American and we lived in Canada for 10 years.  Then we moved here 11 years ago.  He told about his job at ADOT flying the Secretary of State around Arizona to set up polling stations and ballot counting machines for elections…. elections in which he wasn’t allowed to vote.  So right before the price increase, he decided to become an American so he could vote.  (This comment got some good laughter from the crowd.) Then he encouraged all 91 other newbies to vote… as it is now their right, privilege and duty.  He was sweet American eloquence in motion…. wrapped in Elvis-ish sideburns.

Then the President of the United States of America showed up (via DVD and some sweet big screens) and welcomed the newcomers to their home.

Next, ten children of the new Americans were called by name to the front to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.  Keeve was pretty excited because his name was announced first.  Aus and Keeve are the styling boys on the right in plaid and patchwork shorts….. note Elvis on the right.  Larisa also went forward, but she is directly behind that tall gal in the red dress.

After the pledge, we all stood and waved little American flags and loudly sang “I’m Proud to be an American.”  I must say, the fellows in the front, including the judge, waved their flags with vigor.  The heartfelt song brought many tears to the courtroom.

And then it was over…. and there were FIVE Americans in the Crosby family in the District of Arizona.  One, two, three, four, FIVE.  Finally.

Congratulations, Rick__ Allan Crosby.  Did I mention that 75 of the 92 new citizens chose to change their names????  Just some interesting trivia.  Veeeerrrrry interesting.

Please stayed tuned for tomorrow’s blog where photographic evidence will be revealed showing the American graffiti and damage done to our home and land whilst we were doing our civic duty.

Welcome, Honey!

A BIG congratulations goes out today to my Canadian husband who had his interview and test to become an American citizen!  Whooooo Hoooooo!  He passed and my country wants him.  The test is quite hard, especially if you went to public school here in the good ol’ USA.  The first day we got the test, Rick already knew more answers than I did.  Shameful, I know.  But keep in mind that he has been the most politically active non-American during the past 11 years of elections…. National and State levels.  He’s so excited to VOTE!  I wish more Americans were just as excited to have the voting privilege and responsibility.

Anyway, I got another convert for our country.  I brought one in.  I got me one.  I did good.

www.LindaCrosby.com

The Stick by the Lake

As good homeschoolers, we took the kids to Washington, D.C. for a “field trip” that consisted of six states in ten days.  That sounds exhausting to people who live on the west coast, but Easterners know better.  Six states is a nice Sunday afternoon drive on the Atlantic coast.

As homeschool moms, we pride ourselves in the knowledge our children have attained under our tutelage.  We are also shocked and embarrassed at their lack of knowledge in areas that we forgot haven’t covered yet.  When we announced our trip to our nation’s capitol, one child, who shall remain nameless, asked if we were going to visit “the-stick-by-the-lake.”  After a bit of clarification, mortifyingly for me, we figured out it was the Washington Monument, commemorating only the first U.S. president and one of our nation’s most significant Christian heroes.  I couldn’t even use the excuse that we haven’t studied that yet.  Well, actually I could.  We have covered the Revolutionary War, but the-stick-by-the-lake wasn’t up in 1776.

I love this picture of my husband and kids admiring the scenic view from Lincoln’s Memorial.  This may have been the view that inspired my husband, Rick, to apply for his American citizenship.  Who knows?  He did apply when we arrived back home.  It’s a long process, to be sure.  He applied in June.  Received a letter in October that said, “We received your application.  You can expect to hear from us in the next 365 days.”  They could take a few pointers from the adoption people.  If you use months instead of days, it doesn’t sound quite so long.  I’m glad our adoption approval didn’t come with a wait time of 60 to 900 days.  But it’s true.  Just sounds worse, doesn’t it?

27 days down, 873 ’til our baby girl’s home.