Journey to Elizabeth

Our Journey to Elizabeth started a few years ago when Mary and I agreed to start the adoption process. After almost 2 years of waiting, on April 4, 2008, we received a call that a 2 1/2 month old girl was available for adoption. April 7, 2008 we saw our first pictures of Elizabeth and we knew right then that she was meant to be our daughter.

Between April and June we waited for our paperwork to move from Vietnam to the US Embassy. June 3, 2008 we received word from the US Embassy that they have received our paperwork and would start to process the adoption to allow us to bring Elizabeth home. This was a very stressful period because at any time we could be rejected for the adoption. We had heard of others being denied. At the end of July we learned that our fingerprints expired. This caused us some panic and follow up with Homeland security. After a few weeks we received our date to get fingerprints retaken. The waiting then continued.

September 11, 2008 we received word that our I-600 was approved. This was approval from the United States to let us bring Elizabeth into the country. We thought that we were ready to travel. Not quite. We now had to wait for a G&R date. It is the court date in Vietnam where we would sign the paperwork officially adopting Elizabeth. As of now we are still waiting for that date to be established. November 1, 2008 -- there was flooding in Hanoi and our agent was not able to travel. Hopefully this week he will be able to get to the center to give us an update and help push for our G&R date. We are hoping to be over there by the end of November.

The adoption process is not easy. It tests who you are as a person; are you willing to fight for your child; are you willing to put your life on hold until that day comes when you become a family. Mary and I want to thank all of our family and friends for their support. We wouldn't have made it this far without you.