Love is Color Blind | Our Adoption Journey to Ethiopia

Orphans Matter Greatly to the Heart of God

A Little Life Update

0 Comments 21 April 2012

Well…I thought I would be a whole lot more diligent with keeping up with this blog…but my track record seems to reveal my obvious lack of writing for the past 6 or so months! On the plus side though- these past six months have been a blast and well I have been so busy enjoying [...]

Shopping and Fun

Photo Fabulous!

0 Comments 08 December 2011

Hey Guys, Having recently had our first family photo shoot, we wanted to do something a little special :) We had one of our favorite pictures put on canvas! Instead of just putting the picture in a frame, we have turned our picture into a piece art that will last for many years to come. [...]

God Stuff and Teachings, Life

The Real Me

3 Comments 07 November 2011

This is one of those post that is going to involve me being completely transparent and baring a lot…I have no idea who will find and read this post or how people may view me as a result…but I know that I can’t keep all of this to myself. Maybe somebody out there will be [...]

Life

Oh Elijah!

0 Comments 07 October 2011

How he has grown and changed over the past several months…from barely being able to sit up…to walking…to 2 teeth poking through to now 5…from baby to toddler…here is a fun collection of pictures celebrating our amazing son!!! Elijah Gerrid Tesfahun Smith- there is none like you and you are our miracle baby gift from [...]

Life

Family Photo Shoot!

1 Comment 12 September 2011

It is fall in Florida and we just had our first OFFICIAL family photo shoot!!! I can’t thank my friend Valerie enough for taking these amazing pictures for us! If you are looking for a photographer this holiday season and you are in or around Sarasota, Florida then definitely call her up! :) HAPPY FALL [...]

Adoption, Life

2 Months of Family Bliss!

0 Comments 09 September 2011

Life has never been as busy or fulfilling as what it is today…I could have never imagined how our son would change our life. Every day it gets better and better and our love grows deeper and wider as we walk down this new road as a family of three. Gerrid and I find ourselves [...]

Life

Home with Elijah!

1 Comment 27 July 2011

Tomorrow marks our 1 month anniversary of being with Elijah! We gained custody of him in Ethiopia on his 1st birthday (June 28, 2011). It is absolutely amazing to be finished with this part of our journey (now our life together journey has begun)! The past 30 days have flown by and so much has [...]

Adoption, Ethiopia, Life

A Travel Day I Will Never Forget!

0 Comments 09 July 2011

As I type this email I am sitting in the Frankfurt airport at a restaurant while Elijah is sleeping. We have been sitting in this booth almost 5 hours waiting for Gerrid to come and rescue us…. Our flight to Chicago has been canceled and because Elijah does not have a US Passport we had [...]

Adoption, Ethiopia

Our Flight to Chicago Was Canceled- Change of Plans :(

0 Comments 09 July 2011

Hi All… This has been ROUGH…. we flew into Frankfurt Germany at 3ish this morning and were scheduled to leave around 6am but our flight to Chicago was canceled (they said the plane never showed up)…it is now 2:30 pm and we are planning on boarding a plane to NYC at 5pm. Once we arrive [...]

Adoption, Ethiopia

Get Ready to Celebrate- We are Coming Home!!!

0 Comments 08 July 2011

Today is our last day here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! We have really enjoyed our time in this beautiful country but are eager to return home to our family, friends, and warm bed! We have a full day ahead of us! We are planning on going to the National Museum of Ethiopia, shopping, lunch at [...]

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A Day We Will Never Forget!!!

Added on 28 June 2011

Video Playlist

Our first day here has been nothing short of amazing! We woke up this morning and contacted our agency, who sent our driver over to come pick us up and bring us to Elijah!

Our Timeline

August 22, 2010- Decision to Adopt Day!!!
September 10, 2010- Sent in Application to Little Miracles International (LMI)
September 10, 2010- Sent in Home Study Application
September 15, 2010- Received Approval from LMI into Ethiopia Program
September 21, 2010- Sent in Contract to LMI
September 22- Shared with our Family our Adoption News!
October 4, 2010- Sent in Written Part of Home Study
October 4, 2010- Sent in I-600A Paperwork to USCIS (Immigrations)
October 15, 2010- Home Study Appointment
October 28, 2010- Completed Home Study
November 2, 2010- Fingerprints Done and Mailed to FBI CJIS Division
November 8, 2010- Receive Appt. from USCIS
November 11, 2010- Received Dossier Paperwork from LMI
December 6, 2010- USCIS Appointment for Biometrics (fingerprints)
December 13, 2010- Receive USCIS I-171H Approval
December 15, 2010- Dossier Sent to our Agency!!!
February 10, 2011- REFERRAL DAY!!!
March 29, 2011- Our 2 year anniversary and we got the call for our court date!
May 22, 2011- METCHA DAY!!!
May 25, 2011- Court Date!!!
June 28, 2011- GOTCHA DAY!!!
July 6, 2011- Embassy Appt!!!
July 9, 2011- HOME!!!