In you the ophan finds mercy. Hosea 14:3
1999
I knew God was calling me to adopt. I had a special burden to adopt girls from India.
2000
Adam and I knew God would have us to adopt as a means of having a family. We just didn't know exactly when it would happen.
2004-2012
We attended adoption meetings, talked to others in the process of adopting, read blogs on adoption, and continued to pray about adoption. We worked to get our lives in order by buying a home, paying off debts, and getting educated to prepare to begin the adoption process.
July 26, 2012
I read the blog of a family who was adopting from India and messaged them because we felt we were getting to the place we were ready to start the process.
August 2, 2012
The family wrote back with their agency information and encouraged us to begin the process
August 9, 2012
We e-mailed the India Director at the placing agency and set up a phone interview
August 14, 2012
We had a phone interview with the India Director of the placing agency
August 20, 2012
We had our first meeting with Robin, our home study social worker
October 16, 2012
We mailed our Journey's of the Heart application.
October 20, 2012
We started our home study with an all-day seminar in Dubuque, IA
December 26, 2012
We completed our application for the home study interview process
January 23, 2013
Our Hillcrest Adoption Services Home Study application was processed
February 11, 2013
We had our first home study interview and took our psychological exams
March 18, 2013
We had our second psychological exam
April 19-20
We went to the Karyn Purvis Adoption Conference (Created to Connect) in Barrington, IL
April 30, 2013
We had our individual interviews for our home study and went over the results of our psychological exams
June 18 at 10 AM
Robin, our social worker completed our final interview and inspected our home
June 18
We received an e-mail regarding our placing agency, JOH, dropping the India program
June 19
We participated in a tele-conference regarding the placing agencies changes
June 24
Our India Director called us to reassure us that everything was still going to be okay
June 24
We applied to the new adoption agency, America World
July 29, 2013
We received our refund from JOH
July 30, 2013
We mailed our first payment to AWAA with paperwork
August 22, 2013
AWAA India Conference Call
August 30, 2013
Legal Guardianship paperwork received by Hillcrest
September 30, 2013
Hague Approval for India Adoption Received
October 10, 2013
Official Home study copies arrived in the mail
October 11, 2013
The first grant application was mailed for consideration
November 6, 2013
Applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for our I-800A
December 21, 2013
Received notice for our I-800 A appointment for 01/06/2014
January 6, 2014
Apostilling completed at the IA Secretary of State Office
I-800 A appointment was cancelled due to extremely cold temperatures
January 27,2014
Dossier mailed to America World with 2nd payment
February 3, 2014
Officially registered on India's CARINGS site
February 4, 2014
I-800 A appointment (2nd failed try)
February 13, 2014
Spoke to Hague Officer Ladd on the phone
February 20, 2014
AWAA called with a referral and we accepted it!
February 25, 2014
I-800 A (3rd) appointment in Des Moines
March 18, 2014
Lisa called with the state our Baby G is in and she said the process may have changed. We are heartbroken as we now wonder if we truly have this referral.
April 11, 2014
We found out that Baby G has been referred to another family and we won't be getting her.
April 19, 2014
God, in His faithfulness, made it possible for us to speak with a couple in India that has also suffered a similar adoption loss. They too have been married for over 12 years and are childless. But, they recently brought home a precious baby girl. They are a source of hope for us during this time.
April 21, 2014
We had a conference call with Lisa regarding our next steps. She was very encouraging and said that because we have no children we are very likely to be matched again within the next 3 months.
May, 2014
Janie finished graduate school
July, 2014
The Lord asked me to put this whole process on the altar and to trust Him. He asked me if I was willing to give it all over to Him and love Him even if He never allowed us to adopt. I came to that place of surrender unsure what His plan was for us.
August 8, 2014
Lisa called with a referral for us to consider
August 10, 2014
Adam and I spent much time praying, talking and considering if this was the child God had for us.
September 17, 2014
Lisa said that baby M's official referral documents had arrived.
September 23, 2014
We completed our I-800 packet, I-864 W packet, and supplement 1 for USCIS.
October 1, 2014
We returned Baby M's official referral documents to the agency.
October 27, 2014
We received approval of I-800 for baby M and filled out our DS-260.
