Passport Class 101

Adoption has opened our eyes to so many things.  Things we were really unaware of before we took the "plunge" into this exciting world.  This week we learned so much more...

Our adoption agency called this week asking if we had our travel plans laid out.  As you have read from previous posts, there were several things hindering our travel plans. One being the election, the other being the fact that when we got "the call" it was over Holy Week in the Philippines.  If you are not familiar with the Philippine culture let me just tell you that during Holy Week everything - I mean everything - gets put on hold and doubles in price .  An airline ticket that might cost you $1200.00 goes up to around $2000.00.  If you are lucky enough to find a hotel room at all you are going to pay high season rates.  So, you obviously don't want to travel to the Philippines over Holy Week. After the realization that we were not going to travel right away we began looking a little further out in time.  We finally found a flight that worked with our schedule and it was around the price we were hoping for.  So, we booked that flight and began the process of looking into places to stay.  Let me just say that trying to figure all of this out has been stretching both Marshall and me so much.  Trying to book hotel rooms, flights from Manila down to Jacob's homeland, and drivers has been very stressful.

However, there was more stress to come - in another form.  Back to that phone call from our adoption agency.  Our sweet wonderful adoption consultant just happens to ask.."are your passports up to date"?  I reply back saying "sure- the kids don't expire until October 29th".  There was silence. 

 "Lorrie, let me check on something".

 "OK"  more silence on the phone. Now come the dreaded words.

"You guys are going to need to get the kids new passports".

"WHAT?" "Seriously"?

"I just checked and the Philippines won't allow you to enter the country if you don't have six months left on your passport."

I seriously could have hurt someone right then and there.  Fortunately, I was in the car and there was nothing within reach for me to attack. So, I did the next best thing - laughed.  I have found through the years that if you are faced with something like this you can either laugh or cry.  I chose to let my laughter fill the car. Naomi thought I had seriously gone over to the other side.

We are heading to Denver on Monday praying that we can get expedited passports for our children. We have been going through documents today trying to find all the needed forms.  One would think you could just bring your old passport as proof of needing a new one.  Of course, our government makes everything much harder than necessary.  We have to have the original birth certificates, and documentation that we are heading to the Philippines.  So much to do...  And, of course, there are the fees associated with the passports.  The fee for a passport normally is around 100.00 per person.  Now, add the fees associated with getting it made in a few days and we are looking at around $200.00 per person per passport.  Can everyone just say "ouch" right now?

Yes, our eyes are opened to so many things we never thought possible.  Adoption isn't easy. Adoption isn't cheap.  But adoption is so very worth it.  What a joy to say that we have gone through all this "stuff" and have been given the greatest gift of all - a life.  A life that will be forever part of us.  A life that will bring us so much joy - in ways we can't even begin to imagine. So, all the passport stuff we have to contend with is just that - stuff.  And we are one day closer to giving our son the biggest hug in the world.

Lorrie