Application
Preliminary Application
Information Meeting
Formal Application-(we're almost done with this, I just have to send the signed papers in to the office, I'll probably have that done tomorrow.)
Assessment
Home Study
Family Web Profile
Placement
Referral
Placement
Post Placement
Supervisory Visits

Yes! We are officially waiting now! YAY! it's been almost three weeks! Here's a link to our bethany site... http://www.bethany.org/A55798/bethanyWWW.nsf/0/688A8A67D4CEC4B88525748200535416

Application
Preliminary Application
Information Meeting
Formal Application-(we're almost done with this, I just have to send the signed papers in to the office, I'll probably have that done tomorrow.)
Assessment
Home Study
Family Web Profile
Placement
Referral
Placement
Post Placement
Supervisory Visits

So, what exactly was I worried about??? And WHY exactly are people so bitter about homes study any way?

Ours went incredibly well. We go live on the Bethany site in three weeks. YAY!

Application
Preliminary Application
Information Meeting
Formal Application-(we're almost done with this, I just have to send the signed papers in to the office, I'll probably have that done tomorrow.)
Assessment
Home Study
Family Web Profile
Placement
Referral
Placement
Post Placement
Supervisory Visits

I'm reading Raising Adopted Children by Lois Ruskai Melina I just started last night and I am now on pg.16. This book in the first 16 pages surfaced all of my emotions and addressed fears and questions I've had for quite a while.

Things like:
1. Other people sometimes think that we got our kid the "Easy" way. Or that Adoption is the second best way to start a family.

2. It's completely normal for me to want to make a room for the baby long before we're even through the process. Nesting instincts happen to all mothers when they're ready to be mothers.

3. An adoptive mother can breastfeed her child. (That one was amazing to me! The thought that so natural a thing could occur in a child that you didn't give birth to...is astounding. Apparently pregnancy isn't the key factor in lactation! Who knew?)

4. It's ok for me to be scared and feel like things are never going to happen. They'll happen; "Just the way they're supposed to" as Ms. Melina states in her book, but in my own mind it's: "God has a design, He has a plan, He made this baby and knows who his birthparents are, He's already chosen who his lifeparents are."

The author encourages journaling, which of course I already thought to do, but now with her official stamp, I continue....

I wrote this late last night, and for those of you who know me, late night is not something I do. I am a mid day girl. My best hours are from 10 to 7 and anything after that is usually when I want to be at home doing something restorative, like surfing the net or reading, or watching tv on the couch with the dog and my husband. So, if it's not good, I'm sorry.


My arms ache to hold you; to feel your infant weight.
My heart burns to love you; for us love is to wait.
My soul longs to know you; to see your sweet little face.

For now I must wonder just how you'll come to me, will it be an organized journey? Or an emergency?

Until the day God's written plan becomes my family; Your mother waits to hold you, who ever you may be.

We went to our orientation meeting this evening, and it was very comforting and distressing all at the same time.

Things we thought about, things we didn't, but...all in all, a great meeting with tons of info on how Bethany works. When I've got my head wrapped around it all, I will post what I remember!

The first step seemed to take us the longest to do. We had the initial application for weeks even a couple months before we finally set up a fingerprint appointment we could go to, (It got cancelled once and it snowed once) and we had to write our personal statements of faith, which was kind of intimidating because it's weird to have people evaluate your faith based on a couple of questions.

Why did we, who aren't procrastinators, drag our feet in this initial step? I don't know; it just wasn't time yet. (That answer drove my mother crazy. She's really excited to be a grandma.)

Our inital application was sent to Bethany and our finger prints went to the FBI, and we were approved quickly. Only about a week and a half. I can only hope that everything else moves as quickly as long as we're keeping up our end of things.

I know it will take awhile to actually get a placement, but it's hard to not hope for something to happen quickly.

We have an Orientation Meeting next Friday (April 11) so, I'll probably have a better idea of the process then.

Hi!  Welcome to our Journal, we will soon be posting regularly!  We look forward to sharing with you!