Updates:

April 13: We have gone through a couple of weeks of paperwork revisions, due to new paperwork guidelines.  This could potentially cause a delay, but only be weeks.  The interesting thing is that Julie just committed to an advocacy trip with Colombian delegates, for her job and nothing to do with our adoption.  It will be a unique opportunity to be with these people at this exact time!  We are thankful!  At this point we are just waiting for the immigration approval! 

March 30: The Dossier has left the building people!  The dossier is the packet of documents that will eventually go to Colombia through the ICBF, the Central Authority over adoption.  
I had thought I could not send this until we had our Immigration Approval (which could take a month and a half or 2) but our Caseworker shared that we could send this in and they can start with the apostilles (our agency does this for us) and then translation.  So I quickly got it together and sent it off today!  
What does this mean? This means that in the next 2-3 months this dossier could be in a position to be reviewed and we could begin the wait for a referral (placed with a child).  Who knows how long this will take.  It could be super fast, or it could take a bit longer like 6-12 months.  
I have been surprised at the peace we have had throughout this process.  I can honestly tell you I have had very little in terms of feelings of anxiousness or stress.  We are just enjoying the ride and are confident that the timelines we experience will influence who Charlie is and we trust God for this!  

March 4: Let me just tell you how awesome it has been to see sweet babies placed from Colombia through AGCI.  It is suprisingly not making me anxious but just encouraged!  I know that this will happen and we are really enjoying the process.

We are now completing our dossier, this is the necessary paperwork for Colombia.  Once we complete this on our end we will send this to be apostilled, to our agency and then it goes to Colombia.

The main question is when will we see Charlie?  Well, it could be very fast from that point--a couple months only.  However in my mind I think it could be 6-12 months out.  From that point on we will be traveling about 3 months after!  So excited!  Thank you for following our journey!

If you are local we have a fundraiser on April 16.  It is at our gym and we would love to have our friends and family come on out and do the work out, or just be great cheerleaders!  The workout will be one that anyone can do it based on where they are comfortable! There is a FB event called Chin-ups for Charlie with more information. 

The Plan: 

For as long as Team Salwasser has existed we knew that we wanted to grow our family through adoption.  This has obviously been a passion for Julie, as she has worked in this field but Brian has also joined in this calling.  We believe that God has called us to open our hearts and home to a child that is in need of a family! We could not be more thrilled! 

The Need: 

As we start out this journey we would love the partnership of people like you!  The cost for the overall process is around $30,000, this includes everything from the home study, facilitation and travel. While this seems like a lot we know that this journey to bring our Baby Charlie home is entirely worth the cost! 

We have started saving and fundraising already and much of that will go to our home study and paperwork costs as well as the in country costs and travel. 

Pure Charity will only disperse funds to an agency so any funds raised through here (all tax-deductible donations) will go towards our agency costs and that is around $13,000. This is our overall goal with Pure Charity.  

We are excited to see how God has already provided and we know this will continue on, including through parters like you!   

The Details: 

• We have begun our home study and this will take about 6 months before we start the process on the international side.  Update: We have completed the home study! 

• We are adopting from Colombia! It is likely we will be placed with a child living in a private home in Bogota, Colombia. 

• We are open to a boy or girl!  We are open to adopting a child with a range of minor special needs, including a child who is African Colombian, which is considered a special need in Colombia. 

• We are planning to call him or her :) Charlie.  This is the family name in Brian's family and we made the decision to save this for the child that joins our family through adoption.  Isaiah gets out blood, Charlie gets the name. ;) 

• This process will take approximately 1.5-3 years! It is not necessarily quick but we plan on enjoying the process and our current family while we wait. Update: At this point the process could take only 6-12 more months!  

• We are called to this.  It will not be easy--both the process and the transition.  We value your prayers, love and support as we take this step of faith. 
  

There have been many things that have encouraged us, and reminded us of this calling.  This song has meant a lot to Julie and we want to share this with you.

"You have Called Me Higher" by All Sons and Daughters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHh5qbV1l2A&list=RDHHh5qbV1l2A#t=50

Timeline: 

December 1, 2015: Home Study begins and Home Visit 
December 9 and 10: FBI checks and all medicals 
December 11: Application to Gladney 
December 30: Orientation Call and beginning the Dossier 
January 29:Second HS visit
February 11: LAST HS Visit!  
February 12: Psychological visits completed!  
February 16: Bulk of the documents were sent to our agency
March 4: Home study completed 
March 30: Dossier Sent, I 800 A (immigration approval request) submitted.