The Timeline

                                                                TIMELINE

• Feb. 23rd 2012:  First visit from Molly our social worker. Began home study. Got the news that once documents are submitted it can take up to 24 weeks in Arizona to get home study approval. Very very discouraging. But finally taking step 1 and we were thrilled. How do you eat a whole elephant?  One bite at a time.  Here we go!!!
• Feb. 24th:  Colin took the day off to go get our 1st set of fingerprints. Lots of laughs at our ink stained fingers. Headed to the post office to send out papers to all our generous referrals. Thank you guys so much!
• Feb. 28th. Aunt Ang text to say her referral packet is done! She says:  "It only took 5 minutes but she would have done it even if it took 5 hours!! I am soo excited!!!!!" She nicknamed you baby Zola. 
• March 1st:  All our other referrals have their stuff submitted and have been such HUGE supports!! Thank you guys so much!!
• March 7th.  FINAL DAY OF HOME STUDY. And Grandma Judy's birthday.
• March 12th:  Fingerprints submitted for home study.
• April 4th: Bought her first toy. (Ariel doll from the Disney Store.  Couldn't resist her hair!)
• May 13th: Fingerprint Clearance
• June 21st: COURT APPROVED HOME STUDY.
• June 22nd: WE GOT OUR REFERRAL!! FIRST PICTURES OF OUR LITTLE GIRL! 
• July 19th: USCIS Fingerprint appointment issued for Aug. 6th.
• July 20th:  Forget waiting until Aug. 6th we want her home now!  Met Colin for lunch and we headed to USCIS to get our biometrics done BEFORE our appointment day.  GREAT thinking!!! They didn't even hesitate and got us taken care of.
• Aug. 8th: USCIS Clearance in the mail.  Yes 2 days after the scheduled date because we didn't wait! Our 9th wedding anniversary.  Best gift EVER!
• Aug 18-19th:  Cyndi got the documents needed to send to Paul the lawyer in Congo
• Sept. 8th 2012:  HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY to our darling angel.
• Oct. 11th 2012:  First time speaking with Julia. She found our little girl at the orphanage. Was so great to speak with someone who has actually met our daughter.
• Oct. 20th: WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!
• Oct. 22nd:  Court in DRC. Now 30 day hold.
• Oct. 23rd First new pictures of her since June. Best surprise ever.
• Oct. 27th: Run for Congo Women in SLC
• Nov. 18th :UN attack helicopters target M23 rebels in Eastern Congo.
• Nov. 19th : 30 day hold period post court is up.
• Nov. 22nd: Thanksgiving. Hard day without her. Got news they are trying to evacuate her from Eastern Congo.
• Nov. 26th: Bought the first pair of little girl shoes.  This is going to be dangerous.