Reading a timeline can be like reading a grocery list........Still, when I was on the brink of this adoption process, I was hungry for information...... how long did a homestudy take, what is an I800 or I600?To give meaning to the process and the paperwork, as we step through each doorway in our adoption, I'll share dates, plus our story of "how".
"Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is this: To care for orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world."
James 1:12
polluted by the world."
July 12, 2012
The day Joe said, "yes" was July, 12, 2012. I remember because we were out on a date at one of our favorite dinner spots, sitting on the same side of the booth. Joe had just taken a new job after a long time of searching and praying for the right opportunity for our family. I remember too, that I cried when Joe said, "yes". International adoption had been on my heart for months, and I'd been praying that God would either take this desire from me, or give it to my husband. Joe agreed that yes, we could start "looking into adoption"....meaning we'd pay $300 to apply to Adoption Advocates International, and see if it was right for us.
July - September, 2012We took our first baby steps-- learning about the two or three international programs that we wanted to pursue, checking the "waiting child" page, and emailing the patient and kind staff at Adoption Advocates International, who graciously answered all of our questions and helped us to make our own decisions. Since this narrative offers to tell the whole story, not just the fairy tale portions, we'll share how we made decisions that would be right for our family, but this shouldn't be a blueprint for all....
We first were drawn to AAI's Uganda program. (to know more about the amazing woman who runs this program visit Salem's blog) There were two little boys, about 7 or 8 waiting for families. Could it be us? Over time, and for various reasons, we felt that adoption from Uganda, a non-Hague-convention country, was not a good fit for our family. Joe had a tenuous grasp on this commitment, and we couldn't add to this uncertainty and stress with more variables and uncertainties. At the time, the Uganda program was expected to change, but no one knew exactly what this would mean for families in-process. The in-country commitment for adoptive parents was, on average 6 weeks, but with delays could be up to 8 or 10. We just didn't see how either of us could be away for so long, or make two trips. For other families we know, this was manageable and staying in Uganda was a blessing-- an opportunity to meet others, to serve, and to spend time in their child's home-country. Uganda is a beautiful country too, with much to experience.
Next, we felt our heart fixed on a delightful, 9 year old little girl, visually impaired, and waiting, from Thailand. When we inquired about her, we were so pleased to hear that she'd been matched with her forever family, but honestly, a bit sad for ourselves. God had already begun to plant a love for her in our hearts. We'd begun to pray about her, and think about her.
September- October, 2012
After talking and emailing with Gay (AAI Burkina Faso Program Director) about adopting from Burkina Faso, we were introduced via email and blogspot to a woman who would change our lives without even knowing it, Ruth Cox. We began by sponsoring a little boy attending school at Ruth's orphanage, and in reading her blog, learned about several beautiful children needing forever families. The first two we inquired about were girls, and were about 10 years old. Both were matched with families within a few weeks. When we saw a photolisting of a little boy, "about 4 years old" our hearts broke for the seriousness of his little face, the ill-fitting glasses tied with elastic on the back, and the sweetness in his eyes. We told Gay that we wanted to pursue this little one, and with that, we wrote a big check to AAI to get the process started.We also committed to sponsoring a child living in Yako, attending school, and living with Ruth. His name is Woagba Tebda -- he is handsome and is said to be "a delightful boy full of smiles and curiosity". He is one of 9 children, whose father is deceased. Although adoption is expensive, we feel that this monthly sacrifice is important.
October 30th, 2012,
We initiated our contract with AAI, and paid $5,000 in agency fees to begin. AAI would be our placing agency, and we contracted with Adoption Options, Inc., who would be our local agency, with whom we would work to complete our homestudy.
November- December 2012
We initiated our homestudy, (fees range between $2,000- $3,500). We were thrilled to see the "Family Found" banner put up for us, on our little boy's photolisting page with AAI! We finished our online training, gathered our required documents and letters of recommendation, and met with our social worker within the coming weeks. Our homestudy was concluded just before Christmas, 2012. This 2 month timeline is pretty typical for families motivated and "action oriented".
December 31, 2013
Our I800-A, was submitted (we completed fingerprinting and paid required fees as part of this process, in total, about $900). This is the "Application to Adopt a Foreign Born Child". Our application, homestudy, required documentation, and fees were received in the "lockbox" in Texas at 9:38 a.m. on January 2, 2013. It is funny how times and dates become so pin-pointed in this process. We prayed that God would direct the flow of this paperwork through all of the right channels, and that we'd receive an approval within 30 days. (For families adopting from a non-hague convention country, this application is a I600-A.)
And then we wait......
Today I sent a photo-book to Ruth. She will bring the book back to Burkina, when she leaves the states next week, and will share it with our little boy. It tells the story of a family who loves him and can't wait to meet him.
We have accomplished so much, but have such a long way to go still.....and so many things are simply beyond our control.
Today, our fate lies in the hands of the good people who work in the immigration offices, at the Department of Homeland Security.
