Our Adoption Timeline

1994-2006:    We talk, and talk, and talk about adoption.  We have two beautiful biological daughters in 1998 and 2000, and we tell each other "someday we'd like to adopt"....

December 3rd, 2006:  We let Cheryl Witte know that we'd made the official family decision to adopt and she asks us if we are going to the Crossroads Adoption Services meeting that is scheduled THE NEXT DAY!!

December 4th, 2006:  We attend our first adoption meeting at Crossroads, turn in our application, and receive a HUGE amount of paperwork.   

December 6th, 2006:  We attend our second adoption meeting at Crossroads

December 19, 2006:  Our paperwork is completed and we have our first home visit from Jill, our adoption counselor.  We tell her that we intend to go the traditional, non-special needs route for the adoption.

December 23, 2006 (Saturday):  We admit to God that we do NOT intend to ask for a special needs child, but if He wants something different for our lives, we will listen.  However, I remember stating that He "was going to have to make His intentions very clear on that one."

December 24th, 2006 (Sunday):  We attend church, and I make the decision to sit in on a Children's Church session with a little girl who was visiting the church for the first time (something I've never done before).  Wouldn't you know it...the lesson that Sunday was actually a small skit...and what was the skit about?  You guessed it...it was about a little girl, with special needs, who longed for a family, but had not been adopted because of her disability.  I have to say God made His intentions for us very clear that day!!

December 26th, 2006 (Tuesday):  We call Crossroads and request to be transferred to their Waiting Children program.  Jill lets us know her list isn't expected for a couple of months, but she'll let us know when it arrives

December 29th, 2006 (Thursday): We get a surprise call from Jill saying they got their Waiting Children/SN list unexpectedly and would we like to take a look?   Are you kidding me??   Four days after we prayed, three days after the church service, and one day after our request, the list comes in!!  We aren't going to turn that down...we are ready to set sail! 

December 30th, 2006 (Friday):  We request information on Guo Yan, a little 15 month old girl with Congenital Heart disease.

January 12th, 2007 :  We send our official letter of intent to China to adopt Guo Yan. 

April 19th, 2007:  We receive our pre-approval from China to adopt Guo Yan

May 23rd, 2007:  Our dossier is sent to China

May 29th, 2007:  Dossier is officially logged in over in China

August 22th, 2007:  Letter of Acceptance from China

September 6th, 2007:  We receive our Travel Approval for China and prepare for travel

October 3rd, 2007:  We leave for China

October 8th, 2007:  We meet Mylie for the first time!!

October 9th, 2007:  We officially become Mylie's parents

October 17th, 2007:  We arrive home from China!!