Daphna and Grace: Officially Ours!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Officially Ours!

2 years 9 months ago, we felt God tugging at our hearts and asking "Will you?" Just over 2 years ago our dossier arrived in Haiti. One week ago, a Michigan judge finalized our adoption. We are officially Mom and Dad to Daphna Hope Van Berkel and Grace Monique Van Berkel. No more guardianship, no more Grace "Jane Doe". Rejoice with us!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Rejoicing! Praising God!

~Amy in WI; November 16, 2010 at 9:24 AM

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Our Adoption Process

2/19/08 - We decide to pursue domestic adoption
2/26/08 - Unknown to us, Daphna is brought to HIS Home for Children
4/22/08 - Doors to domestic adoption close
5/12/08 - We begin international adoption process
6/16/08 - Daphna is put "on hold" for us
6/19/08 - Receive first picture of Daphna
7/03/08 - Meet Nungesters, who run HIS Home for Children orphanage, in MI
7/31/08 - We turn in homestudy paperwork
9/02/08 - Homestudy complete
9/04/08 - Daphna officially referred to us
9/03/08 - Immigration paperwork sent out
9/10/08 - Take dossier to Great Seal
9/22-9/25/08 - Visit Haiti. Celebrate Daphna's 1st birthday with her.
9/28/08 - Decide to adopt Grace
9/29/08 - Translation complete, but done in wrong language
9/30/08 - Fingerprinted
10/24/08 - Dossier sent to consulate in Chicago
10/27/08 - Dossier authenticated and on it's way back
10/28/08 - Grace offically referred to us
10/29/08- 11:30 am. Dossier is sent to Haiti. Feels like a huge victory. Thank you Jesus!
10/31/08 - Dossier arrives in Port Au Prince. Approved I-171 form arrives at home
11/20/08 - Amended I-171H form arrives
Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved our paperwork!
1/12/10 - 7.0 Earthquake shakes Haiti damaging the orphanage
1/22/10 - Daphna and Grace are granted humanitarian parole and are issued visas to come to the U.S.
1/25/10 - Daphna and Grace fly to Orlando then Miami
1/26/10 - Gotcha Day!
3/20/2010 - We begin to pursue domestic adoption of Daphna and Grace
10/20/2010 - Complete 6th and final home visit. Thanks Joy!
11/09/10 - Adoption Finalized!!!
11/30/10 - Birth certificates issued
3/07/2011 - File I-485 (green card) with USCIS
4/06/2011 - Biometrics for Daphna & Grace
6/30/11 - Grace granted Permanent Resident status
8/16/11 - Daphna granted Permanent Resident status.