Where we’ve been:
Christmas 2009: Confirmed we were called to adoption
Winter-Spring 2010: Complete Classes and 3 Home-studies for Domestic adoption with CHSVA (Children’s Home Society of VA)
8-7-10: Decide we are interested in pursuing children under our youngest child’s age, but still a special needs of “older” and/or siblings. After much prayer, decide this means we should switch to International. Quickly led to Ethiopia.
8-23-10: We decide to move forward with CHI (Children’s House International) for Ethiopian adoption
8-27-10: Agency Paperwork submitted with CHI
8-28-10: Told our kiddos! They were excited and surprised!
9-1-10: See pictures of waiting children with CHI. Jeremiah is a ‘Schwarz-to-be’
9-9-10: Approved as exception to adopt another child from the same region as Jeremiah
9-17-10: Jakob becomes a ‘Schwarz-to-be’
10-7-10: Home Study finally completed as International Home study
10-8-10: I600A and homestudy mailed to USCIS
11-1-10: Fingerprints
11-29-10: USCIS approval
12-7-10: Dossier docs off to Assistant Stork in DC
12-16-10: Dossier off to Ethiopia
12-30-10: US Embassy begins to hold up cases and request additional documents
1/3/11: Need this new kind of birth certificate for each child from their city of birth and another document. Probably a few more weeks. Then, IF these exist for our boys, hopefully we’ll be assigned a court date. Looking like late March or early April at the EARLIEST.
2/8/11: Certificates placed into our file with Ethiopian Court. Awaiting court date again.
3/1/11: Hear that another item had been requested by the Court and therefore we were not awaiting court date. Fortunately, official sign-off obtained and Ethiopian court says file is ready. Awaiting court date (again).
3/1/11: Learn that our agency has to complete our boys ‘lifebooks’ before they’ll turn in our case to the Embassy for being assigned. A new step that hopefully will ensure smooth Embassy process, but a slow down in getting it to them. Estimated window July-Labor Day for Embassy appt. :( PRAY FOR THESE LIFEBOOKS TO COMPLETE QUICKLY!
So here’s where we are:
3/3/11: Receive COURT DATE!!!!!! WOOHOO!!! 4/27/11!!!! EASTER IN ETHIOPIA:)
Kiddos are going with us!
Leave 4/14 to tour Bahir Dahr, Lalibela and Gondar before back to Addis
4/25 MEET OUR BOYS!!
4/27 Appear before Judge in court - heard the best words: THEY ARE YOURS!!!
4/28 home again and wait for Embassy appt
6/8 Jacob cleared for Embassy appt
6/9 Jeremiah cleared for Embassy appt
6/25 Arrive in Ethiopia and immediately go to GET OUR SONS!
6/30 WE ARE HOME!! AS A FAMILY OF 7
Christmas 2009: Confirmed we were called to adoption
Winter-Spring 2010: Complete Classes and 3 Home-studies for Domestic adoption with CHSVA (Children’s Home Society of VA)
8-7-10: Decide we are interested in pursuing children under our youngest child’s age, but still a special needs of “older” and/or siblings. After much prayer, decide this means we should switch to International. Quickly led to Ethiopia.
8-23-10: We decide to move forward with CHI (Children’s House International) for Ethiopian adoption
8-27-10: Agency Paperwork submitted with CHI
8-28-10: Told our kiddos! They were excited and surprised!
9-1-10: See pictures of waiting children with CHI. Jeremiah is a ‘Schwarz-to-be’
9-9-10: Approved as exception to adopt another child from the same region as Jeremiah
9-17-10: Jakob becomes a ‘Schwarz-to-be’
10-7-10: Home Study finally completed as International Home study
10-8-10: I600A and homestudy mailed to USCIS
11-1-10: Fingerprints
11-29-10: USCIS approval
12-7-10: Dossier docs off to Assistant Stork in DC
12-16-10: Dossier off to Ethiopia
12-30-10: US Embassy begins to hold up cases and request additional documents
1/3/11: Need this new kind of birth certificate for each child from their city of birth and another document. Probably a few more weeks. Then, IF these exist for our boys, hopefully we’ll be assigned a court date. Looking like late March or early April at the EARLIEST.
2/8/11: Certificates placed into our file with Ethiopian Court. Awaiting court date again.
3/1/11: Hear that another item had been requested by the Court and therefore we were not awaiting court date. Fortunately, official sign-off obtained and Ethiopian court says file is ready. Awaiting court date (again).
3/1/11: Learn that our agency has to complete our boys ‘lifebooks’ before they’ll turn in our case to the Embassy for being assigned. A new step that hopefully will ensure smooth Embassy process, but a slow down in getting it to them. Estimated window July-Labor Day for Embassy appt. :( PRAY FOR THESE LIFEBOOKS TO COMPLETE QUICKLY!
So here’s where we are:
3/3/11: Receive COURT DATE!!!!!! WOOHOO!!! 4/27/11!!!! EASTER IN ETHIOPIA:)
Kiddos are going with us!
Leave 4/14 to tour Bahir Dahr, Lalibela and Gondar before back to Addis
4/25 MEET OUR BOYS!!
4/27 Appear before Judge in court - heard the best words: THEY ARE YOURS!!!
4/28 home again and wait for Embassy appt
6/8 Jacob cleared for Embassy appt
6/9 Jeremiah cleared for Embassy appt
6/25 Arrive in Ethiopia and immediately go to GET OUR SONS!
6/30 WE ARE HOME!! AS A FAMILY OF 7
