$4,000 Case Management ($2k due with service agreement, $2k with dossier submission)
$ 900 Home Study ($250 fee if someone else provides)
$ 400 Post Placement Report ($200 ea. done at 30 days and 12 months)
Travel for Homestudy & PPR is $0.35/mile plus $10/hr travel time
$ 8,500 Ghana Program ($10k for siblings...c'mon twins. $2k at dossier submisison, $6,500 when travel arranged))
$ 830 USCIS I-600 (permission to adopt form) (670 + 80 per fingerprinting)
$ 300 Medical/police clearances, marriage license, birth cert, other dossier documents
$ 500 Authentication (notary and apostile/cert)
$ 400 DS-230 (child's immigrant visa)
$ 100 Child's medical eval for DS-230
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Scott and Bethany
My kids love each other and for the most part, they are really sweet to each other. Last night I was filling Ryan in on a few details about our application and began asking the kids if they wanted a brother or sister. Scott answered the first time that he wanted a brother. Not suprising to me since he already has a sister. A few minutes later I asked him again assuming that his answer might change. This time he put two fingers up on his hand and said he wanted two sisters. That's my boy. Truly, I'd love to get a set of twins, or maybe even siblings that are real close in age so it was fun to see him counting his two fingers and requesting two siblings. Bethany, she likely didn't understand this whole idea of a "baby". I'm sure she was thinking I was asking her if she wanted a new baby doll.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Two Books in One Week
I'm reading my second book in one week about adoption. Those who know me, know that my life doesn't allow for time to sit and read a book. But I've been making the time. The kids are in bed early (aka on time) and I'm sitting down to read. I'm making sure that I'm also getting some time with God and reading His Word in addition to these books.
The first book was written by the woman who started All God's Children, an adoption agency we'd been considering. It was good to read. The second one is one that I started and almost finished several years ago. The book mark is still there but I thought a fresh reading of it would be good. Adopting for Good by Jorie Kincaid is a little dated (published in 1997) and likely many things have changed in the last 12 years but it still has valuable information.
I'm not the type that reads books to find out how to parent, how to be pregnant, etc. But in this case, I'm hungry to learn and to know what things to be praying for:
Today, right now God, I pray that you will be preparing the heart of the child you have for us. Specifically that the child will be able to attach and feel at home in our family if he/she looks different.
The first book was written by the woman who started All God's Children, an adoption agency we'd been considering. It was good to read. The second one is one that I started and almost finished several years ago. The book mark is still there but I thought a fresh reading of it would be good. Adopting for Good by Jorie Kincaid is a little dated (published in 1997) and likely many things have changed in the last 12 years but it still has valuable information.
I'm not the type that reads books to find out how to parent, how to be pregnant, etc. But in this case, I'm hungry to learn and to know what things to be praying for:
Today, right now God, I pray that you will be preparing the heart of the child you have for us. Specifically that the child will be able to attach and feel at home in our family if he/she looks different.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Ghana Africa
God, today you have turned my heart towards Ghana Africa. May I be willing to go wherever you send me to love whatever child you ask me to love.
He will provide
I've been doing some reading and have found that most couples who adopt do so as a way to build their family. I think that's a wonderful thing; it not only provides an opportunity for a couple to have a child but also allows another option for a woman who's not prepared to be a mother. I believe strongly that abortion is wrong and I'm so thankful that there's adoption is such a wonderful option. With that in mind and dear to my heart, that's not why we seek to adopt. I'd like to also connect with families who already have children and are seeking to adopt since that's the ship we're sailing.
Recently God has greatly provided in two clear ways a connection that my heart desires. Let me share briefly [if briefly is possible when my fingers are on a keyboard]:
1. Two weeks ago I did a quick search for a family where I grew up that had their own son and then adopted two Korean boys. I just wanted to pick their brain a little but the search only provided a street address and I was hoping for something more internet-ish, like a way to contact them via email. I resorted to knowing I could phone them at some point in the future. Then last week as I was praying for little Eli and reading through the comments on his mom's blog, I found myself linking to the blogs of those who commented to see if I knew them too (since it was a blog of a friend back in CA). At the top of one of the blogs, I saw Jerad's picture. Jerad is the son that was born to the family prior to their adoption. I couldn't believe it. And not only that, but the picture was celebrating Jared and his wife's brand new baby that they ADOPTED! Again, I couldn't believe it. So I contacted this stranger whose blog I was staring at and asked for Jerad's email. This morning I emailed him and am excited to hear back.
