A year in review

Originally Posted 070808: When we started this process we thought that the decision to adopt was the difficult part. We just made one of the biggest decisions of our life now let's just go get out and get one, right? There is just a big list somewhere of kids that are waiting for a home, right?

The great world of adoption is a complicated and sometimes very confusing culture that has many options. Each comes with it's own set of issues, demands, and challenges. But in God's perfect plan and in His timing, the end result is loving parents welcoming a beautiful child into their world to take care of forever.

Today: We look back over the last 5 months, all that we have completed and take a deep, deep breath. We have now completed every requirement pertaining to our Home Study, our agency has even sent us our Hague approval letter, we are now waiting for our social worker to return from vacation to sign off. It will then be filed with the juvenile courts here in AZ.

Our fingerprints have been taken by Homeland Security and the process for USCIS clearance has begun. We are being told that both will take 60-90days respectively. So let the wait begin.

Once these last forms are received we will be able to compile our dossier and send it off to China!

All that once seemed so overwhelming, is now completed. Piles of paperwork and daunting time frames are now just distant memories. Just another great reminder of how time in our lives flows by so quickly.

We have yet to write via our blog, but we have also decided to proceed with a concurrent adoption here in the states...yes you read it right...number 2 (or hopefully number 1). We have been contacted by our local agency and have an appointment set for Jan. 16. We are super excited!!!

This process will be so much easier since our Home Study is already completed. We will have to attend two classes, write a letter to the birth mother and basically just wait (:

We will be eligible late February or early March. A friend of mine said..."Just think--your baby could already be in his/her birth moms tummy right now!" WOW that is crazy to think about.

Please pray for us. All the birth mothers that will be posed with the most difficult decision in their lives and all the orphans or soon to be orphans in this world.

2009 will be a great year!