OUR ADOPTION TIMELINE

Written by Kimberly Hartwell

For those of you like me - you'll appreciate this. I am a planner, even by trade. I like timelines, order, dates, deadlines... And then I think - what am I doing, doing an adoption process? I've heard so often that it's moving fast, then waiting, moving fast, then waiting. In the midst of all this - I am excited to see how God will use this to stretch me and grow me. My husband on the other hand, is calm - - - calm, cool, collected. What a huge blessing that God has melded our hearts together and that we can draw from each others strengths.

With that said, here is our current timeline:

2004 - First time that we both felt that God was leading us towards adoption as one way to grow our family.

2005 - While in Africa (Uganda, Kenya & Ethiopia), God seems to be showing multiple people that we will have twins in our family some day. Maybe we'll be looking at siblings for adoption...

2007 - Decided upon Ethiopia as the place we feel God's tug on our heart for our children.

2008 - After much research, and recommendation from Loving Shepherd Ministries, we chose All God's Children Int'l (AGCI) as our adoption agency.

Summer 2009 - Chose Lutheran Family Services (LFS) as our home study agency.

October 7, 2009 - Mailed in our application to AGCI. (We had to wait to start our adoption process until our youngest child in the home was 9 months old.)
October 16, 2009 - Mailed in our application to LFS.

November 18, 2009 - Officially approved through AGCI. (The normal wait for the 'initial approval' is 48-72 hours after they receive your packet, but we had delays with medical coverage questions - which lead to 1 month and 11 days, instead of 48-72 hours)
November 19, 2009 - 1st Home study visit
November 20, 2009 - Contract-Orientation call with AGCI
November 23, 2009 - Mailed in all contracts and beginning fees for AGCI

December 4, 2009 - Received Dossier packet
December 7, 2009 - 2nd home study visit
December 8, 2009 - Dossier-Orientation call with AGCI, *postponed, case manager sick
December 14, 2009 - 3rd home study visit, orientation dossier call with AGCI
December 14, 2009 - Birth certificates/marriage license ordered
December 15, 2009 - 1/2 of With Eyes Wide Open workbook completed
December 17, 2009 - 4th and final home study visit
December 18, 2009 - Power of Attorney and Criminal Records verified and notarized, extra passport photos taken
December 18, 2009 - Financial Statement and Post Adoption Commitment letter written
December 22, 2009 -  1 out of 6 education courses online completed
December 23, 2009 - Power of Attorney paperwork sent in for State Certification
December 30, 2009 - Medical appointments for Jay & Kimberly complete
December 30, 2009 - Power of Attorney is now state certified and in our hands

January 3, 2010 - 2nd online education course completed
January 7, 2010 - 3rd online education course completed
January 11, 2010 - Photos of Family and Home printed
January 12, 2010 - 4th online education course completed
January 12, 2010 - Received Employment Verification Letter through our tax office since we're self-employed
January 13, 2010 - all but 3 documents in hand, waiting to turn in for our dossier!
January 24, 2010 - Our own adoption application letter to MOWA written (Ethiopian government)
January 26, 2010 - 1st letter of recommendation received
January 27, 2010 - prepared dossier and copies, minus 1 letter of recommendation
January 28, 2010 - donations received that brings us to the place where we have enough to send in our dossier

February 1, 2010 - AGCI call to discuss the USCIS forms needed
February 2, 2010 - received 2nd (& final) letter of recommendation, made copies of this to attach to dossier
February 2, 2010 - DOSSIER IS COMPLETE & IN THE MAIL!!!
February 3, 2010 - Dossier has been received by AGCI
February 4, 2010 - Home Study Review with Lutheran Family Services
February 5, 2010 - Our home study has been received by AGCI for review
February 17, 2010 - All is clear and our home study will be sent for state certification
February 18, 2010 - Or NOT - background checks were never submitted, so home study cannot be accepted as is - this is a 6-8 week delay

March 30, 2010 - After 6 weeks, all background checks have been received and the home study has been sent for State Certification

April 6, 2010 - State Certified Home Study has been sent to AGCI
April 6, 2010 - USCIS paperwork sent to the government
April 8-9, 2010 - 16 hours adoption training in Denver
April 12, 2010 - Officially on the waitlist!!! #23 for siblings
April 17, 2010 - Last 8 hours of adoption training in Denver
April 24, 2010 - Received our letter from USCIS with appointment to get our fingerprints

May 2010 - Officially #21 on Sibling List
May 17, 2010 - Went to Denver to go to our fingerprinting appointment
May 27, 2010 - Received letter from USCIS requesting more information

June 5, 2010 - Received our Favorable Determination Letter for our adoption
June 2010 - Officially #21 on Sibling List

July 2010 - Unofficially #19 on the Sibling List and waiting for our updated official number