Adoption Journey

Timeline
10/1/12- Contacted Adoption Ark Adoption Agency

10/7/12- Application Submitted to Adoption Ark

12/15/12- Home Study Completed by God's Children Adoption Agency (our in-state agency)

3/7/13-  We received our REFERRAL from Ghana Social Welfare Services

7/11/13- We meet Joy for the first time! We care for Joy over the next precious week. 

7/18/13- Court- (After waiting all morning, after being called to wait outside his chambers for our appointment- the Judge decided he was done for the day and left.- no court today).  We say a painful goodbye to Joy.

8/21/13- After our 6th attempt at court- our case is heard and we get an interim adoption decree (must submit for full and final decree in 2 years).  We need another form giving permission for Joy to leave country (until we receive this we cannot move on to the embassy). 

We wait over a year for this document.  A long hard wait!!

Update Homestudy

Update biometrics 

8/11/14-8/17/14- Jay visits Joy in Ghana- we are so thankful for FaceTime and bonding with siblings!

New Judge is on sick leave- still waiting for permission.

9/8/14- Hooray!!  Joy is granted permission to leave Ghana.  We can now file our i600 at the Embassy!

9/20/14-9/26/14- Jay visits Joy in Ghana- More FaceTime and bonding.

9/24/14- Submitted the i600 to the US Embassy in Ghana!

12/8/14- RFE- request for evidence.- Back to court to have the Judge clarify the order.

2/7/15-2/14/15- Visit Joy in Ghana

3/9/15- Finally received order from Judge clarifying our ability for Joy to leave Ghana.

3/10/15- Papers emailed to the Embassy.

3/12/15- Request for additional copy of Birth Cert and Interview of Birthmother scheduled.

4/15/15 -Wednesday our POA picked up our Visa packet at the consulate.
4/16/15- We submitted our online application for Joy's Visa.
4/20/15-Monday Joy had her official Visa medical done, and her required (passport type) photos were taken. And after some technical difficulties we were able to submit our request for interview.

4/22/15-Wednesday Joy had her Mantoux officially read (MD gave good report on health- praise!!!)and vaccine waiver form turned in (will get up to date once home) And. . .

*********WE RECEIVED OUR INTERVIEW DATE!!!!!!!!!!*********

We will have our Visa Interview in Ghana on May 4th!!  

How it all came together:

For those that want a few more details on our week in Ghana leading up to bringing her home read on:

Once we received our date for our Visa Interview on May 4th we booked flights!

*Friday, May 1st:  Leave for Ghana 

*Saturday, May 2nd:  Arrive in Ghana- Joy joins us mid-day!  (Get remaining original documents from POA- medical report, birth certificate etc.). Joy discovered the "car" cart at the grocery store so we took lots of trips up and down aisles. :0)

*Sunday, May 3rd:  Hang out, play, tour the grocery store and try not to be nervous while waiting for tomorrow to come!! 

*Monday, May 4th: VISA INTERVIEW!! We arrived at the Embassy early to be the first in line at 7am, after we were allowed to enter, we waited until called to the window around 8am.  We submitted all of our documents, and filled out an additional tax document.  We paid for the visa (in case), then were called to a window to give tax document. We waited and then were called up again to show we paid for the visa.  Finally we were called up to be interviewed.  We were sworn in, asked several questions, then all of a sudden we hear the magical words of discussing the print date- Wait. . . WHAT?  print date?  That means we are approved???  Hearts racing!  Jay tentatively asks for a print date as early as possible as Wednesday is his b-day and we have kids at home waiting.  She finally says- "well, we could print on Wednesday, 3:30pm- but don't book flights yet- sometimes there are problems with the machines."  WE PASSED!! PRAISE!!!!!!!  Shaking, we hightailed it out of there, caught a cab and headed to our hotel to call the kids and share the good news!  

*Tuesday, May 5th, 2015: Joy gets hair done at the salon.  Met with POA to discuss details-(we will be submitting for our full and final court decree in August - when it's been 2 years since the initial interim decree).  Hard day for Joy!  After much prayer she seemed to flip a switch and was better again.  Waiting, Praying, Hoping that visa will actually print on Wed.

*Wednesday, May 6th, 2015: In the morning, Jay met with Africa Partners Medical team to discuss medical missions work and plan for the future.  Finally it was time for Jay to head to the Embassy to pick up the Visa(and all our documents) at 3:30- prepared for a long wait or complications.  Joy and I pack up our stuff (just in case).  (Our sweet friend Jill was on call the minute we got the visa to work out flight details to try to get us some earlier flights home if possible.)

Hooray!!! Our Visa printed! And soon Jill is texting us to say- "Start Packing!  It looks likes you are headed home tonight!!"  Miracles!  Tickets available with small transfer fees (thank you Jill for working your magic), hotel waives late check out fee, and within an hour we are packed and heading to the airport!  We make it through many security checks and finally are able to get to lounge with Wifi to contact kids for arrangements etc. and wait some more.  About 10pm- finally- we are on the plane and soon flying home with Joy! Whew!!!

All ready to go!

Exhausted- waiting for our flight!

  

Thursday, May 7th, 2015:   ACC-AMS- MSP  flights, waiting, more security checks and more checks and finally we are welcomed home by our kiddos!!!  Incredible!!!! Thank you Lord for this miraculous chain of events!!

HOME SWEET HOME!

We know without a doubt that the Lord orchestrated each step and we are so thankful for His clearing the path for us! He is Good!!  Soli Deo Gloria!!  To God alone be the Glory!!