1/27/10
We went to the annual Adoption Matching Reception in State College. It was about as overwhelming as it was last year. This year we were able to talk more with the social workers and get a little more detail about what the kids' issues are. We got a few profiles of possible kids to check into. It's hard not to get discouraged that it takes so long. The waiting period and the "not hearing anything" period is hard to endure.
12/31/09
Still nothing to report. Still waiting to hear information about some kids we're interested in.
11/18/09
There's nothing new to report. Still waiting and waiting and waiting. I need to write something in order to keep this blog open and active. This whole adoption is in God's hands and in His timing. So we continue to wait upon Him.
October 22, 2009
The SWAN(Statewide Adoption Network) that we're working through to get our daughter has a new service with Diakom Lutheran services. Diakom can get a little more detailed information on children up for adoption in PA. They can't give us a printed copy or as detailed info like our agent can get but they can give the info over the phone. So I was able to get a little bit more detailed info on two of the girls we're interested in. We're still interested in them and are still waiting for the detailed reports or at least to find out if we're even being considered for one of them. That's hard not knowing if we're even being considered. But it's all in God's timing and His timing is not mine. This process has been a wonderful lesson on patience. Some days I sort of have to remove myself mentally, so to speak, from the process -- not think about it for a few days because otherwise I start to drive myself nuts. I keep busy enough though with my boys, my daycare kids, the girls we "borrow" for a day, and my eBay duties with the school. I don't know how childless couples endure this waiting period without a child in their house! I guess they throw themselves into their jobs.
Oct. 10, 2009
No news yet. Still waiting to hear detailed info about the three girls. Trying hard not to get frustrated.
Sept. 28, 2009
We found one more girl we are interested in so we're waiting to hear info about her and the other two. It's a slow process.
Referrals
I'm so excited right now!!! I just got a manila envelope from our adoption agent filled with several referrals for kids who we are a potential match with. The first girl, Angelina, sounds really good. I flipped to the next referral and you'll never guess who it is ----- IVY!!!!!! Ivy is the girl who we fell in love with quite a while ago. This doesn't mean we will get matched with her but it's a step in the right direction to be a potential match with her. So I called my agent right away and left a message on her machine to pursue Angelina and Ivy. I told her I'd read through the rest of them and call back if anyone else interests us.
Referrals
I'm so excited right now!!! I just got a manila envelope from our adoption agent filled with several referrals for kids who we are a potential match with. The first girl, Angelina, sounds really good. I flipped to the next referral and you'll never guess who it is ----- IVY!!!!!! Ivy is the girl who we fell in love with quite a while ago. This doesn't mean we will get matched with her but it's a step in the right direction to be a potential match with her. So I called my agent right away and left a message on her machine to pursue Angelina and Ivy. I told her I'd read through the rest of them and call back if anyone else interests us.
Officially done
We got a letter today that our homestudy is complete and we are officially on the active waiting list. So let the search begin...
Home Visit Done
Today we had our home visit to complete the home-study. It went really well. It helped that we have met with our agent before at the training sessions. She had all our information already so it went quickly. She toured the house and just reviewed a few things about us. She talked with the boys a little bit asking what they liked to do for fun and how they felt about getting a sister. The boys showed her some of their artwork and stories they've written which she enjoyed. She really liked our property and the quiet country atmosphere of our neighborhood. The whole meeting and visit lasted an hour. She's going to type up our homestudy by next week. She talked with us about the next step. She explained that she will start looking for a child to match with us and we can be looking online, although she said most of the kids placed aren't on the website. She gave us a brief overview of what happens in the next stage and how she will work very closely with us even after we get a child placed with us. Once we are matched with a child, there will be interviews with the social worker and meetings with the foster parents. If we are selected to be the child's parents, there will be many visits with the child before the child would even be able to move in with us. So it sounds like it's going to be a long process yet.
