Day 227 - Here we go!

We've been approved at two agencies so far. The first approval came from an agency in Arizona. It took less than a week with them! That application was mailed on Wednesday, October 7. It arrived to Arizona on Friday, October 9, and we had an email welcoming us the following Monday. An agency in Georgia also approved us last week. With them, we won't be notified that our profile is being shown until after a birth mother chooses us. Additionally, we've heard from a third agency in Utah. Hopefully, our approval with them will come this week.

Wow! Things are rocking and rolling!

We've already been looking at the available situations with the agency in Arizona. We have asked that our profile be shown to two expectant birth mothers. Please be in prayer as we enter this new phase. This phase will be full of emotion - from the hope of a birth mother wanting to talk with us after seeing our profile to the despair of not being chosen after knowing someone has looked at our profile. It can also mean being elated to be matched with a birth mother, but it can also mean the harsh reality of a match failing at the last minute. This new phase will be a rollercoaster ride! It's hard to prepare yourself for this portion - there is so much that is unknown.

On another note, if you have a question about adoption or what something means, please leave it in the comment section. When Matt and I first started in this journey, we had no idea of what all adoption entailed and quickly realized we had a lot to learn. We've learned so much from other folks who have or are walking this journey, and we'd love to help educate others about the adoption process. While we don't know everything, we'll do our best to answer your questions.

Matt and I appreciate your prayers for us and for the birth parents. We know the Lord has had His hand in our journey. We know He will continue to hold us and guide us as He leads us to our child.

Day 214 - Applications mailed!

Praise the Lord - we've mailed three applications to adoption agencies! I checked our delivery confirmation slips late this afternoon. One had already arrived at the agency in Georgia, one was in the post office in Kansas, and one was in "transit" to Arizona!

Many of you have asked what our next step will be. From here, we wait to hear back from each agency. For example, according to one agency's website, it takes about one week to register us once our information is received. After that, we should receive an e-mail from them with instructions of how to proceed. We will have access to available situations they have and can request our profile be presented. For other adoption agencies, it can take up to 30 days to process our application.

It's hard to give a definite timeline for anything with adoption. There are so many unknowns. For me, the lack of control has been the biggest obstacle. Many of you who know me know I like control. There I said it. I like to know what's going on, I have my own method of doing things, and I want things to go like I plan. Well, adoption has taught me a lot about releasing my need to control. I'm not in control, the Lord is. He already has a precious baby chosen for us. Chosen by God. For us. Isn't that wonderful to think about?

As we enter into the next season of waiting, I have several specific prayer requests:

- Pray for those adoptive parents that have been waiting to be matched.

- Pray for our baby's birth parents. Pray for a sense of peace and assurance. Thank the Lord they have chosen life for their baby.

- Pray for the Lord to lead us to the right situation.

- Pray for us as we wait. Pray for continued patience and faithfulness.

Thank you very much for your words of encouragement!

Day 210 - We have the home study!

We have the home study in hand! It arrived from our consultant on Friday, and we're thrilled! We are applying to adoption agencies this week - we are so thankful this day has come! Matt and I created a plan tonight for getting everything ready this week. Now that we have the home study, we don't want to waste any time!

We'll get copies made of the document tomorrow, then get them ready to mail. We are applying to five adoption agencies across the country. Once the agencies receive our application, they have to approve us as potential clients. Typically (and I use that word lightly), that approval takes no more than 30 days.

We are entering into the next step of our adoption journey. Thank you for praying continually for us - we are very blessed!

Day 198 - Home Study Update, Part 2

Thanks for your prayers! Matt was able to talk with our social worker this morning. Our social worker picked up the corrected document this afternoon and should have things updated tomorrow or Thursday. From there, he will mail the copies of the home study to our Adoption Consultant in Atlanta. Our next step is to apply to agencies! Again, thank you for being so faithful to pray for us!

On a different note, today is my Nanny's birthday! She would have been 100 years old! I have such fond memories of her - from fixing me cheese grits to scratching my back with her always painted fingernails to riding around in her HUGE tank of a car. She was such a lovely lady!

Day 197 - Home Study Update

This has been our prayer as of late:

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
-John Waller, "While I'm Waiting"

I think this song should be the theme of adoption. Adoption is full of waiting. And we haven't even gotten to the point where we are waiting on a birth mother to choose us.

I'm hopeful because we've seen a draft of our home study (all 19 pages of it)! Our social worker dropped it off on Saturday, and we read through it and made corrections on Sunday afternoon (we had to dry out after that thrilling AU victory!).

It's painful because we're waiting to hear back from our social worker on when we can get the corrected copy back to him. Each day is precious to us. There were some problems outside of our control in getting the actual copy to us, and we were a little frustrated.

However, I'm hopeful he'll return our call very soon.

But patiently, we will wait.

Day 172 - Frustrated, but still full of Faith

We've encountered a minor setback. Our home study document was lost. The server went down, and the entire document was lost last week. Our social worker has been working this week to retype everything. Was I frustrated? Yep. Did I have a pity party for us? A little one. Did I get angry? Yep. Have I lost faith? No way. As I've had time to process everything, it got me even more excited. As I talked with my dear friend, C, last night, I was reminded this happened for a reason. I know the Lord will choose the perfect baby for us. We may not know why that server crashed until we hold our child in our arms. I stumbled across an adoption blog today, and it discussed Habakkuk 2:3 - For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

The blog actually had this translation: Habakkuk 2:3 - But these things I plan won't happen right away, slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient, for it will surely take place. It will not be late by one single day.

Wow - that version spoke right to me when I needed it the most. I was reminded that every delay is guided by Him. We have to have faith that our desire to be parents will be fulfilled at the perfect time. It will not be late by one single day.

Day 163 - Cleared!

Praise the Lord - we got our last police clearance last week! Matt had a feeling it would come last week, and it did! This clearance was by the State Police - they had to run our arrest records. I feel like our life histories have been researched and approved by every law enforcement agency in the country! The agency who is doing our home study is now compiling the final report. The main office is in Birmingham, and our social worker will be there later on this week. He is supposed to give us another update once he gets back. His supervisor has to sign off on the final report. After that, we'll be able to submit our applications to adoption agencies!

On a different note, Matt and I have decided we want to read through the Bible together. We are reading two chapters together each day and discussing what we read. We'll read one book in the Old Testament, then one in the New Testament. I'm so thankful for a husband who encourages me to be in the Word!

We've also been doing a series in Sunday School based on the movie, Fireproof. The homework has led to great discussions between us and has strengthened our marriage. We came across this verse and have been moved by how it truly speaks to us.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139: 23-24

While sometimes I feel like we're on an island by ourselves, I'm comforted by the fact the Lord knows our inner thoughts. He knows our frustrations, He knows our joys, He knows our offensive ways, but He also knows our hearts. We cling to the promise that He will lead and guide us. We are on a journey guided by Him.

We continue to be blessed by your prayers and support - thank you! We're excited to be getting closer and closer to applying to adoption agencies!