Adventure 4 Eli + Kai: And we are off...

Thursday, November 10, 2011

And we are off...

Announcement of our Adoption is out and we have begun our first Fundraiser... $11 for Eli

November is National Adoption Month… in honor of that, we have begun our first fundraiser & am asking those that are able & willing to donate $11 for Eli.

We are trying to raise $600 by the end of Nov to cover the “official application” fee.

Anyone interested in helping can donate via Paypal to: adventure4eli@gmail.com (please specify "gift" to prevent fees), or use the convenient "Chip-In" button on this blog; or you can email us for a mailing address.

We are also pleased to have our Dr appointments for Steve & my physical exam on Tuesday! Praise the Lord we got an apt and our insurance all changed in time.

We are praying about a certain little boy right now. We have a couple other files too. We hope to have answers & our paperwork into CHI next week, and be matched and Lock-in our son. As soon as a decision is made, we will let everyone know. We appreciate all the prayers and encouragement we have already received from the adoption community. Thank you & God bless!

***Note: If anyone has any questions, our adoption agency is Children's House International www.childrenshouseinternational.com. Our coordinator is Heidi Hawkins heidigoestochina@msn.com.

1 comment:

UnknownNovember 11, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Steve & Sherry,
You have started on one of the most rewarding adventures of your life. Your story sounds so much like ours... 6 years and 5 children ago! We wish you the very best on your journey.
Craig & Doll
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Timeline of Important Dates

12/6/12 Fly Home from Hong Kong
12/5/12 Received Kai & Eli's Visas & took van to Hong Kong
12/4/12 Consulate Appointment
12/3/12 Kai & Eli TB test check
11/30/12 Kai & Eli's medical exams
11/29/12 Fly to Guangzhou
11/23/12 Eli's Adoption Day
11/22/12 Eli's Gotcha Day (also Thanksgiving)
11/22/12 Train to Xi'an
11/20/12 Kai's Adoption Day (also our 23rd Wedding Anniversary)
11/19/12 Kai's Gotcha Day
11/18/12 Fly to Zhengzhou
11/16/12 Arrive at Beijing
11/15/12 Fly to China
11/9/12 Plane Tickets booked
11/9/12 Consulate Appointment made for Tues 12/4
11/8/12 Travel Approval arrived at our agency (dated 11/2/12)
10/23/12 Article 5 pick-up
10/9/12 Article 5 drop off
10/3/12 NVC approvals
9/26/12 I-800 approvals
9/21/12 LOA/SC for Kai Joseph!!!
9/10/12 Sent I-800s to USCIS
9/6/12 Dossier for Kai in review
8/24/12 Dossier addendum docs for Kai sent to China
8/21/12 LOA/SC for Eli!!!
8/15/12 USCIS approved Supp 3
8/3/12 picked up Chinese Travel Visas
8/1/12 PA for Kai!!!
7/31/12 Sent Supp 3 to USCIS
7/31/12 Applied for China Travel Visas
7/28/12 LOI for Kai sent to China
7/26/12 Locked Kai Joseph's file
7/25/12 11:13pm Approved by CHI to Adopt TWO boys
7/25/12 Home Study Update Aprroved for Two Children
7/24/12 Interview with SW
7/10/12 10:43PM LID (7/11/12 China time)
6/21/12 Dossier sent to China (DTC)
6/18/12 Last 5 Dossier docs authenticated & p-up from Chinese Embassy & Shipped Next Day to CHI
6/11/12 Assistant Stork dropped off our last 5 Dossier docs to Chinese Embassy in Washington DC to be authenticated
6/11/12 Last 5 Dossier docs certified by Department of State in Washington DC
6/8/12 Rushed last 5 docs to Assistant Stork to be authenticated
6/7/12 TX Secretary of State certified I-797 & home study
6/6/12 I-797 Approval Notice arrived in mail
6/4/12 USCIS I-797 Approval
5/24/12 Sent 3/4 of Dossier to CHI
5/23/12 Biometric Fingerprinting done!
5/17/12 USCIS Biometrics apt notice received (5/29/12)
5/11/12 Picked up 8 Dossier docs authenticated by Chinese Consulate in Houston
5/7/12 Dropped off 8 Dossier docs to Chinese Consulate in Houston to be authenticated
5/3/12 I-800A received at USCIS
5/2/12 I-800A FedEx'd to USCIS
4/30/12 Home Study arrived!
4/24/12 Home Study Approved, Signed, & Stamped
4/24/12 Certified 8 docs with TX Sec of State
4/19/12 Received an update & pictures of Eli
4/19/12 Home Study Completed
4/12/12 Received Surprise photos of Eli from fellow adoptive mom
4/5/12 Received LA state background clearances
4/4/12 Received Marriage License certified by IL Secretary of State
3/26/12 Passports arrived
3/23/12 Received Birth Certificate certified by CA Secretary of State
3/20/12 Received first draft of Home Study
3/15/12 Shipped Birth Certificates & Marriage License to CA & IL Secretary of State for certification.
3/8/12 Received New Pics from care pkgs & Drawings from Eli
3/8/12 Applied for Passports
3/6/12 Last meeting with SW for HS
2/24/12 Completed 12 hrs of Hague required training with ALP
2/22/12 Received CA, IL & WY state background clearances
2/12/12 Steve's Interview with SW for HS
2/12/12 Home Visit with SW for HS
2/11/12 Texas state background clearances
2/8/12 Local Police Clearances
2/8/12 Fingerprinting for Texas
1/24/12 Sherry's Interview with SW for HS
12/30/11 Received Brittany's Hope Seeding Grant
12/14/11 (10:30 pm) Received PA!
12/5/11 Received Email we're LOCKED & LOI submitted
12/5/11 Received New Pics from Orphanage Call
12/1/11 Made Commitment to Lock Eli
12/1/11 Received Orphanage Call Answers
11/13/11 Placed Orphanage Call
11/9/11 Received Eli's CCCWA File
11/4/11 Saw Eli's picture & video
11/3/11 Officially Began Adoption Adventure