July 15- After almost a year of talking about adopting and checking out different organizations, the decision to adopt is made. It was also my 38th birthday.
July 21- Applied to adopt with Christian World Adoption.
July 26- CWA application package arrives.
July 29- First meeting with Home Study provider.
August 3- CWA confirms our application.
August 17- Second meeting with Home Study Provider, parental training begins.
August 20- I-600A application submitted to US Customs & Immigrations petition to adopt an orphan.
September 17- Fingerprints taken at the Dept of Homeland Security Customs & Immigration Services.
October 15- Dossier approved by CWA.
October 21- Dossier authenticated in Florida.
October 30- Dossier authenticated in Washington, DC (one day before Jim's birthday).
November 6- Dossier arrived in Ethiopia! Now we wait for a referral....
December 14- Receive Visa 37 confirmation from USCIS.
2010
January- Waiting....
February- Waiting....
March- Waiting....
March 31- Confirmation that the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia change the adoption process from one trip, to two trips. Now every family most travel for their court appointment and then 5-8 weeks later their US Embassy appointment.
April- Waiting....
May- Waiting....
June- Waiting....
July 15- One year since we started our journey and my 39th birthday, I prayed so hard that we would get our referral for my birthday but it didn't happen.
JULY 23- 8 DAYS AFTER MY BIRTHDAY.....A BELATED BIRTHDAY GIFT, A CALL FROM CWA WITH A REFERRAL FOR 2 HEALTHY BOYS FROM ETHIOPIA. BROTHERS AGES 2 AND 3 1/2.
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| The first picture we see of our boys......Love at first sight! |
September- Waiting on a court date.
October 27- "THE CALL" OUR COURT DATE IS NOVEMBER 10. We get this call 4 days before Jim's birthday.
November 5- Leave for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
November 6- Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
November 8- Meet the boys for the first time.....
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| First Official Family Photo |
November 12- Leave for the US without our babies. A sad day......
November 19- Court approval received Jayson Addisu and Jordan Altesa are legally Atkinson's.
December 17- Received Jordan's Ethiopian birth certificate
December 20- Received Jayson's Ethiopian birth certificate
December 25- Merry Christmas my babies.....there is not one day that goes by that we don't think of you. We wish we were with you for Christmas. Hang in there and know that Mommy and Daddy will be there soon! We love you so much!
2011
January 1- Happy New Year! Jayson and Jordan
January 6- More delays! Our case manager informs us that the US Embassy is requiring additional documents based on a policy change. Delays of up to 2 weeks. :-(
January 7- Ye Ganna Baal – Ethiopian Christmas A common way to refer to the Christmas holiday is "ye ganna baal". The word Ganna is used interchangeably with the word Christmas to mean the birth of Christ (leddat).
January 30- Daddy leaves for Ethiopia...he couldn't wait anymore!
February 7- Embassy appointment set for February 10, Mommy makes all the appropriate arrangements and flies out on Wednesday, February 9th.
February 10- Gotcha Day!!!! Mommy arrived in Ethiopia in the morning, we picked up the boys at Tikuret and had our Embassy appointment in the afternoon. Smooth Embassy appointment with no issues. Jayson Addisu and Jordan Altesa are officially Atkinson's in the eyes of the Ethiopian and US government! It was also Mommy and Daddy's 15th wedding anniversary!
February 11- Final Embassy paperwork delivered to the guest home.
February 16- "The J Crew"- Jim, Jasmin, Jayson and Jordan arrive at home!!! Wooo Hooo!!!!
