Married in 2000, we have waited nearly ten years for the fulfillment of a dream, for the timing of the Lord, for the end of Winter. Now, our hearts are overflowing with inexplicable love for the children God has placed in our care. We didn't know it was possible to love like this. Though the waiting is hard when you're in the midst of it, the joy that comes in the morning, truly is Worth the Wait.
On July 11, 2010, we returned home from Ethiopia with our 2 1/2 year old son and our 8 month old daughter. They are our delight and our joy. Nine-plus years doesn't seem so long now.
Our Adoption Process Timeline
July 2009 - Decided on an agency - YWAM/CHI
Aug 14 - application sent
Aug 18 - first phone call from case manager, Jessica
Sep 28 - sent packet of homestudy documents (50+ pages!)
Sep 30 - call from Liane, our social worker
Oct 4 - first homestudy meeting in our home
Oct 20 - second homestudy meeting at Ikea over meatballs :)
Oct 23 - finished 10+ hours of online coursework
Oct 25 - third and final homestudy meeting at our home
Nov 20 - received homestudy for proofreading
Dec 8 - homestudy officially approved!
Dec 31 - picked up homestudy packets
Dec 31 - sent USCIS application to Homeland Security Office in Texax via FedEx
Jan 1, 2010 - Received notice that USCIS received our application
Jan 23 - Biometrics (fingerprints) Appointment Card arrived from Homeland Security
Feb 3 - Biometrics Appointment at USCIS Office
Feb 3 - First round of immunizations
Feb 16 - Received I-171H from Homeland Security!
Feb 16 - Received pre-referral call about two specific children!
Feb 18 - Get passport pictures take for dossiers
Feb 20 - Notarize dossier originals - 20 signatures
Feb 22 - Sent copy of dossier to Jessica for review
Feb 23 - Review complete! Just a few minor changes.
Feb 25 - Received OFFICAL referrals for a 2yo boy and a 4mos old girl
Feb 26 - Copies of dossier notarized - another 50 signatures!
Mar 3 - Hand carried dossier to State Capital for authentication, then mailed to WA DC for Federal authentication
Mar 17 - Appointment with pediatrician for review of medical reports; notarize referral documents
Mar 18 - Dossier sent to Ethiopia
Mar 31 - Referral documents sent to Ethiopia
May 4 - Court date assigned for May 17 (we are one of the last couples not required to attend the court hearing)
May 17 - We PASSED Court! We are parents!
June 2 - Embassy Date Assigned for July 6th - one month to go!
June 30 - Leave for Ethiopia
July 3 - Visit the orphanage where our children lived (about 2 hour drive from Addis Ababa)
July 5 - Pick up our son and daughter at the Thomas Center! WE.ARE.FAMILY!
July 6 - Embassy Appointment in Addis Ababa
July 10 - Leave Ethiopia on evening flight
July 11 - Return Home as a Family of Four!
(July 11th will be our "Fami-versary" because that is the day we really began to function as a family. It was our homecoming day.)
