I think we've all realized by now that blogging is not my gift. But I will try to do my best to update you as we continue on our adoption journey!
Much has happened since my last post. We are finished with our part of the home study process. Here's a timeline:
September 19: preliminary application done
September 21: statements of faith done
September 30: formal application done
October 13: intake interview with our Bethany social worker
October 18: turned in all of our paperwork
October 28 - 29: attended Bethany two-day adoption training in Fredericksburg
November 2: 1st home study interview with our social worker
November 9: actual home study portion at our home as well as individual interviews with social worker
November 17: final home study interview with social worker!
As you just read, yesterday was our final interview - we handed in our profile books (which you can preview here: http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/interests/adoption-profile-copy-6153592) and finalized our service plan detailing what we're open to for our match.
Our social worker told us that she would hand off our profile books to the expectant parent counselors in a couple of weeks and that our home study should be approved by mid-December.
Now we wait.
This is a weird spot to be in - with the home study process, we constantly had a form to fill out, a profile book to work on, a house to clean, a book to read, or an interview to prepare for. Well, we still have a house to clean, but we had a feeling of control with all of that. Feelings of control have left the building. This is a good thing, I know. We really believe that God has a lot to teach us during this time, and that we need to be open to listening to Him and discovering how he wants us to grow as we prepare to be parents. This process has brought Paul and I even closer together, and we want each day in this in between time a day that we grow in our love for each other and our love for Jesus.
We very much appreciate your continued prayers and words of encouragement! We love that our family and friends are so excited with us and for us. In fact, we shared with our social worker that our support system is amazing! (We were bragging about YOU!)
I hope that you have an amazing Thanksgiving and time with family. Paul and I will be cruising the Southern Caribbean post-Thanksgiving, and it is PERFECT timing. Cannot wait! Thanks for checking in!
(In other news, today was Regis' last show. I may have cried a little.)
