My Adoption Journey: Guatemala is the 4th Happiest Nation

Monday, July 6, 2009

Guatemala is the 4th Happiest Nation

According to an index by the New Economics Foundation, an independent research group in Britain, Guatemala is the 4th Happiest Nation. The index considers happiness, ecological footprint, and life expectancy of countries. The survey looked at 143 countries and covers 99% of the world population. Latin American countries ranked in 9 of the top 10 spots. The United States ranked 114th and Britain ranked 74th. Costa Rica earned the number one spot followed by the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Vietnam.

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Adoption Timeline

06/09/07 - Contacted Angel Adoptions (Homestudy Agency) to Pursue an International Adoption Homestudy
06/12/07 - Consultation with Social Worker from Angel Adoptions
06/14/07 - Application to Adoptions International (Adoption Agency) Sent
06/26/07 - Completed Massachusetts Approaches Partnership in Parenting Program (MAPP)
07/08/07 - Homestudy & Social Worker Visits Complete (Meetings with the Social Worker were Held on 6/23/07, 6/30/07, and 7/8/07)
07/26/07 - Application to USCIS for I-600A and Fingerprints Submitted
07/31/07 - Homestudy Report Received
07/31/07 - Homestudy Submitted to USCIS for I-600A Application
07/31/07 - Dossier Apostilled/Certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth
08/01/07 - Dossier Authenticated/Legalized by the Consulate of Guatemala
08/23/07 - Referral Received
08/27/07 - Referral Accepted, and Power of Attorney and DNA Authorization Completed
08/28/07 - Referral Acceptance, Power of Attorney, and DNA Authorization Received at Adoptions International and on-route to Guatemala
10/16/07 - I-600A Approved and Forwarded to National Visa Center
12/17/07 through 12/21/07- 1st Visit Trip with Grammy to meet baby Gabriella
01/10/08 - DNA Authorization
Enter Family Court
01/25/08 - DNA Taken from Gabriella and Gabriella's Birth Mother and Social Worker Interview is Conducted
02/09/08 - DNA Match
02/11/08 through 02/15/08- 2nd Visit Trip with Grammy and Grampy
03/14/08 at 11:53 AM - Pre-Approval from the US Embassy (Day 48)
03/26/08 - Exit Family Court
03/27/08 - Enter PGN
04/13/08 through 04/19/08- 3rd Visit Trip with Grammy and Tia Candace
05/08/08 through 05/15/08- 4th Visit Trip
06/09/08 - PGN Birth Mother Interview Complete
06/18/08 - Exit PGN
06/26/08 through 07/03/08 - 5th Visit Trip with Grammy
07/03/08 - Final Decree
07/28/08 - Birth Certificate
08/05/08 - Passport
08/07/08 - 2nd DNA Test
08/30/08 through 09/05/08 - Pick-Up Trip with Grammy!
09/02/08 - US Embassy Appointment
09/05/08 - Gabriella is home forever!