2004: attended a Steven Curtis Chapman concert and after hearing his testimony of adoption in his family, felt like God was confirming His plans for our family. Pregnant with Jonah soon after that. Not our time yet.
Summer 2006: first mission trip to Africa (Zambia). Confirmed our love for African children. Some day...
Summer 2007: mission trip to Ethiopia---fell in love with those kids and really felt like we'd adopt an Ethiopian baby
Fall 2007: After seeing "An Adoption Story" episode about God's Littlest Angels, I really felt called to Haiti. I was amazed at the poverty there and the great need for parents to care for the orphans. Robby watched the episode, too, and educated me a little more on the history of Haiti. We both agreed to pray about it. It was hard to abandon the Africa calling, but we both felt like God was calling us to Haiti. Who knows? We may still adopt a child from Africa one day, but God was calling us to Haiti. Continued to pray and wait.
November 2009: God confirmed to us His plan for our family to move back "home" to East Texas. Robby had always felt like we wouldn't adopt until we had moved, a longing in our hearts for several years.
January 11, 2010: Ready to begin the process. Printed all of the application papers from the orphanage website.
January 12, 2010: Catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. All adoptions put on hold.
June 2010: moved to Mt. Vernon
January 2011: completed "very preliminary" adoption application---this just showed GLA our serious interest, even though we didn't completely qualify (law against biological children still in effect). They called once they received it and said they would put it in their file when/if the law is changed.
May 17, 2011: received the call from GLA to begin our adoption application!!! Lawmakers are working to change the adoption laws and the preliminary draft says nothing against biological children. Yippee! Very happy day in this house!
Summer 2011: Adoption application accepted to GLA. Contracted with God's Children Adoption Agency. Contracted with Lutheran Social Services to do our home study.
Began the mountain of paperwork and forms to fill out.
August 28-29, 2011 Home Study
September 15, 2011 Received Home Study in the mail (very strange reading such a long, detailed description of our lives!)
October 28, 2011 Mailed I-600 form to US Dept. of Homeland Security. Awaiting appt. for fingerprinting.
November 10, 2011 Received notification for fingerprinting appointments. Going to Dallas on Nov. 22!
November 22, 2011 USCIS fingerprinting done! Also, got Robby's 8 passport photos! Productive day!
December 7, 2011 Mailed completed dossier to God's Children Adoption Agency
December 21, 2011 Received dossier back from agency. Mailed 9 documents to the Secretary of State for certification.
December 30, 2011 Received documents back from Sec. of State
January 3, 2012 Mailed dossier to translator in Miami, FL. Promised a week turnaround.
January 17, 2012 Received translation back from FL
January 20, 2012 Mailed 9 dossier documents to Haitian consulate in Chicago for legalization
January 30, 2012 Received email that law has changed: must have additional documents notarized, authenticated, translated, and legalized
February 7, 2012 Mailed 7 more documents to the Secretary of the State of Texas
March 6, 2012 Sent 8 documents to Haitian consulate via overnight mail
March 12, 2012 Received 8 legalized documents back from the consulate
March 14, 2012 Mailed dossier (plus 4 copies) to adoption agency
March 28, 2012 Dossier arrived at GLA in Haiti!
August 22, 2012 Received referral of Malozie!!!! O Happy Day!
August 29, 2012 Received translated documents of referral (birth certificate, medical exams, etc.)
August 30, 2012 Formally accepted Malozie Ismond Ismoise as our daughter!
September 12, 2012 We are in! Our dossier was logged into IBESR today. That's Haitian Social Services. This is where we'll receive our dispensation since we have biological children. Once it leaves this office, we'll get to make our first trip to meet our baby girl! January 7, 2013 Applied for re-fingerprinting
February 6, 2013 Re-fingerprinted at the immigration office in Dallas
May 9, 2013 IBESR is requesting an additional document from the court on the birth Mom.
May 14, 2013 Began home study update process
May 26, 2013 Home study update visit by case worker
June 4, 2013 Mailed request to USCIS for I-600A extension
April 9, 2014 WE'RE OUT! EXITED IBESR TODAY AFTER 19 MONTHS!
April 21-24, 2014 Traveled to Haiti to meet our baby girl! Appeared in court and at US Embassy.
May 20, 2014 Exited Parquet (Haitian D.A.'s office)
July 9, 2014 Exited courts---she's officially a McCraw and the adoption is legalized in Haiti
Aug 21, 2014 Submitted to MOI for passport approval
Sept 10, 2014 Out of MOI and to passport printing
Sept 25, 2014 Passport printed
Sept 26, 2014 Dossier submitted to immigration for visa
Oct 22, 2014 Visa approval
Nov 17, 2014 Visa appointment
