Many people ask us how long we've been in the process of adopting our girls. While 18+ months seems like FOREVER (and sometimes it IS forever to us) in the grand scheme of the adoption world it's not been that long. We have been fairly fortunate not to hit too many snags along the way. Here's a timeline of the major happenings of this journey. It's been quite the ride!
Burke Adoption Timeline
February 21, 2012 –
Smoldering Tuesday, Holy Spirit takes over Amanda’s mouth
March 18, 2012 – First meeting with the BAT (Burke Adoption Team) at friend’s home
March 26, 2012 – mailed off application to our local agency
April 9, 2012 – application sent to Celebrate Children International
April 26, 2012 – we were approved by CCI
June 26, 2012 – Homestudy is approved by both Adoption Services and Celebrate Children International
July 3, 2012 – Mail off the I-600a paperwork to USCIS
July 5, 2012 – Fax the dossier to CCI
July 6, 2012 – Get the green light to go ahead with our dossier and find out we are number 13 on the waiting list for a referral
July 25, 2012 – Number 11 on the waiting list
September 10, 2012 – Received Golden Ticket, I-171h from USCIS!!!!!!
September 12, 2012 – Number 6 on the waiting list
September 26, 2012 – mailed off visa applications
October 10, 2012 – received visas back!
November 5, 2012 – we are number 4 on the waiting list!
December 20, 2012 – we are now number 3 on the waiting list!
January 22, 2013 – we received an email letting us know that we were now #2 on the waiting list.
March 8, 2013 – We first heard about a wonderful little girl they think she’s about 4 ½.
March 12, 2013 – We received some initial documents on “T”. She is 3 years old.
March 15, 2013 – We mailed a package of gifts for our social worker to take to “T”.
March 31, 2013 EASTER SUNDAY – We received our first pictures of sweet “T”. She has the biggest brown eyes. Such a sweetie. (AND it was on Easter morning . . . how cool is that?!?)
April 5, 2013 – Sent off the official referral acceptance forms.
May 10, 2013 – We learned that the birthparent court date is set for June 24, 2013.
May 14, 2013 – Miss “T” turned 4 years old! We were able to send her a birthday present through another family that was traveling. What a blessing!
June 24, 2013 – This afternoon we received an email from Sue saying that our 1st court went well. The MOWA letter was not at court on time so we are still waiting on our 2nd court date.
July 30, 2013 – Received the exciting news that we have an August 9th court appointment!!! Yeah, we get to see our little girl for the first time!
August 6, 2013 – We leave for the biggest adventure of our lives . . . going to Ethiopia and meeting our youngest daughter!
August 8, 2013 – We arrived in Ethiopia, picked up “T” and loved on her for 3 days!
August 9, 2013 – We passed court! We also had the amazing experience of meeting a special 14 year old young lady. Her name is “M^”. She has a sweet gentle spirit!
August 10, 2013 – We dropped off “T” at the Transition House. We were able to spend about an hour there with her and the other kiddos. We were also able to see “M^” again. What an awesome young lady!
August 12, 2013 – We arrived home in Seymour! Yup, it was a whirlwind trip.
August 29, 2013 – Received an email that our case has been submitted to the embassy!
August 30, 2013 – We couldn’t stop thinking about “M^”. So Kevin made some phone calls. By the end of the day Sue had sent us the referral paperwork!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31, 2013 – Ice Cream Social to share our trip with our community.
September 6, 2013 – We sent off the acceptance of “M^”s referral. This seems so backwards from
last time!
March 18, 2012 – First meeting with the BAT (Burke Adoption Team) at friend’s home
March 26, 2012 – mailed off application to our local agency
April 9, 2012 – application sent to Celebrate Children International
April 26, 2012 – we were approved by CCI
June 26, 2012 – Homestudy is approved by both Adoption Services and Celebrate Children International
July 3, 2012 – Mail off the I-600a paperwork to USCIS
July 5, 2012 – Fax the dossier to CCI
July 6, 2012 – Get the green light to go ahead with our dossier and find out we are number 13 on the waiting list for a referral
July 25, 2012 – Number 11 on the waiting list
September 10, 2012 – Received Golden Ticket, I-171h from USCIS!!!!!!
September 12, 2012 – Number 6 on the waiting list
September 26, 2012 – mailed off visa applications
October 10, 2012 – received visas back!
November 5, 2012 – we are number 4 on the waiting list!
December 20, 2012 – we are now number 3 on the waiting list!
January 22, 2013 – we received an email letting us know that we were now #2 on the waiting list.
March 8, 2013 – We first heard about a wonderful little girl they think she’s about 4 ½.
March 12, 2013 – We received some initial documents on “T”. She is 3 years old.
March 15, 2013 – We mailed a package of gifts for our social worker to take to “T”.
March 31, 2013 EASTER SUNDAY – We received our first pictures of sweet “T”. She has the biggest brown eyes. Such a sweetie. (AND it was on Easter morning . . . how cool is that?!?)
April 5, 2013 – Sent off the official referral acceptance forms.
May 10, 2013 – We learned that the birthparent court date is set for June 24, 2013.
May 14, 2013 – Miss “T” turned 4 years old! We were able to send her a birthday present through another family that was traveling. What a blessing!
June 24, 2013 – This afternoon we received an email from Sue saying that our 1st court went well. The MOWA letter was not at court on time so we are still waiting on our 2nd court date.
July 30, 2013 – Received the exciting news that we have an August 9th court appointment!!! Yeah, we get to see our little girl for the first time!
August 6, 2013 – We leave for the biggest adventure of our lives . . . going to Ethiopia and meeting our youngest daughter!
August 8, 2013 – We arrived in Ethiopia, picked up “T” and loved on her for 3 days!
August 9, 2013 – We passed court! We also had the amazing experience of meeting a special 14 year old young lady. Her name is “M^”. She has a sweet gentle spirit!
August 10, 2013 – We dropped off “T” at the Transition House. We were able to spend about an hour there with her and the other kiddos. We were also able to see “M^” again. What an awesome young lady!
August 12, 2013 – We arrived home in Seymour! Yup, it was a whirlwind trip.
August 29, 2013 – Received an email that our case has been submitted to the embassy!
August 30, 2013 – We couldn’t stop thinking about “M^”. So Kevin made some phone calls. By the end of the day Sue had sent us the referral paperwork!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31, 2013 – Ice Cream Social to share our trip with our community.
September 6, 2013 – We sent off the acceptance of “M^”s referral. This seems so backwards from
last time!
And now we wait . . . and wait . . . and wait some more!
We have been very blessed with a wonderful placement agency and amazing social worker. They have done everything they can to make this a great (and realistic) experience. We are forever thankful!
You guys were on a waiting list for a long time! We got our referral right away but then had our waiting period. Referral in April 2012 until coming home in August of 2013 was forever.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you to be adopting another daughter along with beautiful T. It was lots of fun to be over there with you guys and get to play with T. Can't wait to see you bring her home and finish your journey with M^. God bless you guys!