The Decision - Tor and I are so excited to have finally decided that we are going to move forward with an Ethiopian adoption!!! We have not told anyone yet, but I feel like this is an important decision and process and so I want to capture every moment of it (including the set-backs and frustrations). We decided on Ethiopia for a number of reasons, partly because it is one of the easiest programs to do as the government is actually supportive of the children who need permanent homes. We are looking forward to building our family, after some major losses last year.
The Process - The process goes something like this:
1) We fill out a katrillion forms,
2) A Homestudy agency writes up a long report about...us
3) We take the katrillion forms and have them notarized
4) We send $900 to Homeland Security and they send us an appointment for fingerprints
5) We get approval from Homeland Security that we are sane enough for children based on our fingers
6) We drive to Sacramento to get the katrillion + 1 forms stamped and sealed by the State dept
7) We mail everything off to the adoption agency, who send it to the D.C., who will then send it to the Embassy and the Ethiopian government...something like that...(somewhere in there it gets translated)
8) We officially become a 'waiting family'
9) The orphanage meticulously reads our bios and analyzes our photos to match us with...
10) A REFERRAL - this is when we get photos and medical info on our new bundle of joy
11) We get a court date - then fly to Ethiopia for court
12) We return home - no baby yet :(
13) We get an Embassy appointment and fly back to Ethiopia for
14) you guessed it...bringing home the baby!!!!
Research (nerd!) - I have spent the last 2 weeks researching, researching, and researching some more. After 3 spreadsheets, emails to agencies, emails to families who have used certain agencies, Yahoo groups, and review websites...we have finally made a decision. We are going to use Adoption Avenues (placement agency) and Angels Haven (homestudy). Tor was definitely a little hesitant to use AA as we heard it is not the place for people who want a lot of hand-holding, but I think once he realized the price was right and he has a wife who is extremeley diligent, he came around.
Costs - International adoption ain't cheap! So far, I have a budget of $26,000 to complete the entire process. I know I know...a lot of money! But there is hope! One of the motivations to go through with this now, is that it is the last year for the adoption tax credit of $12,600 that we can claim IF our adoption is finalized by December 31st...not guaranteed. Also, my job gives a $5,000 reimbursement as well. We are currently looking to rent out the new room in our house which should bring in (hopefully) $1,000/month or so which will go straight into the adoption fund. I have also been researching various adoption grant programs, although not depending on any. My annual bonus from work wil hopefully help out with some of the up-front costs, and then of course there is always debt...a loan or a low-interest credit card. We constantly get those offers for 0% APR for 12 months, and now I wished I hadnt thrown them all out!
Travel - Off to Ethiopia...twice! Yes, the government requires both of us to appear for court in-person for the first visit, and then we return 2 months later go to the Embassy for our child's VISA and of course...our child :) Those trips alone are an exciting prospect as we have never been to Africa and have always wanted to go. We are hoping to have a new addition to the family by the end of the year...the best Christmas gift anyone could give us. The process is time-consuming and of course not all of it is in our hands...for instance, the Ethiopian goverment closes in August and September for the rainy season!!
My main goal is to not stress out, and to be patient...breathe. Still, we are both really excited and cannot wait to see that referral email with our little Ethiopian girl/boy.
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