Our Baby Shower!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
9/30
Hi everyone. Please pray for my family and especially my dad as my Uncle passed away today. My parents are trying to take care of things long distance, as all of you know that can be very difficult, so please also pray that the arrangements and finances for this are easily taken care of and with no major issues for my parents. On to adoption news. I am hoping to apply for our passports this week and contact people to complete reference letters for us.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Adoption Expenses
Adoption expenses
I know that many of you are wondering how much the adoption costs and why. Here is a break down of expenses.
APPLICATION & PAPERCHASE
APPLICATION FEE- $250
1ST INSTALLMENT OF PROGRAM FEE- $1,500 ($1125 FOR US AS WE WERE ELIGABLE FOR A DISCOUNT, DUE TO TIM BEING A YOUTH PASTOR)
HOME STUDY- $1,800
ADDITIONAL HOME STUDY DOCUMENTATION PREP. FEE- $0 - $150
HOME STUDY VISIT TRAVEL FEES(COULD INCLUDE MILEAGE, HOTEL, AND FOOD COSTS)- $160
ADOPTIVE PARENT TRAINING (2 ADULTS)- $175
DOCUMENTS/BACKGROUND CHECKS/PASSPORTS- $100 - $500
USCIS FEE & UPDATE FEE + FINGERPRINTING- $830
NOTARIZATION, CERTIFICATION & AUTHENTICATION- $400
COURIER SERVICE- $150
DOSSIER SUBMISSION & WAITING
2ND INSTALLMENT OF PROGRAM FEE- $1,500
POST-ADOPTION REPORT DEPOSIT(FULLY REFUNDABLE IF ALL POST-ADOPTION REPORTS ARE RETURNED ON TIME)- $1,000
DOSSIER SERVICE & TRANSLATION- $600
REFERRAL & TRAVEL
INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIST CONSULTATION- $100 - $400
3RD INSTALLMENT OF PROGRAM FEE- $1125
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM FEE (1 CHILD) ••- $7,500 Pd $3,750 when we turned in dossier
AIRFARE (2 ADULTS) •••- $2,400 - $4,000
AIRFARE (1 CHILD) •••- $250 - $1,000
VISAS (2 ADULTS)- $40
VISA/EMBASSY FEE (1 CHILD)- $400
IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL PACKAGE (2 ADULTS) ••••- $2,800 - $3,200
POST-ADOPTION
POST-ADOPTION VISITS•••••-$300 - $1,500
POST-ADOPTION VISIT TRAVEL FEES-$0 - $1,050
RE-ADOPTION- $300 - $1,000
POST-ADOPTION REPORT REFUND(REFUNDED IN INSTALLMENTS AS, AND ONLY IF, EACH REPORT IS RETURNED ON TIME) ($1,000)
OTHER COSTS(INCLUDE DOCTOR VISIT AND RELATED CO-PAYS, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, PASSPORT COST, POSTAGE, LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS)
$100 - $1,000
TOTAL •
$19,895 - $29,445
I know that this is a lot of money, but we feel that this is what God wants us to do and will provide a way for us to accomplish this. Also, just think of all the lessons Tim and I will get the opportunity to learn along the way!! But most of all, our child is worth every tear, sweat, and penny. (The purple is what has been paid for as of 6/30/09. I edit everytime we pay something)
I know that many of you are wondering how much the adoption costs and why. Here is a break down of expenses.
