ONCE IN A WHILE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ORDINARY LIFE,
LOVE GIVES US A FAIRYTALE... THE FAIRYTALE CONTINUES:

We met on January 13, 2008 and on January 13, 2009 we got married. On June 9. 2010, after much talk and deliberation we decided that we wanted to adopt a “little guy” from Ethiopia. We hope to bring additional meaning our lives, his life and to the lives of all the people around us.

Sheryl’s story: I was born in South Africa and witnessed the poverty and suffering of black South Africans. I think I always knew that one day I wanted to adopt a child from Africa. This coupled with my connection from afar to the rescue of Ethiopian Jews made Ethiopia an obvious choice.

Ron’s story: I spent a year in Israel doing my field work for my Masters Degree in Social Work. It was during Operation Moses when the first rescue of Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel. While not directly involved, I felt very connected with their plight and to this day when I go to Israel, feel emotional when I see Ethiopian Jews walking the streets of Israel. Ethiopia just seemed like the obvious choice.

We know and expect that this journey will be filled with every emotion one can think of - it already has been! The process is not an easy one and it will probably take us between 12-16 months until we can bring home our son.

We created this site so that those that are close to us can experience the journey with us. We will keep the blog updated as often as we can but please be aware that there will be some downtime in the process where we will be waiting....

We look forward to introducing you to our “little guy” as soon as he reveals himself to us...

THE PROCESS

Application to the Adoption Agency - Children’s Hope International - DONE

Application approval from Children’s Hope International - DONE

Fingerprints - DONE

Background Check - DONE

Home Study - AUG 26, 2010 DONE

I-600A Application -Immigration approval so the “little guy” will be an American citizen when he arrives home :) - jULY 19, 2010 SENT IN I-600A APPLICATION (APPLICATION FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING OF ORPHAN PETITION=CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION FOR THE LITTLE GUY - WAITING FOR HOME STUDY TO SEND BEFORE WE GET OUR FINGERPRINT APPOINTMENT...

AUG 26, 2010 - SENT IN COPY OF OUR HOME STUDY TO HOMELAND SECURITY - NOW WAITING FOR OUR FINGERPRINT APPOINTMENT...

SEPT 7, 2010 - JUST RECEIVED OUR APPOINTMENT FOR SEPT 29, 2010 FOR OUR FINGERPRINTS AT HOMELAND SECURITY IN ALBANY

SEPT 29, 2010 - YAY- FINGERPRINTS DONE!!! NOW WE WAIT FOR APPROVAL FROM HOMELAND SECURITY...

OCT 21, 2010 - WOOHOO JUST RECEIVED OUR IMMIGRATION APPROVAL - I-171H FORM. ON MY WAY TO ALBANY FOR STATE CERTIFICATION ON MONDAY AND THEN PUTTING IT IN THE MAIL TO CHI... A GAZILLION STEPS CLOSER TO BECOMING AN OFFICIAL “WAITING FAMILY”

Building a Dossier - SEPT 22, 2010 ALL PAPERWORK EXCEPT FOR THE 1-171H IMMIGRATION FORM (WHICH WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR) WAS SENT TO CHI - WE’RE GETTING CLOSER!

OCT 28, 2010 - FULL DOSSIER IS ON THE WAY TO WASHINGTON DC FOR AUTHENTICATION

NOV 11, 2010 - WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! JUST HEARD BACK FROM CHI - OUR DOSSIER WAS APPROVED IN WASHINGTON AND WE ARE NOW AN “OFFICIAL WAITING FAMILY”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOV 30, 2010 - A RAM COMES TO VISIT... WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? (READ OUR BLOG)

Referral - this is what they call the process for matching you up with a child - DEC 6, 2010 IN THE CAR ON THE WAY BACK FROM BOSTON, ASHLEY, OUR SOCIAL WORKER CALLS TO TELL US THEY HAVE FOUND OUR LITTLE GUY!!!!!!!! ONLY 3 1/2 WEEKS AFTER OUR DOSSIER WAS APPROVED - IT’S A CHANUKAH MIRACLE - READ MORE DETAILS ON OUR BLOG “THE STORY OF A RAM AND A LITTLE SHEPHERD”

Acceptance of the referral (match) - WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT WE HAD FOUND OUR SON - ACCEPTED THE SAME DAY. BUT STILL HAD TO GET HIS MEDICAL RECORDS REVIEWED BY AN ADOPTION PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST... A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER ALL IS GOOD!!!!!

Wait for a court date from the Ethiopian Government - JANUARY 12, 2010  (ONE DAY BEFORE OUR 2ND ANNIVERSARY)- YAY! WE JUST RECEIVED OUR COURT DATE - MARCH 10. ETHIOPIA HERE WE COME!!! OUR TICKETS ARE BOOKED FOR OUR FIRST TRIP - WE LEAVE MARCH 6 AND RETURN TO THE US ON MARCH 12. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE OUR LITTLE GUY. WE ARE STAYING AT THE ETHIOPIA GUEST HOUSE IN ADDIS ABABA. AND WE ARE SO HPPAY TO BE TAKING LOTS OF STUFF FOR THE HOUSE OF HOPE TRANSITION HOUSE THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY...

Fly to Ethiopia: Ethiopia has a two trip rule when adopting. This means that we have to go to Ethiopia twice -  the first time to meet our “little guy” and appear in front of the Ethiopian courts to make our adoption legal... Sadly leave the “little guy” until about six weeks later when we go back for the second time to bring our son home..

COME HOME WITH OUR LITTLE GUY

Introduce him to the world...

ABELLI’S HOME...