How it all began part 3 (our timeline)

When we began this process we had no clue if we could even adopt Maria or pick a specific child...you can but that is extremely difficult because Panama will do anything to keep the kids in Panama (I'm not downing them for that just stating how it is) If they have an Aunt twice removed that will visit them or claim them then the child will go to that relative. Most kids in these orphanages are for all practical purposes "orphans" but because they have a relative pop in every so often or one that takes them in during the summer vacation they can not be adopted. Our attorney through Faith Int. (Alejandro...more on him later) found out that Maria was available. Even if she were not available we had by that time decided to go through with an adoption regardless. So here is our timeline so far.

• Visited Panama met Maria January 2006
• began paperwork March 2006
• Homestudy and Dossier completed and Sent to USCIS April 2006
• Dossier approved and sent to Panama Embassy and to Faith in Panama for translation June 2006
• Dossier submitted to the DNA (dept of Adoptions) July 2006
• Dossier registered and approved by DNA September 29 2006
• Preliminary referral of Maria received(more on that) May 2007
• June 2007 Maria is told that she will be adopted by us (we can communicate with her)
• New fingerprints done August 2007
• TPR was completed Jan 18 2008
• Official Referral to the court given by the DNA Feb 18 2008
• We currently await a court date for the adoption