Thank you for joining us as we plan the Bake Sale for this years Art Happening at King of Kings School.
You may be wondering where our journey to adopt has landed us thus far.
Kev and I are adopting internationally!! :-D
Our agency is Holt, which is a Christian agency, and has been around since 1955. http://holtinternational.org/about/
We will be going to either Ethiopia or China. If China it will be the mild special needs program (correctable through surgery or therapies). We will be adopting either a boy or girl, toddler under 2 most likely. A little known fact is that there are little boys in need of forever-families in China, too.
At this point we are actively doing required paper work and doctor appointments. Then there is even more paper work in our near future as we compile or "Dossier", wait on US forms, and get things notarized. That process will take 4 to 6 months alone, and then our Dossier goes to the other country for processing at which time we wait on a referral of OUR CHILD, and then wait even more.
It is a game of "hurry up and wait" every step... It will take 1-1/2 to 2 years "on average", though that is a guess and I am hoping it goes much quicker.
Our overall fees are about 30 thousand dollars which is average for most international adoptions (and private domestic USA adoptions, also). There is no insurance to cover the paper work, travel, appointments and more for our "labor" of love.
We will be going to either Ethiopia or China. If China it will be the mild special needs program (correctable through surgery or therapies). We will be adopting either a boy or girl, toddler under 2 most likely. A little known fact is that there are little boys in need of forever-families in China, too.
At this point we are actively doing required paper work and doctor appointments. Then there is even more paper work in our near future as we compile or "Dossier", wait on US forms, and get things notarized. That process will take 4 to 6 months alone, and then our Dossier goes to the other country for processing at which time we wait on a referral of OUR CHILD, and then wait even more.
It is a game of "hurry up and wait" every step... It will take 1-1/2 to 2 years "on average", though that is a guess and I am hoping it goes much quicker.
Our overall fees are about 30 thousand dollars which is average for most international adoptions (and private domestic USA adoptions, also). There is no insurance to cover the paper work, travel, appointments and more for our "labor" of love.
Our fundraisers, such as the Arbonne fundraiser, this KOKS art and bake sale, and others are helping us raise a portion of the money we will need.
Most of my pay from my teaching and my church jobs are both being put into the fund as well, and there will be more fundraisers in my future. My husband accepts over time jobs as much as he can to contribute as well.
The proceeds from this year's Art Happening event at KOKS will be directed to the Orphanage-Donation which is part-of our required fees for the adoption. The orphanage "care centers" keep the children housed, fed, clothed, and cared for with loving nannies.
The proceeds from this year's Art Happening event at KOKS will be directed to the Orphanage-Donation which is part-of our required fees for the adoption. The orphanage "care centers" keep the children housed, fed, clothed, and cared for with loving nannies.
So, the children at our school are helping children thousands of miles away!
(as well as helping to bring mine and Kev's little one home, of course).
Blessings, Lynette
Congrats on Starting the process! We are a Holt China Child of Promise Family and I highly recommend the program, especially in light of the slow downs and other issues in Ethiopia. On the holt forum I am DivaMamma. Feel free to ask me anything!
ReplyDeleteJessica I just left a comment over on your blog. Praying for you and hoping that grant comes through a.s.a.p. so you can bring Cori home to your loving arms. Will look forward to following the rest of your journey; and hopefully following in your footsteps very soon. (yay) I will look for you on the forums. I don't have a "name" over there yet, but I have been checking out the forums...perhaps that is where I originally found your blog when I clicked on the button to "follow" it. Bless you!!
ReplyDeleteYAY!! So excited for you! In our church there are 2 little girls adopted from China that are just precious! I also lived in China for 2 years. :) Ethiopia would be wonderful too... My husband and I looked at Ethiopia a little bit at one time but then were led to foster care. I look forward to following your journey!
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