November 13, 2014
We received our article 5 letter.
January 19, 2015
NOC from CARA was received.
January 22, 2015
We were notified of ARC approval.
February 2, 2015
We were filed in the Indian court.
February 20, 2015
We got an update on baby M.
We updated our homestudy.
March 2, 2015
We received news that more documents were needed for court.
March 23, 2015
Our last court hearing and verbals were received.
March 31, 2015
We received news that even more documents were needed for court.
April 2, 2015
The court website was updated and said that the case was disposed.
April 23, 2015
Our agency confirmed verbal approval from the court.
May 5, 2015
It is our 14th anniversary and the agency notified us that we now have written court orders and M is officially ours!
May 18, 2015
At 3:02 PM we got the news that his passport came in today (last night). When we were going to bed I told Adam that I felt like it would arrive while we were sleeping (Monday for India). Now it is time to make travel plans!
July 29, 2013
We received our refund from JOH
July 30, 2013
We mailed our first payment to AWAA with paperwork
August 22, 2013
AWAA India Conference Call
August 30, 2013
Legal Guardianship paperwork received by Hillcrest
September 30, 2013
Hague Approval for India Adoption Received
October 10, 2013
Official Home study copies arrived in the mail
October 11, 2013
The first grant application was mailed for consideration
November 6, 2013
Applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for our I-800A
December 21, 2013
Received notice for our I-800 A appointment for 01/06/2014
January 6, 2014
Apostilling completed at the IA Secretary of State Office
I-800 A appointment was cancelled due to extremely cold temperatures
January 27,2014
Dossier mailed to America World with 2nd payment
February 3, 2014
Officially registered on India's CARINGS site
February 4, 2014
I-800 A appointment (2nd failed try)
February 13, 2014
Spoke to Hague Officer Ladd on the phone
February 20, 2014
AWAA called with a referral and we accepted it!
February 25, 2014
I-800 A (3rd) appointment in Des Moines
March 18, 2014
Lisa called with the state our Baby G is in and she said the process may have changed. We are heartbroken as we now wonder if we truly have this referral.
April 11, 2014
We found out that Baby G has been referred to another family and we won't be getting her.
April 19, 2014
God, in His faithfulness, made it possible for us to speak with a couple in India that has also suffered a similar adoption loss. They too have been married for over 12 years and are childless. But, they recently brought home a precious baby girl. They are a source of hope for us during this time.
April 21, 2014
We had a conference call with Lisa regarding our next steps. She was very encouraging and said that because we have no children we are very likely to be matched again within the next 3 months.
May, 2014
Janie finished graduate school
July, 2014
The Lord asked me to put this whole process on the altar and to trust Him. He asked me if I was willing to give it all over to Him and love Him even if He never allowed us to adopt. I came to that place of surrender unsure what His plan was for us.
August 8, 2014
Lisa called with a referral for us to consider
August 10, 2014
Adam and I spent much time praying, talking and considering if this was the child God had for us.
September 17, 2014
Lisa said that baby M's official referral documents had arrived.
September 23, 2014
We completed our I-800 packet, I-864 W packet, and supplement 1 for USCIS.
October 1, 2014
We returned Baby M's official referral documents to the agency.
October 27, 2014
We received approval of I-800 for baby M and filled out our DS-260.
November 13, 2014
We received our article 5 letter.
January 19, 2015
NOC from CARA was received.
January 22, 2015
We were notified of ARC approval.
February 2, 2015
We were filed in the Indian court.
February 20, 2015
We got an update on baby M.
We updated our homestudy.
March 2, 2015
We received news that more documents were needed for court.
March 23, 2015
Our last court hearing and verbals were received.
March 31, 2015
We received news that even more documents were needed for court.
April 2, 2015
The court website was updated and said that the case was disposed.
April 23, 2015
Our agency confirmed verbal approval from the court.
May 5, 2015
It is our 14th anniversary and the agency notified us that we now have written court orders and M is officially ours!
May 18, 2015
At 3:02 PM we got the news that his passport came in today (last night). When we were going to bed I told Adam that I felt like it would arrive while we were sleeping (Monday for India). Now it is time to make travel plans!
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