APPLICATION & PAPERCHASE
APPLICATION FEE- $250
1ST INSTALLMENT OF PROGRAM FEE- $1,500 ($1125 FOR US AS WE WERE ELIGABLE FOR A DISCOUNT, DUE TO TIM BEING A YOUTH PASTOR)
HOME STUDY- $1,800
ADDITIONAL HOME STUDY DOCUMENTATION PREP. FEE- $0 - $150
HOME STUDY VISIT TRAVEL FEES(COULD INCLUDE MILEAGE, HOTEL, AND FOOD COSTS)- $160
ADOPTIVE PARENT TRAINING (2 ADULTS)- $175
DOCUMENTS/BACKGROUND CHECKS/PASSPORTS- $100 - $500
USCIS FEE & UPDATE FEE + FINGERPRINTING- $830
NOTARIZATION, CERTIFICATION & AUTHENTICATION- $400
COURIER SERVICE- $150
DOSSIER SUBMISSION & WAITING
2ND INSTALLMENT OF PROGRAM FEE- $1,500
POST-ADOPTION REPORT DEPOSIT(FULLY REFUNDABLE IF ALL POST-ADOPTION REPORTS ARE RETURNED ON TIME)- $1,000
DOSSIER SERVICE & TRANSLATION- $600
REFERRAL & TRAVEL
INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIST CONSULTATION- $100 - $400
3RD INSTALLMENT OF PROGRAM FEE- $1125
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM FEE (1 CHILD) ••- $7,500 Pd $3,750 when we turned in dossier
AIRFARE (2 ADULTS) •••- $2,400 - $4,000
AIRFARE (1 CHILD) •••- $250 - $1,000
VISAS (2 ADULTS)- $40
VISA/EMBASSY FEE (1 CHILD)- $400
IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL PACKAGE (2 ADULTS) ••••- $2,800 - $3,200
POST-ADOPTION
POST-ADOPTION VISITS•••••-$300 - $1,500
POST-ADOPTION VISIT TRAVEL FEES-$0 - $1,050
RE-ADOPTION- $300 - $1,000
POST-ADOPTION REPORT REFUND(REFUNDED IN INSTALLMENTS AS, AND ONLY IF, EACH REPORT IS RETURNED ON TIME) ($1,000)
OTHER COSTS(INCLUDE DOCTOR VISIT AND RELATED CO-PAYS, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, PASSPORT COST, POSTAGE, LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS)
$100 - $1,000
TOTAL •
$19,895 - $29,445
I know that this is a lot of money, but we feel that this is what God wants us to do and will provide a way for us to accomplish this. Also, just think of all the lessons Tim and I will get the opportunity to learn along the way!! But most of all, our child is worth every tear, sweat, and penny. (The purple is what has been paid for as of 6/30/09. I edit everytime we pay something)
9/25
Things are going good here. We mailed in our paperwork to start the homestudy. I also scheduled appointments for Tim and I to get physicals. We are supposed to also order an original birth certificate and marriage certificate from the Ohio office of vital statistics. The birth certificate is no problem and can take 3-6 weeks to get back, however, they only have abstracts of the marriage cert. and can take 4-6 mo's to get. I emailed our adoption worker and asked if the abstract is what we need. If so, I think I am going to take a road trip to Columbus to get it. If it's not what we need, we should be able to get a copy from here in Warren County and that is no big deal at all. Tim is on the roof being a "manly man" fixing what our "hurricane in Ohio" damaged last week! I'm a little scared!!! Here is a picture of my hubby hard at work!! Isn't he cute?!
9/24
I wanted to share one of my favorite verses with everyone. I think it is very fitting with all the economy issues and really fits in with some of our adoption worries. Every time I start to worry about money, etc. I read and think of these verses.
Luke 12 22-34
"Therefor I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They don not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you. O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom,and these things will be given to you as well....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reading this helps me to remember that God is all powerful and knows what we need before we do. He will lead us where he wants us to go and will provide us with what we need. Tim and I know that adopting our child from Ethiopia is what we are supposed to do and God will help us to accomplish this. It will be hard work and a major lesson in patience, but we can do all things with God our Savior. It will be soooo worth every minute and every struggle when we hold our baby in our arms.
I can't wait to meet you little one. We love you so much already and can't wait to bring you home. We are getting everything ready for you and pray for you every day.
Hi everyone, I was just reading a blog from another family adopting from Ethiopia through America world and I read this passage about adoption that I really like and fits how Tim and I feel. "Adoption is a mirror of what Christ has done for us. We were far off, He called us to be His own and now we have all things in Him. This child will be far off, We will claim him/her as our own, and all we have will be theirs". -The Rogers Family Blog. Today was the perfect Indian summer day. It was beautiful out! Tim and I went for a walk along the river and bike trail. It seems like the leaves started changing colors almost overnight. It even smelled like fall today!
