Well we got a call last night from our social worker that she finished our official home study early and wanted to move our last meeting with her up by about 2 weeks!! So we will sit down and read it all April 1 and make sure everything is accurate, then it will get sent to Greensboro for final approval then on to the state for our foster care license.
We did end up opening up our criteria some on our final paperwork. We don't know who God has in the works to complete our family but we DO know that He wont give us more than we can handle and has the perfect child all picked out for our family, who needs a loving,dedicated mommy, daddy and sissy.
So we sit down on the 1st and read read read then we wait wait wait...and start looking at children to be considered for, and we can also be presented with children in need of homes that meet our criteria that our agency has/get in (we had to fill out a several page form with our "numbers", they had to be one of three numbers: willingness to consider, able to parent, or unable to parent, we were very honest and real with our numbers and took Gods lead and will see where He takes it).
So keep praying!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
well....
We had our social worker meeting this evening. It went...well....we had everything we needed to, we were given another stack of paper to sign/read and some things they needed elaborated on (to help her write the official PPA).
She will be working on our official PPA next week (her spring break from school), then we will be meeting with her April 8 to review everything she wrote and approve its submission to Greensboro (main branch of our agency), from there it goes to the state to be approved as foster parents in NC (since we are adopting from the foster care system this is a requirement). ONCE it is complete/approved by our agency we start looking at children, and IF there is a child we like/get chosen for we can even meet them and start getting to know them, they just cant stay over night until we are officially licensed foster parents.
So as I said the meeting went "Well" but it was also a little discouraging. She was "real" with us which I appreciate and commend...basically she said the number of children in care that meet our age/gender criteria are slim from what shes heard/seen. They basically get almost no singleton children ages 0-5 and if they do the chances they are a girl are even less (like 1/2), (our written down ages right now are 3-9 girl) That is hard to hear especially since we already wrote down numbers above and below our ideal if we had to choose ages (which would probably have been 5-7 years)..so we are supposed to go back and discuss it and let her know if we want to broaden it. She said she is fine with leaving it at 3-9 girl but said that once we were up for renewal, if we had not been chosen, etc they would probably not continue on in renewing us. Also they get a lot of siblings. Would we love to help siblings, sure, most people would, BUT financially how would we afford sports, trips, and other things we want for our kids if there are three of them vs two!? We cant imagine.....so siblings are out unless a job increase comes in NOW or we figure out how to afford it otherwise!
While our social worker does not know everything and has realistic doubts to share with us, we KNOW that we SERVE an awesome, MIGHTY God who ALREADY KNOWS what child we will adopt, or IF we will adopt a child. There are children out there that needs homes, best case scenario no children we can parent will need a home in NC.....that's great, right!?
But a little discouraging to get THIS far into the process to hear this realness......So we are praying about expanding our ages/sibling abilities and will see what the Lord does.
So while it was a good meeting on paper it was a little bit of a discouraging meeting too.
Keep praying folks!
She will be working on our official PPA next week (her spring break from school), then we will be meeting with her April 8 to review everything she wrote and approve its submission to Greensboro (main branch of our agency), from there it goes to the state to be approved as foster parents in NC (since we are adopting from the foster care system this is a requirement). ONCE it is complete/approved by our agency we start looking at children, and IF there is a child we like/get chosen for we can even meet them and start getting to know them, they just cant stay over night until we are officially licensed foster parents.
So as I said the meeting went "Well" but it was also a little discouraging. She was "real" with us which I appreciate and commend...basically she said the number of children in care that meet our age/gender criteria are slim from what shes heard/seen. They basically get almost no singleton children ages 0-5 and if they do the chances they are a girl are even less (like 1/2), (our written down ages right now are 3-9 girl) That is hard to hear especially since we already wrote down numbers above and below our ideal if we had to choose ages (which would probably have been 5-7 years)..so we are supposed to go back and discuss it and let her know if we want to broaden it. She said she is fine with leaving it at 3-9 girl but said that once we were up for renewal, if we had not been chosen, etc they would probably not continue on in renewing us. Also they get a lot of siblings. Would we love to help siblings, sure, most people would, BUT financially how would we afford sports, trips, and other things we want for our kids if there are three of them vs two!? We cant imagine.....so siblings are out unless a job increase comes in NOW or we figure out how to afford it otherwise!
