When we first started the adoption process, and up until just recently, we had decided not to name our daughter until we knew more about her. We wanted to consider keeping her name, or maybe just tweaking it a little. We wanted to see her sweet face in a picture. Then we realized...it's hard to pray for and care for someone you don't know, who is very far away. Once we started talking and praying using her name, instead of "our daughter", I've felt a deeper sense of longing for her. I have a beautiful baby girl in Ethiopia that I can pray for by name! It's so exciting to know that God has orchestrated this and he knows exactly who she is and that she will be perfect for our family.

Her name......

Cadence

I'm just not good at blogging. Even when there are things that I should be updating, I just can't seem to keep up with a blog. So I'm trying....again...let's rewind a little. I want to catch everyone up on the progress of our adoption....there's a lot!

Here's a time line from the beginning until now including the cost of each piece:

September 7, 2009 - Application sent to America World $250
September 24, 2009 - Ethiopia Program Acceptance!
September 27, 2009 - Ethiopia Program Agreement and 1st Program Fee Payment Sent $1350
*Then we start gathering paperwork*
November 5, 2009 - Holly's Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate are approved $30
November 9, 2009 - Agency Recommendation Received

*The holidays came and we just couldn't seem to concentrate on paperwork...which is why there is a huge gap here.

March 22, 2009 - Holly's physical exam approved
April 1, 2010 - I600A Application sent to USCIS $830
April 9, 2010 - Passport Photos Taken $20
April 12, 2010 - Reference letter #1 approved....we need three
April 16, 2010 - Police reports approved
April 26, 2010 - Documents Approved:
Holly's Unemployment Letter
Application Letter
Proof of Medical and Life Insurance
Power of Attorney
May 5, 2010 - Reference Letter #2 approved
June 22, 2010 - Home Study Completed $1300
July 19, 2010 - Financial Statement and Reference Letter #3 Approved
July 28, 2010 - Federal Fingerprints Taken
July 29, 2010 - Matt's Birth Certificate and 1 of Matt's Empoyment Letters Approved

So as of right now, the only things we are waiting on are Matt's Employment Letter from the church and our I-171H (Approval from USCIS that allows us to bring a child from another country to the U.S. and is required for the child to gain U.S. citizenship)

Once we have all the pieces we will send our dossier to America World along with more money.

Here's the breakdown:
2nd Program Fee - $1800
Translation Fee - $800
Post Placement Deposit - $1000
First Half of the International Program Fee - $3750

Right now we are short on the amount we need to send in our dossier. If you are interested in helping to bring our daughter home there are several ways to do that. Click the "donate" button on the right-hand side of this page or buy coffee from our online coffee store through Just Love Coffee. We are working on more fundraising ideas so stay tuned. I'm sure Matt will be doing a family portrait day soon!