2008
- Had a dream that led my heart to desire to expand via adoption
- Began researching agencies in North Carolina to certify us for adoption via foster. We chose (ok mainly I chose) foster care because it seemed easier and more affordable than other routes of adoption and we both new it would most likely not be an infant.
- It took a while to find an agency to work with due to my husband's VERY busy, non-scheduled job
- Finally began training to become certified foster care parent
- again this took a while due to my husband's crazy job!
- COMPLETION...and waiting!
- As we were submitted and awaiting our confirmation as foster care parents, my husband accepted a job in Virginia
- We moved.
- Virginia did NOT accept our training/certification although it was for the same number of hours and utilizing the same research and book training.
- We begin praying and both felt strongly led to International and began researching agencies.
- After praying (notice more prayer occurring while making decisions?!?!) we felt led to America World Adoption Agency (AWAA)
2011
- Began submitting paperwork for pre-application
- Accepted into AWAA and began praying (yep...more prayers) about where to go
- We felt strongly led in the direction of Ethiopia and began submitting paperwork to enter that country's adoption program through AWAA
- Officially accepted
2012
- Began building our dossier (paperwork sent to Ethiopia to show intent to adopt)
- July 27/2012, our dossier was officially in Ethiopia and the wait began
2015
- April 24, 2015 we got the most amazing phone call a REFERRAL!!!
- Sadly I almost missed it because I 'ignored' the call. In my defense, I have received upwards of 10 phone calls and texts any given day thanks to some guy named Larry who requested quotes from various loan agencies using my phone number. And I had saved the agencies number with a special ring, but it was from 'unknown caller' so I assumed it was for Larry...anyhoo, it worked out for the best, my husband arrived home shortly after and we were able to receive the phone call together along with our 7.5 year old kiddo! It was PERFECT!
Next steps
- Update all our dossier documents since they must be recent and ours are 3 years old. DONE
- Wait for all the necessary PAIR documents from Ethiopia
- Submit a request to the US Government to recognize these kiddos as our children, this is submitted alongside documents from Ethiopia called PAIR documents. Once we clear this stage...
- Wait for a positive referral from the Ethiopian MOWCYA
- We are passed onto Ethiopian courts and are given court date.
- This court hearing declares the kiddos as ours, once we pass court...
- We can either stay in Ethiopia or return home and wait for the US Embassy in Ethiopia to issue visas for the kiddos then we can bring them home or return to Ethiopia and bring them home.
So as you can imagine, we are on pins and needles hoping all the paperwork and powers that be, find our documents ok and we move quickly!!!! Thank you for your prayers regarding these next steps!
