Daphna and Grace

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Grace Turns 4!!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

New Camping Friends

FFFWUMP -the giant bullfrog who landed on his face when he hopped

The Blandings Turtle

Chippy and the fuzzy red fire loving bug (in bottle)

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

NO MORE HIP BRACE DURING THE DAY!!!!!!!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Josh played his last baseball game Thursday night. His team was 8-2-1. A GREAT season!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Mr. President at the end of the ceremony with H.I.S. Home kids

The HIS HOME children at the ceremony at the mayor' s palace with the Haitian president, his wife, and the director of IBESR. Can you spot a future VanBerkel in this picture?

Friday, May 4, 2012

One More Milestone

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.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Grace Turns 4!!

New Camping Friends

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Friday, June 15, 2012

Monday, June 4, 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

One More Milestone

Daphna and Grace

H.I.S Home 300 Michigan Route

sponsorship

Donate to HIS Home in Haiti- follow this link

Fox 17 interview

We are on WCSG!

Wilbur Swieringa's obituary

Red Cross video of kids arriving in Miami

HIS Home on the Wall Street Journal

WCSG- a great friend and support- check out the morning show

The beginning of Grace's story

More of Grace's Story. Check Aug. 23 and Sept. 13, 2008

Amazing Grace

Better Accomodations

Daphna

Daphna

Our family

Our Adoption Process

Followers

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