Seeking a Heart Like His

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Travel Prep

We had an appointment at the Carle Travel Clinic today. Went in thinking we were just “jumping through the hoops” to get our scripts for malaria medication and Cipro, but ended up each needing two vaccines : ( All ready to travel now!

Monday, September 1, 2014

First Tooth

Look who finally lost her first tooth today (with a little help from daddy)!

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Family Camp 2014

Enjoyed being at family camp with many of the DeNeal’s this weekend. Annaliese especially enjoyed the time with her grandma and grandma & her two cousins.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Ice Bucket Challenge

Our turn...

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

First Day of School 2014

Can’t believe we have a 1^st grader in this house : )

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Puzzle Fundraiser

Finally getting names on these puzzle pieces (because I finally had the guts to start it)! Sure glad I can write small : )

Want in on it??
http://jsdeneal.blogspot.com/2014/03/new-fundraiser.html

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Illinois State Fair

Had a blast today at the Illinois State Fair!

Saw animals…

Enjoyed shows/demonstrations…

Rode rides…

...and just had fun!

Our Adoption #2 Timeline

* March 14 - Arrive home to America!

* March 13 - Leave ET for America

* March 13 - Picked up Gojam's Visa

* March 12 - Embassy interview

* March 11 - Gotcha Day!!

* March 11 - Arrived in ET for trip #2

* March 10 - Left for ET for trip #2

* March 5 - Case cleared Embassy

* March 4 - Case submitted to Embassy

* February 12 - Passed Court!

* February 10 - Meetcha Day!!

* February 9 - Arrived in ET for trip #1

* February 8 - Left for ET for trip #1

* February 3 - Received a court date - 2/12/15

* October 18 - PAIR approval letter arrived in the mail

* October 16 - I604 Investigation Completed

* September 5 - I604 Investigation Initiated (no RFE!)

* August 18 - I600 and PAIR documents officially submitted to USCIS (received by them)

* August 15 - I600 and PAIR documents sent to USCIS

* August 14 - PAIR documents received from AWAA

* July 15 - Referral acceptance paperwork sent to AWAA!

* July 9 - Referral received from AWAA!!

* May 27 - Dossier arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

* May 23 - Dossier sent to Ethiopia! This is our DTE date.

* May 7 - Mailed dossier to AWAA

* May 5 - Received I-171H from USCIS

* April 2 - Completed USCIS fingerprinting in Indy

* March 19 - Launched puzzle piece fundraiser

* March 8 - Delivered our 300th batch of cookie dough

* March 3 - Sent our I-600A application to USCIS

* March 3 - Received approval letter from DCFS

* January 20 - Home study sent to DCFS for approval

* January 17 - Family coordinator (AWAA) approved a final version of our home study

* December 11 - Delivered our 200th batch of cookie dough

* November 17 - Delivered our 100th batch of cookie dough

* October 17 - Launched the cookie dough fundraiser

* September 14 - Parents' Night Out Fundraiser #1

* July 25 - Assigned a family coordinator with AWAA!
Begin the official "paper chase" process

* July 23 - Initial paperwork & fee received by AWAA - waiting to be assigned a family coordinator

* July 18 - Mailed initial paperwork & program fee

* July 12 - Accepted into Ethiopia Adoption Program!

* July 7, 2013 - Submitted application to AWAA

Our Adoption #1 Timeline

* October 13 - Arrive home to America!

* October 12 - Leave ET for America

* October 12 - Picked up Annaliese's Visa

* October 10 - Embassy interview

* October 10 - Case cleared Embassy

* October 7 - One Year DTE

* October 2 - Gotcha Day!

* October 2 - Arrived in ET for trip #2

* October 1 - Left for ET for trip #2

* September 19 - Case submitted to Embassy

* September 7 - Eleven Months DTE

* September 3 - Delivered our 350th pie!

* August 7 - Passed Court!

* August 7 - Ten Months DTE

* August 5 - Meetcha Day!!

* August 4 - Arrived in ET for trip #1

* August 3 - Left for ET for trip #1

* July 19 - Received a court date - 8/7/12

* July 7 - Nine Months DTE

* June 29 - Referral acceptance paperwork sent to AWAA!

* June 25 - Referral received from AWAA!!

* June 23 - Spaghetti Dinner #2

* June 7 - Eight Months DTE

* May 8 - Delivered our 300th pie!

* May 7 - Seven Months DTE

* April 7 - Six Months DTE

* March 7 - Five Months DTE

* February 7 - Four Months DTE

* January 27 - Delivered our 250th pie!

* January 7 - Three Months DTE

* December 7 - Two Months DTE

* November 7 - One Month DTE

* October 30 - Delivered our 200th pie!

* October 12 - Dossier arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

* October 7 - Spaghetti dinner fundraiser

* October 7 - Dossier sent to Ethiopia! This is our DTE date.

* September 27 - Mailed dossier to AWAA!!

* September 26 - Received I-171H from USCIS

* September 12 - Completed USCIS fingerprinting in Indy

* August 16 - Received state certification for dossier documents

* August 4 - Sent paperwork to the IL Secretary of State for certification

* August 2 - Sent our I-600A application to USCIS

* August 1 - Received approval letter from DCFS

* July 28 - Delivered our 150th pie!

* July 15 - Home study sent to DCFS for approval

* July 14 - Family coordinator (AWAA) approved a final version of our home study

* July 6 - Completed our home study!

* June 22 - Completed our third home study visit!

* June 8 - Completed our second home study visit!

* June 8 - Delivered our 100th pie!

* May 25 - Completed our first home study visit!

* May 11 - Delivered our 50th pie!

* May 2 - Completed online training course

* April 28 - Application accepted with Illini!

* April 27 - Submit application with Illini Christian Ministries to initiate Home Study

* April 25 - Assigned a family coordinator with AWAA! Begin the official "paper chase" process

* April 23 - Began online training course (8 hours total!)

* April 21 - Initial paperwork & fee received by AWAA - waiting to be assigned a family coordinator

* April 19 - Began 'homemade pie fundraiser' at Sarah's work

* April 14 – Mailed initial paperwork & program fee

* April 13 – Accepted into Ethiopia Adoption Program!!

* April 4, 2011 – Mailed application to AWAA