T    I    M    E    L    I    N    E Here are the events as they've happened so far. Feel free to check out our journal page for a more detailed description of specific events August 24, 2000 We attdend an informational meeting for the agency we would like to use. The room is packed that makes us feel pretty good. The agency's references were fantastic and the meeting was great. November 10, 2001 After discussing lots of issues as well as making sure our finances were in order, we send in our agency application. It officially begins! December 27, 2000 After a failed attempt to get our fingerprints taken (we showed up on a Saturday when they weren't open) we finally have them taken on the Wednesday after Christmas. Unfortunately Karen is told that her prints may be rejected because they're too light. December 29, 2000 We have the final portion of our homestudy - the homevisit. After cleaning our apartment like it's never been cleaned before, we breath a sigh of relief when everything goes just fine. January 4, 2001 Less than 1 week after the homevisit, we receive a letter saying that our homestudy has been sent to the INS. Our social worker is the best! January 25, 2001 We receive our I-171H form in the mail. Actually we receive a document saying that Uncle Sam says it's OK to adopt a "foreign orphan." Our social worker later points out the tiny "I-171H" in the bottom left hand corner. February 8, 2001 We have a "dossier meeting" at our agency. We go over everything to make sure that nothing is missing and we pick out photos to send. We also have everything notarized that we need to. Now we're ready to send for state certification. February 13, 2001 All documents that need PA certification are sent to a wonderful woman who lives outside of Harrisburg who will courier them to the captial for us. February 15, 2001 Wow! We got our documents back from being state certified. We thought this was going to take at least a week. What a pleasant surprise! March 2, 2001 After fussing too much over what pictures we are sending, we finally "Fed Ex" our dossier to the facilitators in NYC where it will be translated, authenticated and sent on it's way to China! April 2, 2001 We receive the famous "brown envelope." We have no idea what it is but it sure looks offical (there's even some Chines writing)! Our social worker tells us it's what we need to take with us to China. April 4, 2001 Today is the day of days (well at least until we get our referral)! We are officially DTC April 4, 2001. The Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs has logged in our dossier and the waiting truly begins. Boy we hope this year goes by fast! May 1, 2002 After waiting and waiting, we finally receive a fed ex package. Steven is the first home but waits to open it so that we can open it together. I think we both broke a lot of traffic laws getting home! We open the package to see a gorgeous little chunk staring back at us. It's a surreal experience but still amazing at the same time. Her name is Hu Si Qin and she is residing at the Xuan'en Social Welfare Institute in Hubei province. We spend the rest of the day making tons of phone calls! May 11, 2002 We have our travel meeting today at our agency. Grace our facilitator in NYC goes over all the info we'll need to travel. It's a bit overwhelming when we find out that we'll be leaving for China on June 7th! We're thrilled but we realize that there's a lot to do between now and then. June 7 2002 We leave Neward airport for Hong Kong! For more info about our trip be sure to check out the journal section. June 8, 2002 We arrive in Hong Kong and spend the night at the Miramar Hotel on Kowloon Peninsula. June 9, 2002 We fly from Hong Kong to Wuhan and arrive at 2:30pm. We are brought to the civil affairs office and we meet Anya at 4:30pm! June 10, 2002 We appear before the Chinese Notaries and officials today to complete the adoption procedures. June 11, 12, 2002 Time spent getting to know Anya, sight seeing and waiting for our Chinese documents to be ready. June 13, 2002 We receive our adoption certificate and Anya's Chinese passport. We're told that the adoption is official as of Monday June 10. June 14, 2002 Hanging out in Wuhan! June 15 - 17, 2002 Trip to Guilin in Guanxi province for site seeing. June 18, 2002 Fly from Guilin to Guangzhou. Medical exam and visa photos for Anya. June 19, 2002 US Consulate appointment June 20, 2002 Pick up Anya's Visa, bus ride to Hong Kong, spend the night at the Regal Aiport Hotel. June 21, 2002 Depart Hong Kong on a non stop Continental flight to Newark New Jersey, arrive the same day.

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