9/19
Hi, how are y'all doing!! Tim and his dad were working on the deck today. Hopefully they will get it done tom. and we can check that off our list. Tim and I just realized that we were planning on doing the spag. dinner on Tim's brother's wedding!! I can't beleive we did that, so the dinner will have to be the beginning of Nov. We will keep everyone posted on when. Hope everything is going well for everyone.
9/18
Hi, everyone. Hope all of you are doing well. I heard from the insurance company yest. due to the many homes that have been damaged no one from the ins. co. will be coming out to give us an estimate on the damage. They spoke w/me about what was wrong w/the house and are going to do a written estimate and send a check w/o seeing the home. They said if it didn't cover it or if there was additional damage we didn't see, to call and they would add it and send an additional check. That was much easier than I thought it would be. We found out that my parents also have some damage to their home, but not very much and nothing major. It is just a pain since they are about 10 hrs away and trying to sell their home.
Things are going good here. We mailed in our paperwork to start the homestudy. I also scheduled appointments for Tim and I to get physicals. We are supposed to also order an original birth certificate and marriage certificate from the Ohio office of vital statistics. The birth certificate is no problem and can take 3-6 weeks to get back, however, they only have abstracts of the marriage cert. and can take 4-6 mo's to get. I emailed our adoption worker and asked if the abstract is what we need. If so, I think I am going to take a road trip to Columbus to get it. If it's not what we need, we should be able to get a copy from here in Warren County and that is no big deal at all. Tim is on the roof being a "manly man" fixing what our "hurricane in Ohio" damaged last week! I'm a little scared!!! Here is a picture of my hubby hard at work!! Isn't he cute?!
9/24
I wanted to share one of my favorite verses with everyone. I think it is very fitting with all the economy issues and really fits in with some of our adoption worries. Every time I start to worry about money, etc. I read and think of these verses.
Luke 12 22-34
"Therefor I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They don not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you. O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom,and these things will be given to you as well....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reading this helps me to remember that God is all powerful and knows what we need before we do. He will lead us where he wants us to go and will provide us with what we need. Tim and I know that adopting our child from Ethiopia is what we are supposed to do and God will help us to accomplish this. It will be hard work and a major lesson in patience, but we can do all things with God our Savior. It will be soooo worth every minute and every struggle when we hold our baby in our arms.
I can't wait to meet you little one. We love you so much already and can't wait to bring you home. We are getting everything ready for you and pray for you every day.
Hi everyone, I was just reading a blog from another family adopting from Ethiopia through America world and I read this passage about adoption that I really like and fits how Tim and I feel. "Adoption is a mirror of what Christ has done for us. We were far off, He called us to be His own and now we have all things in Him. This child will be far off, We will claim him/her as our own, and all we have will be theirs". -The Rogers Family Blog. Today was the perfect Indian summer day. It was beautiful out! Tim and I went for a walk along the river and bike trail. It seems like the leaves started changing colors almost overnight. It even smelled like fall today!
9/19
Hi, how are y'all doing!! Tim and his dad were working on the deck today. Hopefully they will get it done tom. and we can check that off our list. Tim and I just realized that we were planning on doing the spag. dinner on Tim's brother's wedding!! I can't beleive we did that, so the dinner will have to be the beginning of Nov. We will keep everyone posted on when. Hope everything is going well for everyone.
9/18
Hi, everyone. Hope all of you are doing well. I heard from the insurance company yest. due to the many homes that have been damaged no one from the ins. co. will be coming out to give us an estimate on the damage. They spoke w/me about what was wrong w/the house and are going to do a written estimate and send a check w/o seeing the home. They said if it didn't cover it or if there was additional damage we didn't see, to call and they would add it and send an additional check. That was much easier than I thought it would be. We found out that my parents also have some damage to their home, but not very much and nothing major. It is just a pain since they are about 10 hrs away and trying to sell their home.
