Saving Sofia: Praying for a Travel Date

Monday, April 5, 2010

Praying for a Travel Date

We HOPE to hear something tomorrow about our travel date. Hoping and praying that everything is moving forward without delay.

In the meantime, we continue to prepare for our journey and I'm obsessed with gathering as much information as possible about what to expect. There are currently at least 4 families (maybe more) adopting in Sofia's home country in different orphanages as I write this. All of them found their precious angels through Reece's Rainbow.

I spent some time this morning visiting Adeye's blog No Greater Joy and found myself in tears. She adopting not only one beautiful girl with DS but TWO! Her posts are breaking my heart and filling my heart both at the same time.

I'm praying for all the families preparing to adopt and currently adopting. This whole process has opened my eyes to an entire new world that I never imagined and I'm so grateful that Hector and I will get to experience this first hand.

I can't wait to hold Sofia and watch her bloom after knowing a mother and father's love. Hang on baby girl...we're on our way!

5 comments:

JuliaApril 5, 2010 at 11:49 AM
I am also eagerly following the blogs of the families who are in 'Sofie and Aaron's' country!! I can't wait to follow yours. I share the same emotions of a breaking heart and one that is filled! Praying that your date comes quickly.
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LaurieApril 5, 2010 at 3:34 PM
I was wondering if you had seen No Greater Joy Mom's blog! I found it on Lisa's blogroll and have been eagerly following it ever since. Such an inspiring story...but you are right, my heart is breaking as well...

I'm so excited for you, Jen! Not long now...

xoxo
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Kristin FergusonApril 5, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Hopefully you'll hear something tomorrow! Are your bags packed? :) You're almost there!

Kristin
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shereeApril 5, 2010 at 8:44 PM
I can't imagine how difficult this waiting game is! Hang on...she WILL be in your arms soon!

(((hugs)))
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DeniseApril 6, 2010 at 8:12 AM
How funny...I stumbled on to "No Greater Joy's" blog the other day and have been completely entranced with her every moment. I feel like I am there and I can't wait for the next post. Do you know how it is that she is able to go there without her husband? I know of a couple of families who so desperately want to adopt through RR but have a child at home that can't be left with just anyone so it is too hard for both parents to go. Just curious!
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Adoption Timeline

12-13-09- Grandma Esther passed away. Discovered Sofia at www.reecesrainbow.com and decided to donate to her grant fund in honor of Grandma and the Christmas Angel Tree Project. Couldn't get her off my mind.

1-1-10- Received Sofia's Christmas Angel Tree ornament and put it on our Christmas Tree. Still constantly thinking about her.

1-24-10- Hector and I decided to commit to adopting Sofia. Contacted Andrea at Reece's Rainbow.

1-25-10- Contacted Across the World Adoptions to begin the Home Study.

1-26-10- Sent our application to Reece's Rainbow and sent a check for the FSP Donation, Love Offering and Promise Trust.

1-27-10- Jen's physical completed. Vaccines administered. FBI and DOJ/Child Abuse fingerprinting completed.

1-28-10- Faxed Home Study Application and Agreement. Mailed hard copy.

1-29-10- Hector's fingerprints completed for FBI and DOJ/Child Abuse. Completed the required 10 hours of International Adoption education credits.

1-31-10- Mailed USCIS our I-600A application and fees.

2-1-10- Employment verifications completed for Home Study. School evaluations completed on Diego and Mateo. Received dossier paperwork from Reece's Rainbow.

2-4-10- Assigned a social worker for our Home Study at Across the World Adoptions. Had over 15 documents notarized.

2-5-10- Hector's physical completed. Vaccines administered. Child Specific Petition and Power of Attorney's notarized and ready for apostille.

2-8-10- CSP and POA's apostilled and shipped to Sofia's home country! First home study visit is scheduled for 2/15.

2-10-10- ALL paperwork completed for Home Study! YEAH! Working on gathering the rest of the dossier paperwork.

2-15-10- 1st Home Study Visit completed.

2-16-10- 2nd Home Study Visit completed.

2-22-10- Received our I-797C Notice of Action for our Orphan Petition.

2-25-10- State Police clearance fingerprinting done. Apostilled 20 documents at Secretary of State office.

3-1-10- Final revisions completed on Home Study.

3-2-10- Jennifer fingerprinted a third time for USCIS. Hector's police clearance letter received.

3-3-10- Hector fingerprinted a third time for USCIS.

3-4-10- Home Study, Agency License and Social Worker Licence notarized and mailed to us today.

3-11-10- USCIS Approval!

3-12-10- Dossier shipped out to Sofia's home country!

3-15-10- Dossier arrived in Sofia's home country!

3-25-10- Dossier officially submitted. Approximately 10 day wait to get travel date!

4-6-10- Received our SDA appointment for 4/22 at 9am! Booked our plane tickets for 4/19 arriving on 4/20.

4-14-10- Volcano erupts in Iceland causing flights to be grounded throughout Europe!

4-19-10- Flight is cancelled. No alternative routes are available. Requested new SDA appointment.

4-20-10- Got a last minute flight to Kiev through Vienna, Austria.

4-21-10- Arrived in Kiev, Ukraine!

4-22-10- Completed SDA appointment at 9am. Received referral at 6pm. Hopped on a midnight train to Dnep.

4-23-10-Arrived in Dnep at 7am and ran around Dnep for 11 hours today with our facilitator Marina gathering papers and getting notaries. Met Sofia!

4-26-10-Took Sofia out of the orphanage to get her picture taken for Visa immigration, US Embassy and the SDA. 7 day wait begins for court date.

4-27-10-Prosecutor says our documents are complete and ready for the judge and court proceedings.

4-29-10-Still waiting for interpol clearance so court date is set for 5/13.

4-30-10-Interpol clearance arrives. Court date moved to 5/6!

5-6-10- Court completed and Sofia Andrea Sanchez is officially adopted! 10 day wait begins.

5-16-10- Return trip is set for 6/6 and we'll arrive in Dnep on 6/8 to begin the process of bringing Sofia home, hopefully on or before 6/17.

6-8-10- Arrived in Sofia's region and completed all necessary paperwork for her new birth certificate and for her Ukraine passport.

6-10-10-GOTCHA day! Took Sofia out of the orphanage and home to our apartment.

6-11-10- Got Sofia's Ukrainian Passport and took overnight train back to Kiev. Changed return flight home to 6/15.

6-14-10- Got Sofia's Visa at the U.S. Embassy.

6-15-10- Going HOME!

6-16-10-Applied for Sofia's Social Security Card.

7-15-10- Received Sofia's official certificate of U.S. Citizenship in the mail.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Praying for a Travel Date

5 comments:

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