Today my prayer to a God who can make the simple but amazing connection is asking that He will have favor on my email and that it won't be sent to Jerad's junk or spam mail.
2. During our Discipleship Hour on Sunday, we had two families join us to talk about their call to full time missions in Guatamala. Little did I know nor could I be prepared for the emotion that stirred in my heart as I heard the family talk about adopting two children from Guatamala. They told of how the adoption let them to become missionaries in that foreign place. I had read about these families and don't at all recall reading about their adoption connection. How amazing.
Today my prayer to a God who can connect two strangers through a totally different topic is asking that He will continue to introduce me to those in whom we can find encouragement through this process.
Recently God has greatly provided in two clear ways a connection that my heart desires. Let me share briefly [if briefly is possible when my fingers are on a keyboard]:
1. Two weeks ago I did a quick search for a family where I grew up that had their own son and then adopted two Korean boys. I just wanted to pick their brain a little but the search only provided a street address and I was hoping for something more internet-ish, like a way to contact them via email. I resorted to knowing I could phone them at some point in the future. Then last week as I was praying for little Eli and reading through the comments on his mom's blog, I found myself linking to the blogs of those who commented to see if I knew them too (since it was a blog of a friend back in CA). At the top of one of the blogs, I saw Jerad's picture. Jerad is the son that was born to the family prior to their adoption. I couldn't believe it. And not only that, but the picture was celebrating Jared and his wife's brand new baby that they ADOPTED! Again, I couldn't believe it. So I contacted this stranger whose blog I was staring at and asked for Jerad's email. This morning I emailed him and am excited to hear back.
Today my prayer to a God who can make the simple but amazing connection is asking that He will have favor on my email and that it won't be sent to Jerad's junk or spam mail.
2. During our Discipleship Hour on Sunday, we had two families join us to talk about their call to full time missions in Guatamala. Little did I know nor could I be prepared for the emotion that stirred in my heart as I heard the family talk about adopting two children from Guatamala. They told of how the adoption let them to become missionaries in that foreign place. I had read about these families and don't at all recall reading about their adoption connection. How amazing.
Today my prayer to a God who can connect two strangers through a totally different topic is asking that He will continue to introduce me to those in whom we can find encouragement through this process.
Ghana Africa
God, today you have turned my heart towards Ghana Africa. May I be willing to go wherever you send me to love whatever child you ask me to love. The story and the connection to About A Child is another God send. The work through a Pastor who is highly respected and trusted by the Ghananian government can only be through the hand of God.
Lord God, I don't know where you're asking us to go but I pray that you prepare my heart, my bended knees, and the soles of my feet to walk this journey.
Lord God, I don't know where you're asking us to go but I pray that you prepare my heart, my bended knees, and the soles of my feet to walk this journey.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Fees
One agency we've done a pre-application with and are digging through the information provided is All God's Children. The following are the fees associated with adopting through them:
Agency Fees
$300 Application
$6000 Agency Fee
$1700 Homestudy fee (this amount will likely be higher as AGCI can't do the homestudy in Iowa and will hire someone else)
$350 each Post adoption report
$1000 Post adoption translation and administrative fee
International Service Fee
$7500 for adopting from Ethiopia
Additional US Fees
$670 US CIS Fee
$160 Fingerprints for two
$1000 Notarization, Certification, Authorization
$600 Translation Services
So far, we're up to $19,980 assuming three post adoption reports but I think there's more than that. So, we're talking almost 20grand and there are more fees associated with adoption:
Medical review, medical insurance, travel fees (I'm sure its cheap to fly to Ethiopia and stay a while, right?) airfare, food, incountry transportation, in-country travel coordinators, passport update (wish I could say I did that already), travel visas, immigrant visas, etc.