August
8/28
Hello everyone. Tim and I put down the laminate floor in the baby's room Wed. evening. It looks really good and Tim and I didn't have one "disagreement"! I also finished painting the family room today. It looks really good, too!. We heard from America world yest. Our application was sent to the Ohio office and they sent us out some more information and paperwork that we need to fill out. We already received the packet. That was really quick. I wasn't expecting it until next week. Hopefully, everything else will move so quickly! There is some paperwork that Tim and I need to fill out and submit to Job and Family services for approval to adopt a child in the U.S. and a couple other forms, such as releases of information, etc. Once they get the paperwork they will contact us to schedule an orientation. We need to pay for the homestudy and post placement study on or before the orientation. The homestudy is $1800 plus $160 for travel expenses. We can pay the $160 at the time of the home visit, however. The post placement cost will be $700 or less, they sent me the cost for Kazakhstan, which is more expensive. I already emailed the social worker that will be doing the homestudy to update this and they will get new figures to us. Everything else should stay the same, though. Tim, his dad, and step mom have already gotten most of the yard sale stuff out and have already had people stop by! Please pray that the yard sale goes well. Thank you, to everyone who donated items for are yard sale and helped us with the previous two.
8/25
Today I painted the upper half of half the family room. I wasn't sure if I liked the color or not so I thought I'd do half and let it simmer for a day or so!! I also cleaned out the laundry room. Whew, what a mess!! I found another box of things that I can put in the yard sale this weekend. It's amazing all the junk that we keep! I received some good news today, my dad is getting his severance package from ABX air, so that will help my parents get things together and ease their move. I am not very happy about them moving, however, it is out of my control and I will make the best of it. I am taking off a couple days next week to spend some time with them before they leave. Please pray that the move goes smoothly and w/o any problems for them and that they sell their home asap!I saw this translation of Phil 4:1-7 on another blog and I really loved it and thought it was relevant to everything that is going on right now.
Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this... you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful that the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Jesus!
8/24
I have been working a little on our blog. Hopefully, I will be able to put the t shirts we will be selling on here soon. My Aunt Susie and my younger cousins came down from Cleveland to visit with us. I had so much fun playing games and visiting with them. We don't get to see each other very often. I know that my mom really enjoyed it, as well. Tim and his dad worked on the deck a little yesterday and almost have the frame done. I have been working on painting the family room, this weekend. I am taking my time with it as we have been rushing around everywhere the past couple of weeks. We turned in our initial payment and paperwork to America World on Thursday. Our next step is to complete the homestudy. Please pray that the homestudy goes well. We will be having another garage sale Labor day weekend. Thanks for all your support.
8/18
Thanks to all of you who helped us, prayed for us, and donated items for our yard sale. We have just jumped our second hurdle in our adoption journey! This week, Tim and I will be focusing on finishing painting our house, finishing the baby's room and helping my parents get their home ready to sell. We will be having another yard sale over labor day weekend, so if you have any items that you want to donate, please let Tim or me know. We are also selling T-shirts for $20. If you want one, let us know. I am going to try to figure out a way to put a picture of the shirts and a way to purchase them on this blog, so keep checking!! Yesterday, Tim and I went canoeing w/the church. We had a lot of fun. It took us a while to get the hang of it, we kept going in circles and zig zaging across the river!! We may have to do this more often so we get some practice in!! Love you all, God Bless!!! Please keep us in your prayers.
8/14
“Where there is pain, let us bring grace. Where there is suffering, bring serenity. For those afraid, let us be brave. Where there is misery, let us bring relief. Let us be the remedy.”
~david crowder band
8/12
Hello everyone. Tim and I are having a second yard sale this weekend to help raise money for our adoption. Please stop by and help support us. If you have any items that you would like to donate, you can contact me or Tim. We are also accepting donations, if you feel led to give anything to help us with our adoption journey. We will also be having various goodies available this weekend!! We are having T-shirts made up also, hopefully we will have some done by this weekend! Also, please continue to pray for us, our journey, our future child and our child's birth parents. Thank you and God Bless.
8/10
This weekend Tim and I had a yard sale to help raise money for our adoption expenses. We raised about $300. Yeah!! We had a lot of donations of items to sell from family and some church friends and we had a lot of help getting things together, etc. Thank you to everyone who helped, it was much appreciated! We are having another yard sale next weekend, hopefully we will do well. Thank you for all your support. We are so excited to begin this journey. Please pray for us-for things to go smoothly and without problems.