While our social worker does not know everything and has realistic doubts to share with us, we KNOW that we SERVE an awesome, MIGHTY God who ALREADY KNOWS what child we will adopt, or IF we will adopt a child. There are children out there that needs homes, best case scenario no children we can parent will need a home in NC.....that's great, right!?
But a little discouraging to get THIS far into the process to hear this realness......So we are praying about expanding our ages/sibling abilities and will see what the Lord does.
So while it was a good meeting on paper it was a little bit of a discouraging meeting too.
Keep praying folks!
Friday, March 1, 2013
One step closer!
We are one three steps closer!! We got our physicals and TB tests both approved, and our fire inspection done and approved! We were getting frustrated after several calls of finding out where we were supposed to even be calling to get our foster care fire inspection we finally got the right place (RALEIGH FIRE MARSHALS office in-case anyone in Raleigh needs that info). I gave the nice lady my information and she said we would hear from someone in 3-5 business days to schedule our inspection. A week went by and still no word, so I call back (after I relocated the correct number oops on not keeping it) and am told that I'm not in the system--WHAT!!-- So I explain how I had called, waited and needed it before March 6, for our next meeting with our social worker, she said she would put me in the system and print it out and hand deliver it to a supervisor to get someone to call me sooner rather than later. I hung up nervous it wouldn't get done, prayed it would and let it go, no call alllll week. Finally this morning Makenna and I were headed out the door (literally) and I noticed a missed call on my phone (I have the worlds worst cell reception inside my apartment in-case you have never tried to call me), I called the number right back and the inspector was literally in my neighborhood and wanted to pop over and do the inspection THEN! I had not prepared, was on my way out to work but said SURE! What possessed me to say sure I have no idea!! He came literally 3 minutes later, walked around the apartment checking windows/doors, smoke detectors, CD detector, fire extinguisher and filled out his little form...gave me a quick PASS instruction, talked to Makenna (ON HIS KNEES ON HER LEVEL SO SWEETLY I MUST ADD) about fire safety, etc and signed my little form....there was one touchy moment when he asked where my emergency numbers were posted and I said...uh..one sec...got a piece of paper and a marker, used my phone and got the non emergency police number, poison control and 911 written down and hung on wall with a push pin....he laughed and said PERFECT! We passed!! WOO HOO....
The physicals weren't easy either for a variety of reasons like timing, lack of a primary doc (OOPS), but I truly believe that God has his hand in this adoption and there is a little girl out there who needs us because God keeps working things out when we have no idea how its going to work!! For instance just today : I didn't have the money on me today for the unexpected last minute fire inspection and he didn't even ask me for a dime (maybe there is a bill coming which is more than okay but point being I had no cash on my TODAY to give the nice Deputy fire marshal)....I could go on and on on how God has been leading the way and providing for us through little and big things, but ill just say Wow.
We are getting excited about the nearing opportunity to start being considered for little girls!! We have our two meetings with our social worker for her fine tuning in her writing our homestudy, but I think WE are done now on our parts!!! PRAISE THE LORD!
Keep praying for our little girl wherever she is/whoever she is! We pray that she is safe, warm, healthy and happy with whoever she is with at this moment!
The physicals weren't easy either for a variety of reasons like timing, lack of a primary doc (OOPS), but I truly believe that God has his hand in this adoption and there is a little girl out there who needs us because God keeps working things out when we have no idea how its going to work!! For instance just today : I didn't have the money on me today for the unexpected last minute fire inspection and he didn't even ask me for a dime (maybe there is a bill coming which is more than okay but point being I had no cash on my TODAY to give the nice Deputy fire marshal)....I could go on and on on how God has been leading the way and providing for us through little and big things, but ill just say Wow.
