Update 10.05.11

I promised myself, at the beginning of this adventure, to be as honest as possible on the Blog.
So for the record, I think we have turned a corner:
I called our Case Worker 3 times yesterday about something pretty neat, nerve wrecking, exciting, heart breaking, frustrating, exhilarating... and a host of other emotions and my sweet Case Worker answered ALL 3 times!!!

She was very understanding and calming.  I've decided that whatever happened in the past is staying in the past.  She's my Case Worker & we're on the same team!  ☺

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
      Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you and help you.
      I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
                - Isaiah 41:10

Adoption Workshop #4 & updates

I forgot to blog about Adoption Workshop #4.
Sorry!
I can't even remember what it was about... see how informative those things are?!?!

We have one last workshop to make up, because we missed our last one due to going on Vacation.
And we have homework to get caught up on... because we have to turn it all in when we attend the last workshop.

No biggie.  It'll all get done in time!

I wanted to let ya'll know that our new social worker called me.  She told me I was given the wrong phone #.  She hadn't received any of my phone calls (why didn't the other social worker whose # I called pass along my messages?) She didn't mention anything about the emails I sent her even tho I have her correct email address...  But regardless, things are supposedly moving along "quite nicely" now.
We're supposed to get our first Home Study date "any day now" (as of 1.5 weeks ago).  :)
Can you sense my sarcasm?

A girl can be patient for so long... and then, she starts turning into momma bear...
And this momma is almost at that breaking point!

Adoption Workshop #3

We had our 3rd Adoption Workshop yesterday.
The first 3 hours was on "Siblings"...  and the importance of keeping siblings together.
It brought awareness to those of us who may be able to bring in more than 1 child, but who are greedy w/ our time/resources to only take 1 child in.  It was incredibly informative.  I think I'll take in an additional 5 children!  :D
The second 3 hours was on Discipline vs. Punishment.  It made for some good giggles to say the least... some people sure are interesting!


We have 1 {7 hour session} left and 1 {3 hour session} to end the workshops.

We still haven't received our Home Study dates.  We cannot move onto the next step without our 3 completed Home Studies.  It's becoming a little frustrating.
In addition, I put in a phone call to DHS to change our Adoption Social Worker because she never returns my phone calls or emails.  NEVER.  I have no clue what's going on...
Also, this past Tuesday we redid our Fingerprints.  It'll be about 6 weeks before we find out if they're "acceptable".

If you're wonderin' how you can pray for us...

• for a good conversation from DHS to give us factual, precise information with what's going on & what dates we're looking at for the next Adoption Party.
• for some decisions we're making regarding our home & the addition of a 4th child
• for our finances 

How can we pray for you?


A big Thank YOU to the Morrows for babysitting our 3 babies for us yesterday while we attended the workshop!  You guys are such a blessing!

Fingerprints Rejected...

And the trials continue...

Both sets of our fingerprints were rejected.

Which means we have to go have them redone.

It takes 6 weeks to process them before we can find out

if the next set is accepted or not.

All the obstacles we're going through are beginning to make for good laughs!
Someone's trying to trip us up, but we're keeping our happy faces on!!!


Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”


Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 

Adoption Workshop #2

We attended an Adoption Workshop again today.
It was hard for me to sit through.
The first 3 hours of Workshop topics were on all the different forms of child abuse
that children under DHS custody experience.
I almost threw up several times.
Our son may experience abuse himself.
It made me mad, to say the least.

The second 3 hours were on loss and grief.

It was a hard Workshop day.

4 Workshops left...

A special "Thank YOU" to the Leinens for watching our daughters for 8 hours.
Love you guys!

Adoption Workshop #1

We attended our first Adoption Workshop today.
Well, technically it was Workshops #1 & #2.
It was 7 hours long.
We have 5 Saturdays left.
It wasn't fun.
But it wasn't terrible.
There were interesting people there...
People that I don't think should be taking children into their home.
I know that sounds judgmental... I guess you just had to be there.

There were also some genuinely precious people there.

Today was mainly about the Foster program.
Most of the people there were there to Foster kids.

I wish they had separate Workshops for families that are only interested in Adopting.  But they don't.

Like I said, it wasn't terrible.
At least not for me.
Matt had a massive toothache.
He's so AMAZING for still wanting to go w/ me even though his mouth was throbbing the entire time we were there!!!
Our friend Sid Johnson met us at his new dentist office immediately afterwards and performed an emergency root canal.  :(
He's feeling MUCH better now!

And so am I because...

We are 1 week closer to our Adoption!
Thank YOU Jesus!!!

A special "Thank You" to the Northams for watching our daughters for 10 straight hours!
Love you guys!

Delays...frustration

I am non-confrontational.
I am super patient.
I have waited for WEEKS for our Home Study dates.
I finally called last week.

I was told our case worker was on medical leave.  Never mind that they never called to notify me of this.  I was told I would have a new case worker.  Ok, no problem!  I called the new #, left my info & waited.  She finally called me back yesterday.

I was told our paper work had been sent to the wrong "County".  We are back to square one.
We have to play the waiting game all over again.  The Home Study company has 90 days to do our 3 Home Studies.  They will more than likely take all 90 days.  Which means we will not meet our October deadline.  Which means we will not get our little man in October.  Which means I'm dealing with a HUGE amount of emotions.

October Adoption Party was the day we were shooting for with our other case worker.  The next available "Adoption Party" (scroll down a few posts if you don't know what that is) isn't until January.

I'm ok with this on the surface.  But deep down, I really want to hit somebody VERY hard!  I am TIRED of waiting!  I have waited half my life for this...quite literally.  It took my precious husband our entire marriage to become ok w/ adoption.  If I'm completely honest with everyone reading this - I would really like to throw a toddler tantrum right in the middle of own living room right now.

I know God is in control.  I know He has the best in store for my family.  I know that NOTHING enters our lives that hasn't first been gently sifted through His loving hands.  I KNOW!!!  But knowing doesn't take away the searing pain.  It doesn't comfort the little boy I long to protect.
It doesn't keep him safe at night & fill his belly during the day!

Just so you know, I'm totally checking out for awhile...