Hello everyone. Tim and I put down the laminate floor in the baby's room Wed. evening. It looks really good and Tim and I didn't have one "disagreement"! I also finished painting the family room today. It looks really good, too!. We heard from America world yest. Our application was sent to the Ohio office and they sent us out some more information and paperwork that we need to fill out. We already received the packet. That was really quick. I wasn't expecting it until next week. Hopefully, everything else will move so quickly! There is some paperwork that Tim and I need to fill out and submit to Job and Family services for approval to adopt a child in the U.S. and a couple other forms, such as releases of information, etc. Once they get the paperwork they will contact us to schedule an orientation. We need to pay for the homestudy and post placement study on or before the orientation. The homestudy is $1800 plus $160 for travel expenses. We can pay the $160 at the time of the home visit, however. The post placement cost will be $700 or less, they sent me the cost for Kazakhstan, which is more expensive. I already emailed the social worker that will be doing the homestudy to update this and they will get new figures to us. Everything else should stay the same, though. Tim, his dad, and step mom have already gotten most of the yard sale stuff out and have already had people stop by! Please pray that the yard sale goes well. Thank you, to everyone who donated items for are yard sale and helped us with the previous two.
8/25
Today I painted the upper half of half the family room. I wasn't sure if I liked the color or not so I thought I'd do half and let it simmer for a day or so!! I also cleaned out the laundry room. Whew, what a mess!! I found another box of things that I can put in the yard sale this weekend. It's amazing all the junk that we keep! I received some good news today, my dad is getting his severance package from ABX air, so that will help my parents get things together and ease their move. I am not very happy about them moving, however, it is out of my control and I will make the best of it. I am taking off a couple days next week to spend some time with them before they leave. Please pray that the move goes smoothly and w/o any problems for them and that they sell their home asap!I saw this translation of Phil 4:1-7 on another blog and I really loved it and thought it was relevant to everything that is going on right now.
Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this... you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful that the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Jesus!
8/24
I have been working a little on our blog. Hopefully, I will be able to put the t shirts we will be selling on here soon. My Aunt Susie and my younger cousins came down from Cleveland to visit with us. I had so much fun playing games and visiting with them. We don't get to see each other very often. I know that my mom really enjoyed it, as well. Tim and his dad worked on the deck a little yesterday and almost have the frame done. I have been working on painting the family room, this weekend. I am taking my time with it as we have been rushing around everywhere the past couple of weeks. We turned in our initial payment and paperwork to America World on Thursday. Our next step is to complete the homestudy. Please pray that the homestudy goes well. We will be having another garage sale Labor day weekend. Thanks for all your support.
8/18
Thanks to all of you who helped us, prayed for us, and donated items for our yard sale. We have just jumped our second hurdle in our adoption journey! This week, Tim and I will be focusing on finishing painting our house, finishing the baby's room and helping my parents get their home ready to sell. We will be having another yard sale over labor day weekend, so if you have any items that you want to donate, please let Tim or me know. We are also selling T-shirts for $20. If you want one, let us know. I am going to try to figure out a way to put a picture of the shirts and a way to purchase them on this blog, so keep checking!! Yesterday, Tim and I went canoeing w/the church. We had a lot of fun. It took us a while to get the hang of it, we kept going in circles and zig zaging across the river!! We may have to do this more often so we get some practice in!! Love you all, God Bless!!! Please keep us in your prayers.
8/14
“Where there is pain, let us bring grace. Where there is suffering, bring serenity. For those afraid, let us be brave. Where there is misery, let us bring relief. Let us be the remedy.”
~david crowder band
8/12
Hello everyone. Tim and I are having a second yard sale this weekend to help raise money for our adoption. Please stop by and help support us. If you have any items that you would like to donate, you can contact me or Tim. We are also accepting donations, if you feel led to give anything to help us with our adoption journey. We will also be having various goodies available this weekend!! We are having T-shirts made up also, hopefully we will have some done by this weekend! Also, please continue to pray for us, our journey, our future child and our child's birth parents. Thank you and God Bless.
8/10
This weekend Tim and I had a yard sale to help raise money for our adoption expenses. We raised about $300. Yeah!! We had a lot of donations of items to sell from family and some church friends and we had a lot of help getting things together, etc. Thank you to everyone who helped, it was much appreciated! We are having another yard sale next weekend, hopefully we will do well. Thank you for all your support. We are so excited to begin this journey. Please pray for us-for things to go smoothly and without problems.
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