May 14, 2012 - Homestudy update visit. $250.
May 12, 2012 - Mailed $6500 check to agency and copies for dossier. Also mailed off for Visa's $140.
May 11, 2012 - Finally sent agency dossier scan. Hopefully it will start being translated for court.
May 10, 2012 - More notarizing and anxiously trying to scan info to agency. Got email that said "this email is being sent to you because you are getting ready to go to court or for your embassy pick up." AHHHH! We just said "yes" 10 days ago!!
May 9, 2012 - Really hopeful for a little girl referral by the end of the year (yes, this is crazy)! Stayed up until 4:30 AM doing paperwork and cleaning for homestudy visit.
May 7, 2012 - Desperately notarizing everything under the sun.
May 6, 2012 - My grandmother passed at 90 years old.
May 4, 2012 - Got a new video of him. He has a sweet little voice. Showed my ill grandmother his photo. She gave me a big approving smile.
May 2, 2012 - Previous Uganda agency will "see" what funds we can recover.
May 3, 2012 - Register w/Olive Tree Promise for fundraising and start faxing, notarizing, etc... spent $54 at Kinko's!
May 1, 2012 - Homestudy updates being made and filling out new agency paper work. Also received new pics of this little boy! They were just taken the week before - ADORABLE:) Also, we told the family today. Kids thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 30, 2012 - I will have to blog about this part --- said YES to this waiting child!!! AND - we have new perimeters: 1 to 3 children, ages 0 to 7 years, either gender, siblings or unrelated.
April 29, 2012 - Decided to officially leave our agency. Things are not stable in Uganda. Leaving on good terms. And - I can not stop thinking about that little boy in the video!!! April 28, 2012 - Russ and I watch a waiting child video suggested by the 'new' agency contact.
April 28, 2012 - Total God thing! The director of a perspective new agency is in town and met with me at her hotel!! Crazy for sure. Russ and I feel strongly about changing to Ethiopia and also changing agencies.
April 26, 2012 - Researching Ethiopia. Could God keep doors to Africa open for us?
April 26, 2012 - Phone call with Agency. Uganda a mess. They don't really have any other options for us. Our heart is in Africa but praying. Confused.
April 18, 2012 - Still bad news. Prayers needed..... researching domestic adoptions.
April 10, 2012 - Horrible news today. I don't even know how to explain it. Total lost $13,920
March 29, 2012 - Could have good news! Our original referral could still be ours!! It's been 8 months since we've had an updated photo - could have one VERY SOON!!!! Was told our "case has a good chance of moving forward"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 2012 - Is there light at the end of this tunnel? Agency going to Uganda to personally investigate our (and other waiting families) situation.February 2012 - waiting on (another) referral........ We started this process one year ago and have NOTHING to show for as of now...... We are in a very hard place this month.
January 21, 2012 - At 4:30 AM found a very important piece of mail on my desk. It was dated Jan.12, 2012 our I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition was at the US Embassy in Kampala and we had a case number! It had been sitting on my desk for two weeks - crazy! Still hopeful:)
January 10, 2012 - USCIS approval
December 18, 2011 - Mailed off corrected paperwork
December 16, 2011 - USCIS paperwork returned due to error.
December 9, 2011 - A VERY hard day. We lost our referral.
November 15, 2011 - Court Affidavits signed for court in Kampala
November 15, 2011 - Russ biometrics appt $360
November 8, 2011 - Ginger biometrics appt $360
October 26, 2011 - Filed I-600A
September 7, 2011 - Updated medicals on our little boy. He is officially in the orphanage.
August 29, 2011 - Our church purchased baby beds for our sons orphanage!
August 8, 2011 - Assigned attorney and mailed fees $5,000
August 4, 2011 - Accepted our referral $1,200
July 29, 2011 - We have a referral! A 9 month old baby boy! But, only 1 child. Excited, but confused.
June 6, 2011 - Homestudy completed for TWO children under the age of 5 years old, siblings or unrelated. $500 to Homestudy agency $600 to placing agency
May 4, 2011 - Completed Adoption Education Course
May 4, 2011 - Second homestudy visit $400
April 21, 2011 - First homestudy visit $50
April 11, 2011 - Received more agency paperwork, adoption service plan, etc...
April 4, 2011 - Signed agency contract and mailed $5,200 check.
March 30, 2011 - Russ and I both believed God calling us to 2 children - not just 1!
March 16, 2011 - Official letter accepted by our Adoption Agency
March 8, 2011 - Contacted homestudy agency
March 6, 2011 - Mailed off application to Adoption Agency $250
March 1, 2011 - Narrowing agencies
February 2011 - LET's DO THIS!!!