We are getting excited about the nearing opportunity to start being considered for little girls!! We have our two meetings with our social worker for her fine tuning in her writing our homestudy, but I think WE are done now on our parts!!! PRAISE THE LORD!
Keep praying for our little girl wherever she is/whoever she is! We pray that she is safe, warm, healthy and happy with whoever she is with at this moment!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Phew!
YAY our in home visit went awesome last night. It was very informal and Makenna did well when they asked her some questions about adoption, what she wanted/thought of it, etc.....we were so proud of her. She enjoyed showing them her castle and new bed(s) for her and "sissy".
We are DONE with our hard parts and paperwork!! Now we just have get our physicals done, have a fire inspection done on the apartment, then we just meet with her March 6 to answer any questions she has after reading our written information about us (so she can start writing the official document about our family), then she writes the official pre placement assessment (home studys official term) and we meet with her to review it and make sure its accurate...then she submits it....AND WE GET TO START REVIEWING/being CONSIDERED for little girls who need us!!!!
So there's a light at the end of the tunnel friends!! We are so excited! We are praying hard that our little girl is safe, wanting a family and being well cared for until we can bring her home, whoever or where ever she is!!!
We celebrated 9 years of marriage today! God gave me the best Valentine ever!
We are DONE with our hard parts and paperwork!! Now we just have get our physicals done, have a fire inspection done on the apartment, then we just meet with her March 6 to answer any questions she has after reading our written information about us (so she can start writing the official document about our family), then she writes the official pre placement assessment (home studys official term) and we meet with her to review it and make sure its accurate...then she submits it....AND WE GET TO START REVIEWING/being CONSIDERED for little girls who need us!!!!
So there's a light at the end of the tunnel friends!! We are so excited! We are praying hard that our little girl is safe, wanting a family and being well cared for until we can bring her home, whoever or where ever she is!!!
We celebrated 9 years of marriage today! God gave me the best Valentine ever!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Were all moved in and settled! YAY! We could have never done it without friends and my mom--my mom is seriously amazing at unpacking and organizing! We were moved and unpacked in three days! Even all the pictures and curtains were up! We got the bunk beds all painted and they are up too! Makenna is loving them! We are just waiting on one more mattress! Thanks Mom and Dad D!
We have our first in home meeting for our homestudy this Wednesday afternoon, we are excited. We have all our paperwork done and are just waiting now....we shall see what the next step is. I believe we have to have the fire inspector come out, and have another home visit or two.....we did our CPR and first aid last weekend.
Life is finally slowing down a bit after classes and the move. Its a good thing I think Jan was the busiest month ever for our family between classes, birthdays, building issues, packing, etc!
Will keep you updated! Here's some pics of the move/bunkbeds up! Thanks for praying for our new little girl wherever she is/whoever she is!
We have our first in home meeting for our homestudy this Wednesday afternoon, we are excited. We have all our paperwork done and are just waiting now....we shall see what the next step is. I believe we have to have the fire inspector come out, and have another home visit or two.....we did our CPR and first aid last weekend.
Life is finally slowing down a bit after classes and the move. Its a good thing I think Jan was the busiest month ever for our family between classes, birthdays, building issues, packing, etc!
Will keep you updated! Here's some pics of the move/bunkbeds up! Thanks for praying for our new little girl wherever she is/whoever she is!
Anniversary Dinner with my Mom
Makennas new room (the bunk beds DONE!)
The new playroom
Helping Grandma and mommy/daddy paint her new bunk beds for her and "sissy"
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Today we attended out last MAPP class! We learned lots this month and met several families pursuing adoption through the foster care system. We feel better prepared to meet the needs of the child that enters our home.
