We arrived at the orphanage around 10 am and we did our usual go through the photo album. I love how she opens to the first page and gives the picture of Amy and I a kiss. She says Mommo, and gives Amy's picture a kiss, then says Daddy, and then kisses my picture. It is so cute! We are also glad that each page is protected with a plastic sleeve as some of the pictures would have kiss marks all over them. She also likes to pull out the origami heart Stephen made for her that says he loves her. She holds it to her cheek and says "Aaahhh!"
We then played our usual games, Sorry and Memory.
There were two different counselors at the orphanage today and they were very nice. They gave us their blessings and one said they will pray that our process will be swift and that we will be re-united with Z fast.
Then 11:20am arrived and it was time to start saying goodbye. You could tell "Z" was more somber, but as I mentioned yesterday, she has been in the orphanage all her life (9 years) and she knows the routine. She grabbed our hands as we walked to the door. I then picked her up and held her. She gave Amy and I our kisses, we told each other we loved each other, and we gave her our promise we will return as soon as we could to take her home! I held Z as long as I could.....until they said it was time to go! We walked towards the car, turned back and gave our final waves goodbye.........and drove off towards Sofia. Amy and I stayed strong, but I can tell you we were missing her before we got a block away! Sure wish we could hold her for a little longer!!
The trek to Sofia is about 130 kilometers (about 81 miles for us silly Americans). Amy and I dosed off for most of the trip. We arrived in Sofia and made our way to the AMOR adoption agency. Once there, we ate a snack and then gathered our contract to adopt "Z." Then it was off to the notary to make it official. A notary in Bulgaria is much more prestigious here and in fact, a notary is just shy of being a lawyer. The notary read the six separate documents to make our adoption application for "Z" official. Then he read the name we have given "Z." Amy and I are keeping her first name, removing her middle name which was her biological mother's name. Then we are keeping her original surname and moving it to the middle. Her last name is no secret...Hollis. The AMOR and the notary were so honored and gracious that we are keeping Z's heritage surname. They said that was just so nice we are keeping her heritage. It was so cool to here the notary read her name. The six documents have been signed and now the process is back in our hands. We now start the process again with the US Homeland Security/Immigration services to officially apply to adopt "Z." We have already done this once, but it was only to get our aproval to adopt internationally, not adopt "Z" specifically. According to AMOR, this could take until as late as June to complete. But one thing we have learned is that Bulgarians tell you the worse case scenario and Americans tell you the best case scenario. So this means, it could be anywhere between 4 and 6 months. I sure pray it is closer to the 4 months. Another reason, it would be nice to be completed in 4 months is because, if the process goes beyond March 6, "Z" will turn 10 then. At age 10, adopted children are required to go to court and be interviewed and this could be difficult for her. But it is all in God's hands and all will goes accordingly to his plan!
We have many pictures of "Z" and will look at them everyday until we are re-united! We will also start preparing her room. Painting it yellow, her favorite color.
We cannot wait until our second trip to this beautiful country, to bring home our most beautiful daughter........Obicham Te "Z"
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