The Blog is Moving --

Hey everyone, thanks for following our story.  We have set up a more complete blog at a different location.  We promise to post a lot more and you can count on frequent posts during Christmas because barring any issues we are hosting Sergey again.  Here is the new website:

http://www.bowenfamilycentral.com/

FedEx Mystery

After a 10 week wait we finally got our FBI clearance back.  This was the last piece of the puzzle that we needed in order to submit our first dossier.  So, we put it in a FedEx envelope and sent it off to our adoption guy, Patrick.  As the package was in route we found out that the address had changed so Ashley got online and had it rerouted to a PO Box that accepts FedEx packages.  After it arrived Patrick went over to pick up the package and it was nowhere to be found.  We called FedEx and they promised it had been delivered and signed for.  After both Patrick and Ashley had spent hours on the phone with FedEx the mystery continued....  So, out of nowhere (a few days later) I get a call from FedEx saying the package is there waiting to be picked up.  Strange huh?  So Patrick went and picked up the package and got a lecture about rerouting a package to a federal post office...   Apparently we had broken the law and the package was grabbed for inspection.  Crazy huh?  Check out how marked up this thing was...

Anyway, our package is now in Russia and we are hoping to submit our dossier by tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

Long Overdue Update

Ok, I apologize for not posting an update in a very long time.  Ashley and I have been working hard on getting our paperwork together and now are starting to feel like we're getting somewhere.  So here's the update.

A while ago I explained process.  Here's the recap:

1. Home Study

2. Dossier #1
3. First Visit
4. Dossier #2
5. Second Visit and Court
6. Third Visit and Return Home as a Family

We finished our paperwork for dossier #1 about 3 weeks ago and it is in Russia being translated as we speak.  Once the translation is complete it will be submitted to Russia and we will await the invite for our first visit.  That typically comes about one month after your submission.  I say typically because there are no guarantees on timelines.  If everything goes well we're hoping to take that visit sometime in January.

Nike Shorts or anything Nike please!!!

We sent Sergey a package that was delivered personally by our hosting program. In it was:

Nike Shorts
Sweadish Fish
Warheads (sour candy)
Wallet
Two cards
More Pictures
Gum

Ashley got a chance to talk to Sergey and asked him about the package and he was already wearing the Nike shorts… He really is a walking Nike ad.

Lost in translation

So I was on the phone with Sergey over the weekend and Sergey had a special request. Unfortunately he didn't know how to say it in English and my Russian is a little weak so he sent it in a text message in Russian, it said:

"Please send toilet water mine is all gone"

As you could imagine, we were a little confused (and amused). Later we found out that the direct translation of toilet water in Russian is Cologne (in French it's Eau de Toilette). Anyway, we thought it was pretty funny how simple things really get lost in translation.

Special Delivery

Ashley found a Russian company that delivers things to people in Russia and sends a delivery confirmation picture in an email. We have taken advantage of the service two times thus far; once to test (we sent chocolate and a card) and once to send a cell phone so we could easily get in touch with Sergey and he with us.


The day Sergey received his phone we called him 3 times and since have spoken with him on average every other day and text regularly. He likes to send a message before he goes to bed. All of the communication makes us work even harder to complete the adoption as fast as possible.

The most expensive chocolate bars ever… But it was worth it!!!

Adoption Update

Today was monumental – Sergey returned to Russia 4 ½ weeks ago and today was the first time we were able to speak with him. We had a 30 minute conversation without a translator and it appears as if Sergey has retained much of the English he learned while living with us this summer. This was a big blessing and as Ashley says "The Best Day Ever"!!! We would like to thank our friends Stephanie and Randall for giving us their daughter Tanya's cell phone number which facilitated the call.

Now for and update on the adoption. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Eastern European adoptions here are the basics:

1. Home Study
2. Dossier #1
3. First Visit
4. Dossier #2
5. Second Visit and Court
6. Third Visit and Return Home as a Family

Today we completed our home study and submitted it to USCIS for immigration clearance. This takes approximately 45 days which means we have 45 days to complete our first dossier. Please keep us in your prayers that we will have a smooth process. Thank you for all of your support!!!

EJ and Ashley