Through no fault of our own we are having to move out of our apartment building. The good news is that we are able to move into a bigger apartment with an extra bedroom, bigger garage and more storage, on the ground floor. We are both excited and overwhelmed We move the week of the 4th, so if you have an hour or two after work and want to help the more the merrier, we are off work that whole week so if you are off during the day we would welcome the help then too! My mom called earlier today, and has graciously offered to fly in for the week to help us get organized and help us move/unpack too...which if you know my mom is awesome...she will have us all organized and ready for our home visits no problem!!
We are still unsure where or who our new child is. We still pray she is safe and feeling hope and love, we pray for her protection and her social worker/people involved in her case and life and that the Lord keeps her safe from more harm/neglect, etc.
While we are excited to be done with our MAPP classes, the reality is we still have a ways to go, we have more paperwork, more in home meetings, fire inspection of the apartment, and then the wait to be chosen/picked or start choosing children to be considered for......which could take a couple months or even longer..only God knows at this point. We are trying our best to get our paperwork completed timely and get our stuff in as soon as we get it. We are still targeting a little girl in the 4-8 year old age range, in North Carolina (while cross states is possible,its more unlikely, timely and costly but not 100% out of the question).
Thanks for your support and keep praying! We love you all!
Through no fault of our own we are having to move out of our apartment building. The good news is that we are able to move into a bigger apartment with an extra bedroom, bigger garage and more storage, on the ground floor. We are both excited and overwhelmed We move the week of the 4th, so if you have an hour or two after work and want to help the more the merrier, we are off work that whole week so if you are off during the day we would welcome the help then too! My mom called earlier today, and has graciously offered to fly in for the week to help us get organized and help us move/unpack too...which if you know my mom is awesome...she will have us all organized and ready for our home visits no problem!!
We are still unsure where or who our new child is. We still pray she is safe and feeling hope and love, we pray for her protection and her social worker/people involved in her case and life and that the Lord keeps her safe from more harm/neglect, etc.
While we are excited to be done with our MAPP classes, the reality is we still have a ways to go, we have more paperwork, more in home meetings, fire inspection of the apartment, and then the wait to be chosen/picked or start choosing children to be considered for......which could take a couple months or even longer..only God knows at this point. We are trying our best to get our paperwork completed timely and get our stuff in as soon as we get it. We are still targeting a little girl in the 4-8 year old age range, in North Carolina (while cross states is possible,its more unlikely, timely and costly but not 100% out of the question).
Thanks for your support and keep praying! We love you all!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
What a month...cant believe its almost over!!! MAPP classes are going well. We have Medication Administration classes tomorrow evening, CPR the 2nd, and one more normal class this coming Saturday and we are D.O.N.E. We have learned lots regarding behavior management, the system, etc. and are eager to be done and move along to the next steps in our adoption journey.
We are so grateful to our friends who have been helping with Makenna late into the evenings as well as all day on Saturdays!
We are probably moving into a bigger apartment in same complex early Feb, due to no fault of our own we are no longer able to live in our current building. We are unable to move prior to Feb 4 per the apartment management, which means no NY trip the first week of Feb now. Words cant express how frustrated we are with the entire situation and sad we wont be able to see family. We told Makenna this morning and she too was sad. I guess God has a plan bigger than we can see...I pray he enlightens us soon because we are feeling very beated down and trampled this past week or so.
Makenna is doing well and officially registered for kindergarten (where does the time go!)..she is thrilled to go to big girl school.
Will write more as I can!
We are so grateful to our friends who have been helping with Makenna late into the evenings as well as all day on Saturdays!
We are probably moving into a bigger apartment in same complex early Feb, due to no fault of our own we are no longer able to live in our current building. We are unable to move prior to Feb 4 per the apartment management, which means no NY trip the first week of Feb now. Words cant express how frustrated we are with the entire situation and sad we wont be able to see family. We told Makenna this morning and she too was sad. I guess God has a plan bigger than we can see...I pray he enlightens us soon because we are feeling very beated down and trampled this past week or so.
Makenna is doing well and officially registered for kindergarten (where does the time go!)..she is thrilled to go to big girl school.
Will write more as I can!
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