Reactions & Conversations

Not much to tell in the news area...we finished our preliminary homestudy paperwork (apparently we are now a part of a world where an 11 page autobiography is preliminary!) and have turned it in to the homestudy agency. After they look through it they will call us so we can schedule our first meeting. We have to have 4 meetings with the social worker. We are working on finishing things in the house and trying to train our dogs to be calm when the doorbell rings...
On another note, we have gone completely public with our adoption news (it's on facebook so it must be official, right?). It's been interesting hearing people's reactions. We've had everything from straight out asking "are you infertile or was this a choice?" to "oh" to "Wow! that's awesome!" We never know what to expect. It's stressful and frustrating and exciting all wrapped into one. Then, once you tell them it's international the thousands of personal questions come. It kind of makes me laugh when people say "I don't know if I could do that, not knowing what kind of child you'll be getting." Do you know that when they come the good ol' fashioned way? I mean, yeah it's your genes but we have all seen the random family members that make us go hmm.... He will be our son just as much as anyone else's child is theirs. We are taking risks yes, but everything in life worth anything involves risk. The hard part about this for me is what to say AFTER people say their congratulations. I feel like they are waiting for some great stories (like when people say they are pregnant they say when they are due and if they going to find out what it is, etc) but we don't really have news past that. We don't know how long it will take. We are just doing paperwork, which most people don't find exciting. I guess that will get easier as we get farther into the process.

And so it begins...

      Our "paperwork pregnancy" has officially started. We have found a home study agency (and they are very close- on Central Ave!) and they have sent us all of the paperwork. Did I mention it took 3 separate emails with zipped files to send us everything? We have also been given our family coordinator for AWAA and she has sent us all of that paperwork as well, over 30 pages of guidelines and agreements for our dossier. Yep, they have chosen the right name for this process. It feels so real now. It's been hard and scary to get excited about this after so many months of disappointment. But, even though the expenses and paperwork are daunting, I feel very at peace with this decision (I think I've mentioned it before but I have always felt a pull towards adoption, even when I was young. I guess that was God's way of preparing me for this. I love how He knows things like that!). One thing I know we will need are at least 3 letters of reference so we'll have to see what their guidelines are a far as who can be a reference for us. Be on the lookout ;)
       I am going to put some information about the expense of this process in here so that, hopefully, we can help someone who is interested in adopting. I'll keep a running record of the expenses on the right and write about any grants, fundraisers, or loan information (they do interest free loans for adoption) that we find helpful as well. Justin and I found out that the state gives help for adoption costs to state employees! Yay! We don't get it until we bring him home but that means if we have to get a loan it will help us and hey, we all know kids aren't cheap! We also will receive a $2,000 tax credit every year until he's 18 on top of the child tax credit everyone gets.

Good News!

We just got our call from the adoption agency.... WE'RE APPROVED!!! We now will begin our "paperwork pregnancy" for our homestudy! Thank you all so much for all your prayers, love, and support! Love you all!