Our Adoption Story

I kept meaning to write up a summary of our adoption story. I finally did, and it turned into a book. So if you want the REALLY long version, buy the book. This is just a glimpse and timeline of how our process went. You can also read all our “adoption process” posts – hope you have a few hours (there’s 95 posts).

Oct. 2007 – I spring “So what do you think about adopting?” on Mark at lunch.
Nov. 2007 – Researching countries, agencies, etc.
Dec. 1 – Receive Waiting Children DVD from AWOP* – two sibling groups match our age request
Dec. 2 – Tell our families that we are adopting.
Dec. 7 – God reveals to Julie that we should adopt W-boy and B-girl.
Dec. 11 – Contact AWOP. Kids are put on “hold” for us while we complete our application.
Dec. 19 – Application mailed to Hope Adoption Agency*.
Dec. 20 – Intake interview to begin Homestudy
Dec. 25 – Introduce W-boy and B-girl to family at Christmas
Jan. 24 – UCSIS fingerprint appt.
Jan. 30 – Homestudy interview
Feb. 29 – Homestudy filed with the AZ courts
Mar. 21 – Homestudy certified by AZ courts
Apr. 16- Dossier mailed to AWOP
Apr. 23 – Dossier on it’s way to Washington, D.C.
Apr. 25 – I-171H Received!
May 1 – Dossier arrives in Washington, D.C.
May 7 – Dossier on it’s way to Ethiopia
May 9 – Dossier arrives in ET
May 30 – We get confirmation that our kids legal papers are ready
June 11 – The papers may be ready, but they seem to be having trouble getting from AWOP to Hope
July 11 – Found out the paperwork was incomplete and we will have to wait through court closure
Sept 27 – Still trying to figure out where our papers are
Oct. 1 – I start yelling at some people (as nicely as possible) and thing start moving
Oct. 8 – Finally AWOP gets our papers to our agency
Oct. 17 – Receive our court date (Nov. 28th)
Nov. 28 – Pass court on the first try!!!!
Dec. 14 – Depart for Ethiopia (spending the first week doing missions work)
Dec. 22 – Gotcha Day
Dec. 27 – Back home

*NOTE: Don’t assume that by listing the agencies and organizations we used that we are recommending them.

Below is the video I made and posted the day we passed court and were allowed to introduce them to all my online peeps.