8 months of paper chasing and we finally have a DTE (Dossier to Ethiopia) date! Those in the adoption world know how important this date is, and how much work it took to get to this stage. Looking back, it was no biggie. While we were in the thick of it, it seemed like it would take years to get it all completed. I remember the day that we received the packet of info from our family coordinator with our agency, September 26, 2012. My heart sank as I scanned through the pages and pages and pages of information that explained everything we would need to complete before being on a waiting list.
I know that it will be 24-30 months before we have our Ethiopian daughter in our arms, but my heart is happy today as I think back through the last 8 months and what God has taught us! It seems fitting that this is happening right before Mother's Day.
Here is a timeline of what has occurred in the last 16 months. I wanted to put this timeline together so we have it all listed in one place, so we can look back and know when small and big steps were completed. I incorporated our journey to know Christ better because He is ultimately the reason for our adoption decision. And this gives others an idea of how we got to where we are today, waiting for our Ethiopian daughter to complete our family.
January 15, 2012 We started attending Westside Family Church on a regular basis
February 1, 2012 Nathan and I attend Get Connected, a class to become Westside members
Around this same time, Nathan joined a men's fireside group, and I a women's group
February 5, 2012 Nathan and I begin Get Grounded, a 10 week study about the Bible
May 6, 2012 Nathan and I begin Get Charged, a 10 week study about Loving Jesus, Becoming like Jesus,
and Sharing Jesus
July 15, 2012 Jenny is baptized (Nathan was baptized in middle school)
August 19, 2012 Nathan is interviewed on stage by Pastor Brian Phipps about how we became involved
August 27, 2012 Jenny Starts our adoption journey by researching the process (domestic and international)
* I sent an email to Nathan regarding my research to see what his reaction would be and his response
was, "Oh boy" (I have saved that email)
September 7, 2012 Application sent in to America World
September 19, 2012 Accepted into the Ethiopia program
Paper Chase begins!
October 4, 2012 First Home Study visit with social worker, Kim
October 11, 2012 Fingerprints done for KBI report
October 15, 2012 Jenny and Nathan get physicals (TB tests read on Oct. 18th)
October 16, 2012 Kids get physicals (TB tests read Oct. 19th)
October 29, 2012 Heart of the Matter training completed
November 1, 2012 Attended first Adoption Network meeting (put up Christmas trees at Westside)
November 4, 2012 Our first Orphan Sunday as prospective adoptive parents
November 29, 2012 2nd Social Worker visit- home visit
January 10, 2013 3rd and final visit with social worker
January 14, 2013 Home Study completed- official report sent to us
January 22, 2013 I-600A application sent in
April 5, 2013 Poker Fundraiser hosted by church friends
April 12, 2013 Thirty-One fundraiser
April 20, 2013 I-171H approval received
April 24, 2013 Dossier shipped (insert sigh of relief here)
April 24-27, 2013 Adoption benefit garage sale
May 3-5, 2013 Jenny attends Created for Care adoption retreat at The Elms with other adoptive moms
May 10, 2013 Dossier to Ethiopia (DTE), our "Paper Pregnancy" begins!
As always, we thank everyone for all of your support and prayers. Our eyes are wide open to the generosity of others as we are humbled by what our friends, family, and total strangers have done for us over the past 8 months. I wish I had the right words that could express exactly how much it has all meant to us. Wow, just wow, is all I can think of at the moment.
For me, the greatest thing I've learned is that if God calls us to do something, He will give us everything we need to do it.
