February 2012- Emailed contacts at the NC Children's Home Society and Christian Adoption Consultants to get information packets.
April-July 2012- Tried to focus on paying off some debt and saving up the money needed for the home study. ($1600)
May 19, 2012- Attended a local Adoption Information Seminar.
July 19, 2012- Got home study packet in the mail.
August 21, 2012- Mailed our packet in.
September 6, 2012- Had our first joint interview with CHS.
September 10, 2012- Had our individual interviews with CHS.
September 17, 2012- Had our home inspection and final interview with CHS.
October 1, 2012- Got letter of approval from CHS. Now officially approved to adopt!!
October 2012- Spent time working on fundraising letter & getting blog set up.
November 2012- National Adoption Month!!
November 12, 2012- Had our 1st Adoption Fundraiser--a 31 Party, thanks to my friend Amanda Elmore!
November 13-14, 2012- Sent out Adoption Support Letters to family & friends.
November 27, 2012- Sent in our application & fee to Christian Adoption Consultants.
January 11, 2013- Announced our 2nd Adoption Fundraiser--a Raffle for a Date Night Package, thanks to donations from Tonya Miller at Embassy Suites and Tad & Rachel Engstrom at MJ's!
February 1, 2013- The winner of our raffle fundraiser was drawn and announced...Ben & Monica Mann!
March 12, 2013- Applied for a matching grant with Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.--a non-profit private operating foundation.
April 2, 2013- Received notification that we were awarded the matching grant!!
May18, 2013- Had a yard sale to raise more adoption funds.
May 24, 2013- Finished the matching grant process and received the full grant of $5,000...even exceeded it! We have $5,670 to put towards our adoption expenses. So thankful to those who made donations!
June 2013- Worked on and completed family profile.
July 22, 2013- Did our fingerprinting at the Guilford County Sheriff's Dept. and sent them off to the SBI and FBI.
July 26, 2013- Picked up copies of our profile from the printer.
July 31, 2013- SBI clearance letter came in the mail! Yay for it only taking a week to get back!
August 21&22, 2013- FBI clearance letters came back!
September 23, 2013-Mailed off packets to 3 agencies in Florida. These included copies of our profile and home study.
October 1, 2013- Got an email about an adoption situation and after reading over it and praying, decided to present our information to this birth mom.
October 2, 2013- Found out that evening that she chose us! She's having a baby girl and is due in February.
October 4, 2013- Spoke to birth mom and adoption attorney over the phone and made plans to go meet her in person.
October 17, 2013- Completed our home study update and dropped it off at CHS.
October 18-19, 2013- Made a long, quick trip to GA to meet the birth mom, along with her son and representatives from the agency.
October 28, 2013- Met with Rose from CHS for our home study update.
November 16, 2013- Annette Pittman hosted a Noonday Collection Trunk Show as a fundraiser. Met Ambassador, Katie Eller, who is also in the process of adopting...and she's also working with our consultant, Tracie Loux!! Small world...I think not! Thank you Lord for this new friend!
November-December 2013- Changes...found out that our birth mom changed her mind and has decided to parent. Got matched with another birth mom a few days later, also due to have a little girl in February!
December 19-20, 2013- Made a quick trip to FL to meet our new birth mom and her children.
January 3, 2014- Announced our Final Adoption Fundraiser--a Raffle for
a $300 Great Wolf Lodge Gift Card and a New Granite or Marble Vanity, thanks to donations from Rocky Tops of Greensboro & family.
January 24, 2014- The winners of our raffle fundraiser were drawn and announced...Stella Hung & family won the GWL gift card and John & Jill VanVeen won the Vanity!!
February 3, 2014- We got the call! They are going to induce labor, due to high blood pressure! Not enough time to get a flight, so we loaded up the car and drove through the night to FL.
February 4, 2014- Ava Faith is born at 3:23am. We arrive at the hospital at 6am. After checking in on the birthmom, I get to go to the nursery to meet her for the first time.
February 6, 2014- Paperwork is signed and we are discharged from the hospital.
February 6-12, 2014- Waiting on ICPC to clear FL & NC. Staying in hotels...
February 13-16, 2014- Traveled up to Jacksonville, FL to stay with Josh's aunt & uncle. Still waiting on ICPC. We cleared FL 2/14, but due to snow storm and offices closed, still waiting on NC clearance.
February 16, 2014-Traveled further north and stayed in SC a couple more days.
February 18, 2014-Finally cleared ICPC....we can go home!!!
February 27, 2014- First post placement visit with CHS worker, Rose.
March 13, 2014- Second post placement visit.
April 10, 2014- Last post placement visit.
August 13, 2014- TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) Hearing.
November 13, 2014- Finalization hearing. She's officially ours!
December 26, 2014- Ava's birth certificate comes in the mail!