Why is it so expensive to love a child in need? To give a comparison, here's a run down of Bethany's fees for adoption from Ethiopia:
Total Cost: $20,500-$28,750 (for 2 people traveling)
1. Bethany Fees: $5,400-$10,250(vary by branch - we'd hope to be on the low end). This includes:
Formal Application Fee
Home Study Fee: due at the completion of the Home Study
Program Fee/Administrative Fee: due at Home Study completion
Post-Placement Services Fee: due dates vary by branch
2. Ethiopia Country Fees: $8,500
$6,000 Partial Country Fee: due at dossier submission
$2,500 Remaining Country Fee: due at referral
$6,000 (per sibling) Additional Processing Fees for Siblings Fees due when traveling to Ethiopia:
$400 U.S. Consulate Immigrant Visa Fee
3. Ethiopia Travel Costs: $5,000-$8,000 (approximate costs for 2 people)
Travel from the U.S. to/from Ethiopia: $1,500-$2,500 per person
7-10 Days in Ethiopia: $1,000-$1,500 per person (includes meals and transportation)
4. Miscellaneous Fees: $1,600-$2,000
Immigration and Naturalization Service filing of orphan petition (I 600A): $670
Plus fingerprinting: $80
Notarization, state seal of each document: $100-$200
Authentication: $400
Ethiopia travel visas: ($48 per person)
Certified copies of birth certificates: $40 (varies by state)
Certified copies of marriage certificate: $20 (varies by state)
Doctor’s appointments and immunizations: $160
Passport photos: $40 (Ryan's is up to date)
Again, I'd say, why does it cost so much to love a child?
Agency Fees
$300 Application
$6000 Agency Fee
$1700 Homestudy fee (this amount will likely be higher as AGCI can't do the homestudy in Iowa and will hire someone else)
$350 each Post adoption report
$1000 Post adoption translation and administrative fee
International Service Fee
$7500 for adopting from Ethiopia
Additional US Fees
$670 US CIS Fee
$160 Fingerprints for two
$1000 Notarization, Certification, Authorization
$600 Translation Services
So far, we're up to $19,980 assuming three post adoption reports but I think there's more than that. So, we're talking almost 20grand and there are more fees associated with adoption:
Medical review, medical insurance, travel fees (I'm sure its cheap to fly to Ethiopia and stay a while, right?) airfare, food, incountry transportation, in-country travel coordinators, passport update (wish I could say I did that already), travel visas, immigrant visas, etc.
Why is it so expensive to love a child in need? To give a comparison, here's a run down of Bethany's fees for adoption from Ethiopia:
Total Cost: $20,500-$28,750 (for 2 people traveling)
1. Bethany Fees: $5,400-$10,250(vary by branch - we'd hope to be on the low end). This includes:
Formal Application Fee
Home Study Fee: due at the completion of the Home Study
Program Fee/Administrative Fee: due at Home Study completion
Post-Placement Services Fee: due dates vary by branch
2. Ethiopia Country Fees: $8,500
$6,000 Partial Country Fee: due at dossier submission
$2,500 Remaining Country Fee: due at referral
$6,000 (per sibling) Additional Processing Fees for Siblings Fees due when traveling to Ethiopia:
$400 U.S. Consulate Immigrant Visa Fee
3. Ethiopia Travel Costs: $5,000-$8,000 (approximate costs for 2 people)
Travel from the U.S. to/from Ethiopia: $1,500-$2,500 per person
7-10 Days in Ethiopia: $1,000-$1,500 per person (includes meals and transportation)
4. Miscellaneous Fees: $1,600-$2,000
Immigration and Naturalization Service filing of orphan petition (I 600A): $670
Plus fingerprinting: $80
Notarization, state seal of each document: $100-$200
Authentication: $400
Ethiopia travel visas: ($48 per person)
Certified copies of birth certificates: $40 (varies by state)
Certified copies of marriage certificate: $20 (varies by state)
Doctor’s appointments and immunizations: $160
Passport photos: $40 (Ryan's is up to date)
Again, I'd say, why does it cost so much to love a child?
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