Spears Family Nebraska: May 17, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Graduation (and some birthdays!)

Today was middle child Emily's graduation from Elkhorn High School. We are so proud of her. She graduated with an honors GPA and received a great scholarship to Iowa State, where she will be majoring in architecture.

Today was also my mom's 70th birthday and the twins 5th birthday. Happy Birthday Mom, Candace Selam and Sarah Fikir!

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Our Third Adoption Timeline

December 10, 2015 - Readoption in Nebraska finalized
November 6, 2014 - HOME FOREVER!
November 4, 2014 - Embassy appointment
October 21, 2014 - USCIS cleared case for Embassy approval
October 8, 2014 - I-604 investigation completed in Ethiopia
August 7, 2014 - PAIR (I-604) investigation started
August 5, 2014 - Passed court
August 4, 2014 - We meet Fitsum!
June 23, 2014 - Dossier sent to Ethiopia
May 23, 2014 - USCIS Favorable determination
May 16, 2014 - USCIS fingerprint appointment
April 25, 2014 - I-600A received by USCIS
April 17, 2014 - Home study completed
February 11, 2014 - Application approved by agency

Our Second Adoption Timeline (Feyissa Thomas)

December 10, 2015 - Readoption in Nebraska finalized
July 1, 2011 - HOME FOREVER!
June 28, 2011 - Embassy appointment
June 15, 2011 - Embassy clearance received
May 31, 2011 - submitted to Embassy
May 11, 2011 - birth certificate received
April 15, 2011 - passed court!
March 4, 2011 - court date. Rescheduled for 4/15/11
December 22, 2010 - we receive a court date of 3/4/2011
October 30, 2010 - receive I-171H approval from USCIS
October 20, 2010 - USCIS fingerprint appointment
October 4, 2010 - dossier documents finished and submitted to CHSFS
September 15, 2010 - I-600A received by USCIS
September 13, 2010 - homestudy approved
July 14, 2010 - submitted application parts 1 and 2 to CHSFS
July 8,2010 - fingerprinted for FBI clearance
June 30, 2010 - accepted by waiting child program of CHSFS as PAPs for 3 1/2 year old boy.

Our First Adoption Timeline (The twins)

December 21, 2009 - readoption in Nebraska finalized
June 6, 2009 - HOME FOREVER!
June 3, 2009 - embassy appointment
May 24, 2009 - depart for Addis Ababa
April 23, 2009 - passed court!!
March 23, 2009 - "new" second court date; did not pass
March 13, 2009 - second court date; mistake made; court not until March 23.
February 27, 2009 - first court date; case continued until March 13
January 2, 2009 - we receive a court date of 2/27/2009
December 15, 2008 - case filed in Addis Ababa; waiting for a court date
December 3, 2008 - officially matched with the twins
December 2, 2008 - learn through Carolina Hope about waiting twin 4.5 year old girls
November 17, 2008 - dossier officially in Ethiopia via DHL
November 13, 2008 - DTE, dossier to Ethiopia!
November 4, 2008 - dossier sent to courier in Washington, DC for authentication
October 22, 2008 - receive I-171H approval from USCIS
September 23, 2008 - fill out MORE documents for Carolina Hope's new partnership; submit for dossier
September 11, 2008 - USCIS fingerprint appointment
August 2008 - several dossier documents resubmitted after notarization problems
August 6, 2008 - I-600A received by USCIS
August 1, 2008 - homestudy completed
Mid-July 2008 - dossier documents finished and submitted to agency
June 19, 2008 - application approved by Carolina Hope
Mid-June 2008 - Applied with Carolina Hope
June 1, 2008 - Paula presents the idea of an Ethiopian adoption to Tom and he says he's excited about it too!
April 2008 - Paula starts thinking about and researching international adoption