02/01/2012 - Begin sponsoring & praying for a precious girl in Ghana.
02/27/2012 - Learn that our sponsor child is an orphan needing a family. Begin praying for her family to find her.
04/13/2012 - God makes it abundantly clear that WE are this precious girl's family!!
05/19/2012 - Learn that it would be in the best interest of both our new daughter & her best friend if they could be adopted together. Begin praying for clarity & wisdom.
07/12/2012 - Agree that if it's in the girls' best interest to remain together, then it would be wrong of us to separate them.
09/05/2012 - Received updated homestudy approving us for 2 children of any age/gender.
09/10/2012 - Send updated homestudy to USCIS with letter requesting biometrics appt and I-171H extension.
09/24/2012 - Received biometrics appt for Oct 3 for Sam & Christy...yet again USCIS has overlooked Grandma. Hoping to receive her appt soon too!
10/03/2012 - Biometrics appointment at USCIS Buffalo
10/09/2012 - First opportunity to skype with our girls in Ghana!!! It was the most amazing, beautiful hour. We talked and learned a little about each other and they sang to me. Filled this mama's heart!
10/12/2012 - Received updated, approved I-171H but Grandma's biometrics expire on the 24th! Have to request a new appointment for her.
11/27/2012 - Dossier submitted to Ghana Social Welfare
12/03/2012 - Met our girls for the first time!!!
12/04/2012 - Left Ghana knowing R&A can never be ours...
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01/18/2013 - Saw photo on RainbowKids that tugged at my heart. Requested their file from the agency they were listed with. Began praying & advocating for a family to step forward for these children.
02/05/2013 - Sam & I agreed that, while painful to try to move forward so quickly, we needed to apply to WACAP and see if God was planning these children to be ours. Application sent.
02/12/2013 - All pre-approval paperwork submitted and forwarded to the coordinator in Taiwan.
02/19/2013 - First hurdle cleared - Taiwanese social welfare agency willing to waive family size requirement!
02/22/2013 - Received additional questions from Taiwan. Responses submitted same day.
03/14/2013 - Taiwan sends another long list of questions. Responses submitted next night.
04/30/2013 - FINALLY, after 11 grueling weeks, received pre-approval from Taiwan to adopt this sibling pair!!!
05/08/2013 - Commit fully to moving forward to adopt these 2 children.
05/24/2013 - Homestudy submitted to placing agency for approval prior to finalization.
06/12/2013 - Homestudy edit notes (putting it nicely) received from placing agency.
06/19/2013 - Homestudy completely rewritten and resubmitted to placing agency for approval.
07/02/2013 - Homestudy still in need of revision to meet placing agency/Taiwan standards.
07/09/2013 - Homestudy FINALLY approved, signed & notarized!!!!!
07/29/2013 - Homestudy formally accepted by placing agency. We are officially enrolled in their Taiwan program.
