Lots and lots of paperwork!

There is no kidding when people tell you that there is a lot of paperwork for adoptions.  I filled out a stack over Christmas break!  Some of the required documents:

Copy of marriage license, copies of college transcripts or degrees, updated vaccinations for our dog and paperwork, a mini autobiography about me and another for Brad, an interest form, a doctor and dentist form, several references to request, plus others.  I was thankful for the break so that I could get most of it done.  Now, we just have our house plan form with measurements of each room, pictures of the outside of our home, Brad's fingerprints, a health department inspection checklist, a fire department inspection checklist.  

I also took a few online trainings--four classes and sent the certificates in.  Whew!!  

Adoption-an interest meeting

We attended our first session at Arrow the first week of December.  It was called Adoption Orientation.  We watched a video about the founder who was also a foster child!  He was fostered by a loving, Christian family who spoke into his life and he became a Christian.  He made Psalm 127:4 the motto of Arrow:  "Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warriors hand."

At the meeting, Kristi, the caseworker, went over the requirements for the homestudy and all that fostering to adopt entails.  I felt quite overwhelmed and was wondering if Brad was going to change his mind, but was surprised that he was even more determined to adopt after the meeting!  He said that he feels more prepared now and pleased that they offer so much information to help us.  We walked away with a checklist of homestudy requirements and a very thick application.

Adoption-the mixer

I got in touch with the leader of the adoption group at our church, Jeni.  She emailed me some audio files of the three classes they had in the summer.  I listened to them all the way through as some of the church members shared their own stories.  We also attended an adoption mixer one Sunday morning at our church.  At this event, we got to fellowship with other families who were interested or who had already adopted.  

We talked with one family, in particular, who had two older biological boys and had adopted a younger one (a toddler) from foster care.  I expressed my concerns about how it would impact Caden.  She was very reassuring, and said that her boys were more resilient than the parents when one of their children was returned to her parents.  They were sad for a little bit, but had known this was a possibility.  She said I could contact her at any time.

Adoption--rekindled interest

I had mentioned while we were dating and early in our marriage, the idea of adoption.  However, Brad and I both wanted biological children.  Brad wasn't too keen on the idea.  After having Caden, we got pregnant again when he was three, but it was a blighted ovum.  The doctor saw a membrane dividing my uterus and didn't know how far it went down.  We went to a fertility specialist in Austin who deals with uterine septums and he met with us and let us know that the procedure to remove it would be in and out and fairly easily with minimal recovery time.  We decided to wait before doing the procedure and we've gone back and forth about having more children.

Meanwhile, during the summer in our "we want our own children" phase, Antioch was offering an adoption interest series for anyone interested.  We didn't attend.  It wasn't until the fall when I was at Caden's soccer game that I overheard a fellow teammate's mom talk about adopting through foster care.  That renewed an interest in me.  Brad met us at the game later, and we went to McAlister's.  It was on the way that I prayed again to God that if this was His will, Brad would need to be on board.  I brought up the idea something like this, "What would you think about adopting a child, toddler-age from foster care?"  His response was a shock!  He said without hesitation that he liked the idea.  We both liked the idea of a little girl younger than Caden so that he could retain his natural older-child role.  We also at the time, liked the idea of skipping the baby stage.  

Foster to Adopt-that first step

I thought about starting a second blog for the sole purpose of adoption, but have a hard enough time keeping up with one.  Keeping everything in one place is easier!  I will just help you by tagging all of my adoption posts with an adoption tag.

I would have to say my first step toward adoption began at a very young age.  I became passionate about adoption at about 8 years old.  We had Tupelo Children's Mansion children and administrators visit our church and discuss their ministry.  Tupelo was a ministry supported by our church's organization at the time.  As the children sang and the speakers showed slideshows of the children with the song, "These Are the Children" my heart was consumed.  I convinced my parents-my dad was pastor at the time-to buy as many tapes and material from them as we could and played that song over and over again, even shedding tears in my young eyes!  We received a monthly publication from them, Mansion Tidings, that I pored ore and prayed over the children featured.