Spears Family Nebraska: 11/01/2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful

("I am thankful for my birth Dad.")

This picture of a little boy with his daddy in an Ethiopian village touched my heart and reminded me just how blessed my family is this year. I hope you and your family have a chance to be thankful for your blessings this year, too.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Glorious

A beautiful Nebraska sunset.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Pictures I love

This is a picture of my dad and newborn baby Emily in March of 1991. I love how intently they are studying each other. My daddy loved cuddling babies.

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