Lots of homework!

Before we begin our actual home study, we have to go through some training. We have four books to read and answer questions on, and we have several powerpoint sessions to study. It would seem crazy at first, but when you read the first chapter of The Connected Child, by Karyn Purvis, you suddenly become grateful for all the training! We don't have to completely finish the training before the home study begins, but we do have to have completed some of it.

Here's what we're going to be reading over the next several weeks:

- The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, by Karyn Purvis
- In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories, by Rita J. Simon
- Raising Adopted Children, Revised Edition: Practical Reassuring Advice for Every Adoptive Parent, by Lois Ruskai Melina
- Talking with Young Children about Adoption, by Mary Watkins

Great news!

We've reached our home study goal! We did not expect to have reached it this soon, and we are so humbled and overwhelmed by the generosity of so many.

For our home study, we first have to complete a ream of paperwork, and then get physicals, fingerprints, and background checks.  Then Bethany will make several visits to our home over the span of about six weeks.  We expect to have this process completed by February.  Following the completion of the home study, our next fee of $3000 will become due.  Payment of that fee will activate our profile for expectant birth mothers to see.  Then we will raise the placement fee we await for a match.

Praise God for His amazing ways!

Appointment

Our appointment with our adoption counselor went very well. We received lots of paperwork to complete and instructions on the next few steps we have to take:

--get physicals

--get fingerprinted

--complete a criminal record check at the police department

Did I mention we have lots of paperwork???

Can't wait!

Amazon link "how-to"

Approved!

Our application for adoption is officially accepted and we will hear from the social worker within a week to start working on the home study. Praise God!

FOR SALE

My mom and grandfather bought this instrument for me when I studied trombone in college. It's a Bach Stradivarius 36B open wrap. Slide works beautifully. Finish is perfect. One tiny dent in an obscure place, but no other blemishes.

It was a little hard to consider selling at first, but it has more adoption value than sentimental value. I'm looking for a buyer.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

No Such Thing As an Adopted Child

From Russell Moore:

I’m as convinced as ever that adoption, into a family or into the Family of God, is “real.” There is no such thing in God’s economy as an “adopted child,” only a child who was adopted into the family. “Adopted” defines how you came into the household, but it doesn’t define you as some other sort of family member. In the Book of Romans, Paul defines all Christians, both Jew and Gentile, as having received a common “spirit of adoption” (Rom. 8:15; 9:4).

Beautiful!

A Change of Heart

When we first began talking about pursuing adoption earlier this year, one thing I did not look forward to was fundraising. I recall speaking to a friend who has adopted twice and telling him how much I dreaded raising money. He told me that once it's your child you're raising money for, you don't mind it so much. At the time I thought, "That may have been true for you, but I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with this." As Lara and I began talking seriously about applying, I dreaded the fundraising even more. The only thing that compelled me to carry on was the fact that I knew God was calling us to this.

Now that we're officially "in the game," everything has changed. Thus far, I have not dreaded one minute of the process. It has been more like an exciting adventure rather than a necessary evil. My friend was right; when it is your child, every thing is different. This makes me think of Romans 8:29: "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" God did not flinch at the high cost of adopting us into His family. I hope my future daughter (or son) will understand one day that God paid a much greater price for her than I could ever pay, and I hope she treasures Him because of it.

See our puzzle's progress

We are 36% of the way to our home study goal! See our puzzle's progress in the photo below!

We are also 28 DAYS away from the date night prize drawing: $50 Cheddars gift certificate, two movie tickets, and a babysitter for the evening. Enter by being a part of our adoption puzzle.

When you "purchase" a puzzle piece for $10, your name will be written on the back of each piece you purchase. When the puzzle is complete, we will frame it and hang it in our child's bedroom. You will forever be a piece of the puzzle that brought our child home.

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