tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63443388987840595492024-11-05T19:48:49.518-07:00Our wonderful adventure to find our child waiting for us to find them.Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-26825245410908862922011-07-25T13:56:00.001-06:002011-07-25T14:03:00.346-06:00

Leaving The Pentagon (our hotel we had stayed at so many days and on the previous trip) was sorta bitter sweet. I was so ready to leave, but as we walked out the gate I thought of Amaya and how these were her last moments in Ghana. I'm sure she doesn't realize what huge moments these are, but I sure thought about them for her. Her ticket was on "hold" until I could show her passport in order to

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-59478906783365104182011-07-21T12:42:00.000-06:002011-07-21T12:42:33.340-06:00

We wanted to stay our last night at Big Milly's but the place is so popular they had no room for us. We called around and it's amazing that most any hotel in Accra is at least $100 (unless you really take a risk of what you are getting, which is way too scary in this city). We decided to go back to the Pentagon where our lady friends were there and we could have a last goodbye at

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-50239930885317975782011-07-21T10:46:00.001-06:002011-07-21T10:49:26.709-06:00

Today we didn't go anywhere outside of the Big Milly's gate. Was a nice lax day--this is a real vacation! We did our morning breakfast watching the fishing boats come in and Savannah and I decided to get manicures and pedicures from the nail tech/hair specialist at the resort. We couldn't believe how cheap it was there...like $17 for both of us to get them. What we didn't know was that this

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-54914139282389335452011-07-17T09:09:00.000-06:002011-07-17T09:09:26.962-06:00

Today was Savannah's birthday. We didn't actually go anywhere today though. We are now at Big Milly's Backyard. It was recommended to us by an adoption friend that had stayed here for 2 months straight! It's actually not that far from Accra, but with traffic will take us 2 hours to get back close to the airport. Big Milly's is right on the ocean. It's a little compound...once the security (very

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-56007066050091296202011-07-14T16:21:00.000-06:002011-07-14T16:21:03.010-06:00

We finished Monday by going to the market. We actually only bought one thing....a drum for Logan. We were a little overwhelmed by all the shop owners approaching us to come into their place. They even were grabbing arms saying, "come, I have beautiful things".  I felt like they kept showing us stuff and didn't give us a minute to just look so we really weren't looking. The coordinator

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-58527243234645577572011-07-11T05:02:00.000-06:002011-07-11T05:02:26.797-06:00

We left Saturday afternoon at 12:30 for the journey to Ghana with Savannah in tow (okay, she was actually a great help with our 6 large suitcases filled with donations and 3 carryones!). The flight ends up being overnight and although I slept a few hours (thanks motrin PM), Glenn and Savannah played angry birds nearly the entire time. So, the IPAD is great since it lasts like 12-14 hours but by

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-58162032698547536962011-07-08T09:08:00.001-06:002011-07-08T09:11:10.388-06:00

We received an email from the embassy in the afternoon yesterday (July 7th) that said Amaya had Visa approval and that we could pick it up...........tomorrow, July 8th. Ouch, they really don't like to give notice but who cares!!!!!!!!!at this point!!!!! So I spent all day researching tickets. I basically had way too many choices. My neighbor works for American Airlines so

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-69567507169352610692011-07-06T09:43:00.000-06:002011-07-06T09:43:21.885-06:00

The coordinator went to the Embassy, turned in the documents, and they took her passport. This, I'm told, means approval of the Visa. If they are still investigating, etc., they will not take the passport and say they will let you know. So, YAY!! The sad news is that they told the coordinator the Visa will take "weeks" to print and they will contact him. Mmmmm, even when my printer is

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-65352136521902069492011-07-01T15:22:00.002-06:002011-07-01T15:22:14.546-06:00

WELL, THERE IS A GOOD NEWS FOR THE BOARMAN, ALL THE DOCUMENTS WERE FOUND (CONSENTS AND DECLARATION) ORIGINAL. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE EMBASSY ON TUESDAY SINCE MONDAY IS AMERICAN HOLIDAY.

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-14158289959029328222011-06-28T13:22:00.000-06:002011-06-28T13:22:03.394-06:00

Received an update from the coordinator over there today and I didn't find it very encouraging. Seems he turned in the same paperwork at the interview that he has for all the other Visa's but the consular wants more. I have asked for him to clarify exactly what paperwork she wants because his first email seemed like it was just consent/decree from the courts but again, he should have known that

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-12932873511115627042011-06-23T16:45:00.001-06:002011-06-23T16:46:03.738-06:00

So the update is that the Embassy wants these documents, the coordinator has applied for them with the court and is awaiting their call to come pick them up. He will then take them to the Embassy (no appt needed apparently) and turn in everything and find out when they will issue the Visa. Supposedly this is all they are waiting for.

