A Time For Giving Thanks!

POST EDIT!
Adoption costs...Yes we are VERY thankful for our little Princess, but that Princess came at a price:) Hopefully these numbers will be of assistance to the others adopting:

We just completed out adoption and here is the lump of our costs:

Travel in May through July (Most expensive time of the year. But if course!)
Moscow City region (so no additional flying) Thank goodness but would have added MANY $$$
Agency - About a Child - $2500 (including returning family discount)
Lighthouse and team fee $21,500
Home study update $1800
Pre post placement fees and deposits $2800
Airfare trip 1: $3100, hotel $894, Driver/translator $400
Airfare trip #2 $2700, Apartment $696, Driver/translator $380
Airfare trip #3 $4000 (including child's fare home), Apartment $1000, Driver/translator $420 Embassy $400
Child's physical $200
Passport $400
Visas $1550 (Don't EVEN get me started on this one!)
Notaries and apostilles around $600
Food/groceries/souvenirs $1000ish We shopped and cooked our own meals all but a few times (We also brought MANY items from home) and breakfast was included in our first trip.

We totally watched our budget on this adoption. It could have very easily cost $5000 - $10000 more in upgraded plane seats, expensive hotel lodging and eating out alone. Hotel prices have more than tripled since early 2007.

All together the running total is at around $47,900 with 1600A and 171H and FedEx and registration expenses, etc...The the only thing we had to update was our physicals and fingerprint cards Twice.

We worked with a fantastic agency that I turn works with THE BEST TEAM in Russia. They are professional and efficient. Many are not as fortunate as we were to come home with a beautiful and healthy little girl under 3...we are truly very blessed.

Good luck to you!

As Thanksgiving Eve rolled around, I came home to my 171H form in the mail! Hubby and I hot tailed it to the immigration office a half hour before closing and wouldn’t you know there was no one waiting! We walked right on in and were done in less than 15 minutes! What was a real coincidence was this was exactly what happened with Carrington. The letter came on Valentine’s Day and we went straight to the office and it was empty! Living in California I can guarentee you this is not normally the case :)

We were preparing to send off our Dossier without it and submit it later, but it is good that we can send it all together now.

So, along with all the other things we were thankful for, this was just one more to throw on the pile.

And Thanksgiving day…mmmmm…yum! As usual our family sat around a table spread of food that was mind-boggling! Bryce made his famous whole spiral sliced ham slathered with a sauce that is Oh! So dreamy, and I attempted and was successful with a creamy green bean casserole and all the other usual trimmings. This is NOT good for my on going weight battle. Then we all laid around basking in our contentment and gluttony. We are so fortunate to live in a land where we have an abundance of food and comforts. We should remember daily how wonderful our opportunities are here in America…

We have so much to be thankful for! Our life, our family, our health and our God. Life is GOOD!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!