We've applied...

We have decided on an agency. Had a meeting last Friday with an agency that is pretty close to where we live. They seem organized, friendly and open minded. We filled out our application over the weekend and dropped it off on our way home from work tonight!

On the way, we passed a familiar place where almost a year ago I talked with some friends about the first adoption situation we encountered. I thought about how much has changed since that night and how much more educated we are about this process. It is not as easy as the me of last year made it out to be but it is worth it. I think this whole process has brought Paul and I closer together. It has helped us to clarify what we want for our family and how we are willing to go about getting/doing the necessary things to raise children.

And now as I read back I see I've used the word "process" lots. Wow....

His giving has only begun.....

I want to post something that really spoke to me today from this blog....


I think this could be just what I needed to read right now...

He Giveth More Grace
by Annie J. Flint

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Followup to the wait....

I ended up emailing the social worker today to see if she had made any progress with the birth mother. She wrote back a little while later. She had just finished meeting with the birth mother for a counseling appointment. She said at this time, she is not comfortable matching the birth mother with any parents due to some new developments that had come to her attention. She said that until these issues were resolved, she would not be presenting any families to her.

Hey, we are of course a little disappointed to hear this BUT, at least this happened before and not after the child came to live with an adoptive family. We took this as a sign to check out the other agency (much closer to home) that was recommended to us by our lawyer AND a friend of a friend. The earliest appointment they had was July 16th. The case worker did send me some information which was helpful and encouraging.

I will as always update as information becomes available!

No news is good news?

We hadn't heard anything from the adoption case worker until last Thursday. She told us they were still screening another family and we were still in the running. I saw that the "special situation" bulletin has been taken off their website so I am hopeful that this means things are progressing towards being presented to the birth mother. It would be nice to know either way.

It is funny, sometimes I feel so close to finally being a parent, then other times it seems like an unattainable thing. I don't mean that in an "I'm not worthy" sort of way but more in a "seems like a lot of variables out of my control" sort of way.

Life is getting hectic again with summer visitors, my summer job (which is supposed to be part time but always ends up being WAY more) and Paul is busy at work now too. We are looking forward to our camping trip in Idaho more than we ever thought we would when we booked it in February. I guess all this busyness is good for keeping our minds on other things. The baby's room is cleared out right now since my Aunts are coming to visit and I"m starting to get a clearer vision of how that room is going to be when it is occupied by a child! That is pretty exciting to consider.

I will certainly report more as we are informed.

Friday's Results

The case worker who we met with on Friday was super great. She gave us a lot of information regarding the birth mom in question and the agency. We went in not knowing what to expect and were pleasantly surprised with what she had to say. She wanted to present us with 3 other families to the birth mom and her parents on Tuesday.(as in TOMORROW) We were glad we brought our family booklet with us. I do not want to go into too many details about the birth mom J but she sounds like she is a nice person with a very supportive family. We were tasked to go home and write a personal hand written letter to J. It was weighing on us all day fri and saturday but we perservered and turned out the letter on Sunday. As I looked for some paper to re-write the letter on, I found some Hello Kitty paper. I told Paul jokingly that maybe we should write it on Hello Kitty paper and guess what, he said "YES, do that!, I think that would be perfect". He was not being sarcastic and after a few more minutes of thought, I decided it would be ok. Some of you might be cringing but you know what, that is who we are. We are not serious, stuffy people who try to be fancy. (at least I don't feel that way) I wrote very carefully and re-read it before sealing it in an envelope. Paul mailed it today next day air and it's supposed to be there before 10am tomorrow.
Please pray along with us that we are able to constructively handle uncertainty, and possibly disappointment. J and her parents will pick 2 families and meet both families sometime before she makes her decision. It could take a few weeks or a few days. The good thing was, we did not have to sign up with the agency yet, she encouraged us to look around if we needed to which suits Pauls thinking on the issue of an agency.
As soon as we know something I will post! The case manager said that she'd let us know either way.

Next Friday

We have an appointment with the adoption caseworker in Portland. We are supposed to bring a picture portfolio and have our fingerprints done. She said that our homestudy looked good and they may be able to use it if we are a good fit for this case OR another case closer to home in Vancouver, Wa. That couple is looking for a younger couple with no children. We fit the criteria and she wants to see what they would think of us. To us it is a good sign that they will accept our homestudy, she said that Washington is one of the only states that allows a homestudy not done by an agency to be used.

This week there are a few things we have to get done...

1. Go to the bank for financing
2. Get fingerprinted and get them sent into the FBI
3. Fill out the paperwork for the child abuse and neglect report through WA state.
4. Put together some pictures of our home, our family and friends and of course us.

Posibility

We were forwarded a possibility with an agency out of Seattle yesterday. Since then, I haven't thought of much else. We are waiting to hear if they would accept our independent home study.
I pray they do. This possibility is a boy scheduled to be born sometime in September. I have to keep reminding myself it's just a lead, but the background information given to us sounds wonderful, the Birth Mother has a good support system and is already in counseling. She is unwavering about an open adoption that would take us to Hawaii every three years for a visit with her family. Her mom and dad would also like a casual relationship with the child so more grandparents! (what is not to like about that)

I pray that my mind will be on work and our daily life right now. I know that there is not much we can do until we get an answer and worry won't add an inch onto your stature right?