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-8782153124759866012011-06-21T16:03:00.000-06:002011-06-21T16:03:39.870-06:00

Sorry for the delay. I'm at work and it's been crazy busy. We received this info from the coordinator: the embassy wants the original consent and declaration from the court. I have started working on getting the docs from the court. Really that's all we know at this point. I have tried to email the agency but they don't have much answers.  If it's the court decree, etc that he's

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-61855518814199906032011-06-16T10:05:00.000-06:002011-06-16T10:05:51.244-06:00

As we move to less than a week before we know when her visa will be issued, I thought we should officially announce her American name. It will be Amaya Emmanuella Boarman. In Ghana, the day of the week you are born on is of great significance and you receive a name associated with that day. Many Ghanaians don't know the date/month they were born on, but know the day! Emmanuella's is Saturday and

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-44810358127909622802011-06-02T07:54:00.000-06:002011-06-02T07:54:18.570-06:00

We'd love to take donated stuff to Ghana when we go in a few weeks. Here is a list of things we need: -L-XL suitcase -gently used or new clothing--sz 12-16 women's, girls 10-14 -sandals and flip flops--sz 5.5, 6, 9.5, 10 -shoulder handbags -BACKPACKS (the kids at the orphanage need school items but would love bags/backpacks particularly) -any school items--preferably light items (since we

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-79530418291046922042011-05-19T13:30:00.001-06:002011-05-19T13:32:02.438-06:00

Our coordinator was able to pick up the "visa packet" the Wed after I600 approval. I have no idea exactly what is in this packet but I'm told it's just more things to fill out and a list of what is needed for the interview day.  Once that packet was picked up, we could begin emailing the Consular Section for an interview date. Originally they said it would be approximately 2 months, then a

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-67914665918529838792011-05-11T20:25:00.000-06:002011-05-13T14:31:40.796-06:00

showing her cousin, Prince I made a family photo book for Emmanuella and sent it over for the agency coordinator to give her. They sent me a picture of her receiving it. I pray this gives her hope that we really are coming back!

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-9332631557877461442011-05-02T19:58:00.001-06:002011-05-02T19:58:31.955-06:00

I realized now that we have a decree and I can post pictures that I never did post the first picture we got to see/meet Emmanuella. Too funny that you can't even see her entire face but we fell in love anyway!

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-73946294404768179122011-04-29T21:58:00.002-06:002011-04-29T22:05:14.517-06:00

Wow! I would have never imagined we would be approved in less than 2 weeks. It generally takes 6-8 weeks and Emmanuella's birth certificate only got turned in yesterday. What does this mean? Well, it means the US recognizes our adoption! Whoo hoo! Without this forms approval, we could have a decree in Ghana but never be able to bring her across waters. We now wait for a Visa Exit Interview

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-73691543191819873622011-04-25T13:21:00.000-06:002011-04-25T13:21:18.873-06:00

If you look to the right top of this blog, there is a link to the site on costs. We want to be very forthcoming. Since we are only bringing one child home now, I changed the figures to reflect that. To date we have accumulated $22,971 in costs. My mom and dad have assisted us tremendously with monetary gifts and loans (thanks!). We continue to need approximately $10,000 more

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-75279207381100092222011-04-22T12:31:00.000-06:002011-04-22T12:31:31.498-06:00

The 10 1/2 hour flight from the Accra to Washington went pretty well. We both actually slept but by now I am beginning to cough (a gift from my new daughter). We then flew from Washington to Chicago and upon arrival discovered our flight to Colorado had been cancelled. They wanted to send us back to Washington but we begged to find any other route. A flight in a couple hours to Houston

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-41320906893507077342011-04-22T12:18:00.001-06:002011-04-22T13:21:15.245-06:00

Today was a lounging day waking up. To breakfast and more time spent with the people around the hotel. More coloring, jump rope, singing, etc. The ladies made us some traditional Ghanaian lunch! Banku (doughy starch) with some spicy vegetables/meat. You dip the dough to pick up the soup like meal. I thought the dough tasted much like sour dough, uncooked of course. Was pretty good and Emmanuella

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-39089606976867904512011-04-18T07:22:00.003-06:002011-04-18T07:38:13.536-06:00

Sunday- another day of leisure hanging around the hotel. After breakfast and having a nice time with the caregiver ladies (they make our breakfast and clean the rooms) we decided to try swimming. She loves to be around the water, put her legs in it, and even through her new "fish" in it. However, when it came time to get in she was not having any part of it. Actually the first time Glenn brought

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-28643107807719257662011-04-17T09:13:00.001-06:002011-04-17T09:22:01.920-06:00

Today we visited her orphanage. It is in Kasoa, which could take 20 minutes but todays traffic was especially bad and it took at least an hour +. Kasoa is outside of Accra, but sorta still an outskirt of it. Once in town there are just people everywhere. Every street (like Teshie where we visited on Thurs) is just lined as far as you can see wide and also deep of people selling stuff.

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-80506965463273785972011-04-17T08:41:00.005-06:002011-04-22T14:10:39.337-06:00

FRIDAY- She awoke at her usual 6:30am. Routine routine. "Mommy take bath", get dressed, brush teeth, take cough medicine, and so forth. She is starting to say "Eat" and "I am huungry". Her large eyes are just adorable as they change expression all the time. Today we pulled out the dress. She put it on so proudly and stood in front of the body size mirror doing a native dance. I had turned on

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344338898784059549.post-35805144106561102542011-04-15T07:28:00.001-06:002011-04-15T08:03:15.416-06:00

We started today by heading to CKO --it's another orphanage that our agency adopts out of in Teshie, a city just west of Accra. It took us about 30 minutes and the route to get there is along the ocean. Places are not all that distantly far, but the traffic is horrible and gets worse as the day goes on. Since Accra is the biggest city in Ghana, it's more commercialized and not

Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13934991399120518374noreply@blogger.com1