September 2004
September 7, 2004 – Attended International Adoption Seminar with Bethany Christian Services
September 8, 2004 – Requested Official Birth Certificate – Tracy
September 8, 2004 – Requested Marriage Certificate
September 14, 2004 – Requested Official Birth Certificate – Brody
September 10, 2004 – Applied for Passports
September 10, 2004 – Submitted Formal Application - $500
September 21, 2004 – Accepted into Bethany China Program
September 22, 2004 – Submitted I-600A

October 2004
October 4 & 5, 2004 – Physicals and Medical Forms for Dossier – completed and notarized for the the first attempt of many
October 8, 2004 – Received Passports
October 11, 2004 – Brody turns 30!

November 2004
November 2, 2004 – First Homestudy Appointment - Couple
November 16, 2004 – Second Homestudy Appointments – Individual
November 25, 2004 - Thanksgiving
November 28, 2004 – Final Homestudy Appointment – Home Visit

Dossier Phase

December 2004
December 4, 2004 – Tracy turns 30!
December 8, 2004 – Employment Letters are completed and notarized
December 10, 2004 – Homestudy is completed and sent to Bethany
December 14, 2004 – Application Letter, Police Clearance Letters, Financial Statement, and Homestudy are completed at notarized
December 24-25, 2004 – Christmas

January 2005
January 1, 2005 – Happy New Year
January 10, 2005 – 1st payment submitted - $7,000
January 24, 2005 – Fingerprinting is schedule for February 8th

February 2005
February, 2, 2005 – Tracy’s Medical Form finally completed and notarized correctly after 2 attempts
February 8, 2005 – Fingerprinting

March 2005
March 2, 2005 – I 171H Fingerprint Clearance Arrives! (Last piece of paper needed to complete our Dossier)
March 3, 2005 – Brody brings documents to the Secretary of State’s office to be sealed
March 4, 2005 – Receive State Seals
March 7, 2005 – Dossier reviewed with Jaclyn from Bethany – she catches a typo on 3 of our State Seals and on Brody’s Medical Form (back for attempt number five)
March 8, 2005 – Brody’s Medical Form is finally completed and notarized correctly after five attempts
March 8, 2005 – Brody heads back to the Capitol to get 4 new seals – the lady was so nice and because they made a mistake on three seals they did all four while he waited.
March 8, 2005 – Brody drove the completed and copied Dossier to Bethany and dropped it off. Let the wait begin!
March 11, 2005 - Dossier sent to Grand Rapids, MI Bethany’s Home Office. Then it is sent to Chicago for Authentication
March 21, 2005 - Authentication is complete
March 22, 2005 – Dossier is sent to China (DTC)

April 2005
April 13, 2005 – Dossier is logged in by CCAA – This is when the wait “officially begins”
April 22, 2005 – DTC 1 Month

May 2005
May 13, 2005 – Logged In 1 Month
May 22, 2005 – DTC 2 Months

June 2005
June 13, 2005 – Logged In 2 Months
June 22, 2005 – DTC 3

July 2005
July 13, 2005 – Logged In 3 Months
July 22, 2005 – DTC 4

August 2005
August 13, 2005 – Logged In 4 Months
August 22, 2005 – DTC 5

September 2005
September 4, 2005 – 6th Wedding Anniversary
September 7, 2005 – One year since we started the paper chase!
September 13, 2005 – Logged In 5 Months
September 22, 2005 – DTC 6

October 2005
October 11, 2005 – Brody turns 31
October 13, 2005 – Logged In 6 Months
October 22, 2005 – DTC 7

November 2005
November 13, 2005 - Logged In 7 Months
November 22, 2005 – DTC 8
November 24, 2005 – Thanksgiving

December 2005
December 4, 2005 – Tracy turns 31
December 9, 2005 - REFERRAL
December 13, 2005 - Logged In 8 Months
December 22, 2005 – DTC 9
December 24-25, 2005 – Christmas

January 2006
January 1, 2006 - Happy New Year
January 24, 2006 - Receive Travel Approval & Consulate Appointment!!

February 2006
February 14 - Depart for China
February 19 - GOTCHA DAY- We get Addison!
February 26 - Depart for Home