The process so far

Thanks for joining us on this journey! :)  Here is where we are currently -

Last Monday (the 16th) we met with our assigned caseworker for the first time.  I have to say, I was beyond excited and so nervous - this was the lady who was going to decide whether or not we are a "healthy" family and would be allowed to adopt a baby!  I really had to pray before we met her, because I knew God is really the one who decides if we are capable of being parents, but couldn't shake those feelings.  Instantly when we met her, the nervousness melted away though.  She was so sweet, and it was so easy to talk to her!

She asked us things like how we came to the decision to adopt, how would we raise a child to love and know God, about our testimonies, and our marriage.  We also had the opportunity to ask her questions, and of course, I had nothin'!  Thankfully we left with her contact info and can email her day or night! 

We also left with a mountain of paperwork!  Some of the things included in the paperwork are the Taylor Johnson Temperament Analysis (we each fill this out on ourselves and then each other), packet of questions on our childhood and how we plan to raise our child, fingerprint cards, financial worksheets, forms for our dr. to fill out after we get physicals, etc., etc.! This paperwork usually takes couples 4-6 weeks to fill out.  Once it's turned in, the home study process can begin.

We have registered for our agency's adoption classes, which start in a week!!!  There are 7 classes total covering these topics: "Introduction in the Adoption Experience", "Infertility: Grief & Loss in Adoption", "Healthy Adoption Experience", "Raising the Adopted Child", "The Birthparent Experience", "Covenant and Commitment" (because this is an open adoption, we will create a covenant with the birthparents as to how we will stay in contact with one another - more info on this later!), and "Special Needs & Cross Cultural Adoptions".