Our Timeline

October 1, 2003 - The question "What do you think of adoption?" is posed on our first date

November 20, 2004 - Our wedding day!

2004 - 2009 - We continue talking and praying about adoption

March 2010 - We start seriously looking into countries and agencies

April 2010 - We choose to adopt from Ethiopia

May 11, 2010 - We submit our formal application to AAI

May 21, 2010 - We submit our home study paperwork

June 5, 2010 - Our social worker conducts the home visit

June 28, 2010 - We receive notarized copies of our home study report

June 30, 2010 - We submit our I-600A (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) paperwork to the USCIS

July 12, 2010 - We receive notice that our USCIS application has been received along with appointment times for our required fingerprintings

August 2, 2010 - Our fingerprinting is completed

August 25, 2010 - We receive USCIS approval of our I-600A

September 7, 2010 - We submit our completed dossier for agency review

September 15, 2010 - We send 2 of the dossier documents to the Texas Secretary of State office to be officially certified

September 25, 2010 - We receive our certified documents from the SOS

September 29, 2010 - We send our completed dossier to the courier service The Assistant Stork to be taken to the US State Department and Ethiopian Embassy for authentication

October 6, 2010 - Authenticated dossier sent by our agency to Ethiopia

May 19, 2011 - We receive our referral for two boys (a 9-month-old and a 2.5-year-old)

June 18, 2011 - We receive notification that our court date is July 21

July 17 & 18, 2011 - We meet our sons for the first time!

July 21, 2011 - Due to a mislabeled file, we are told the judge will not see us for our court date until we have our MOWYCA letter

July 26, 2011 - We finally pass court (with our MOWYCA letter)

August 11, 2011 - Documents submitted to the US Embassy for approval

August 29, 2011 - Additional documents submitted to the US Embassy

August 31, 2011 - Cleared to travel by the US Embassy

September 13, 2011 - US Embassy interview appointment

September 16, 2011 - Home Forever!