This Ethiopian Journey: August 2012

How To Follow This Blog

I realized after my grandmother vsited my blog and told me she had no clue what she was reading, I needed to add a How to follow this blog info section. The blog is an online journey of this process. Instead of writing on paper I use the computer to capture and hold my thoughts and feelings to later share with the girls and remind myself of the highs and lows of this entire process. If you are just tuning in there are lots of post to catch up on, (post are writing entries done by me) but take it day by day, or when ever you have time to flip through the Blog Archives of my entries listed on the right towards the bottom. There are also a list of blogs I follow listed on the right, entitled "I am a blog stalker", these are people who are waiting for a referral like me, or they may be home already with their child/children, I enjoy reading about their journey. You can also look on the right and see my adoption time line and a small snapshot of the things that were like mile stones in this adoption process. I make weekly post, and each post brings me closer to bringing my daughters home. Sometimes if there are really good things happening I make more than 1 post in that week, or when ever the mood hits me to post, then I post an entry. So stay tuned in and I hope this will help those just finding out a/b my blog.

What I hope to accomplish with this blog........

For now the blog is public, as the ball gets rolling with my HS and dossier, I will make this blog private, however, in the mean time I want to invite family and friends into my world for a short period of time and give them an overview of Internation Adoption. The roller coaster of emotions are real, and hard to bear at times, as with International Adoption nothing is written in stone and can change or shut down at the drop of a dime and without notice. This is such a happy chapter in my life, and what better way to share my happiness other than sharing it with family and friends. So sit back come take the ride with me and enjoy.

Adoption Time Line

* 2006 started research on International/Domestic/Local Foster Care System

*March 08/accepted to Hope

*March 08/ Applied for I600A

*May 08 on-line Parent classes done.

*May 08 HS Agency application is in the mail

*May 08 Finger Prints

*May 08 1st HS Visit

*May 08 Pyscial for HS & Agency

*May 08 2nd & final HS visit

*June 08 Biometric FingerPrinting(Immigration)

*June 08 Local Police Check done

*June 08 3rd HS Visit

*June 08 Approved HS

* June 08 Dossier Complete

* July 08 dossier off to Secretary of State

* July 08 Sent Copy of Dossier to Immigration(homelandSecurity along w/other documents needed

*July 08 dossier to the Embassy in Washington, DC, Then it is off to Ethiopia

*July 08 Offically waiting!!!!!

*September 08 I-171H Approval YES!!!

*September 08--Got those stinky shots!!

*December 24th 08--Referral of my daughters.....They are so cute!!!!

*December 25, 2008 ~ Decided to keep ET given names for both girls......

*February 24th, 09...... Court Date Assigned. Momma is coming!

*March 09......Second round of Stinky Hep shots

*May 18th, 09... Court Date!!!!

* June 9th, 09....2nd Court Date!!! fingers r crossed

* June 26, 09....3d Court Date!!! Please God let us pass!

*Court Date #4????????(Aug 10th) I was there in ET

* New requirements for the state I live in for the HS

* July 09 Decided to visit the girls in Ethiopia

*Aug 3, 2009 I leave for Ethiopia

*Aug 09 More paperwork needed for HS Agency being HS has expired as of June 23

* Aug 10, 2009 4th court date.....

*Aug 10, 09 met birth mom......

*Aug 10,09 waiting for 5th court date.....(Aug 18th)

*Aug 18, 09 Being re-fingerprinted for Immigration

*Aug 19, 09 waiting for court date number 6????

*Aug 21, 2009 The Courts Close in Ethiopia, Reopen Oct 1, 2009

*October 12th, 09 Courts reopened in ET

*October 13th, 09 HS visit for updated HS and 1600A Extension

*October 15th, 09 Finger Prints done for HS (AGAIN)

*October 20th, 09, Physical (AGAIN) for HS

*October 31, 09, HS Should be complete and sent to USCIS asking for 1600A extension and another age change.

*November 09, sent updated HS to USCIS and Adoption Agency

*December 18, 2009, Girls were filed for a court date.

WE PASSED!!!!! THE GIRLS ARE COMING HOME

This Ethiopian Journey

Thursday, August 9, 2012

3rd grade here I come!

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My Heart Is In Ethiopia