Home Study

Today we had our first visit for the Home Study. Everything went well. We had just enough paperwork filled out and ready to hand over to the social worker. There was so much that I actually got confused and did not know what paperwork went with what agency. When a couple adopts Internationally there must be two agencies. One in the United States and one in the Country of the child. It can get confusing.

The Social worker toured the house to make sure there was a room for the child and check for smoke detectors, gated fence and other requirements needed. I was a little nervous because at the moment our Master Bathroom is being remodeled. She said that it was ok. I also described some of the other changes that are going to be made to the house. All was ok as long as they are complete before the child arrives. That means I have about 2-3 years to the get the house the way I want it. Ha!Ha!

We have scheduled our second Home visit and have many things to do between now and then. Paperwork to finish, passports to get, fingerprints etc... Pray that we get all of this accomplished.

Keep on praying!!!

Orientation Call

We had our Orientation with the Agency. More paperwork is on its way. Yeah!! We were introduced to the young lady that will walk us thru the adoption process. Once the Home study and the paperwork on the American side are received by the agency it should take approximately 12-18 weeks to complete the adoption. There are many steps that need to be taken in order for everything to run smoothly. For now we will focus on the Home Study and completing the forms that are stacking up on the table. According to the adoption agency we have already started off on a quick pace because of the Home Study already in process. That is exciting to hear!!

Step #1 accomplished

Ok, yesterday I tried to blog the update from our visit with the case worker. The system was down and I could not so you find out today.

The visit was exciting and educational. We learned that there is a lot of paperwork involved with the adoption process. We left there with a list of several items to bring to the second meeting and of course a stack of paperwork that needs to be filled out. We did schedule the first appointment needed for the Home Study. The Home Study process should take approximately 6-8 weeks. Our prayer is that it is much quicker.

We did learn that it is very difficult to adopt twins from China. There are several reasons why and I will not get into them at this time. However, there is always the possibility. We will continue to pray that the Lord's Will be done. Twins or not, we just want what He desires for us and our child/children.

Our next step is the Orientation with the agency. It is a conference call that is today.

Keep us in your prayers!!

Until Forever

Forever She'll Stay

This morning in China a mother cries
She’ll never forget her daughter’s eyes
Her heart is broken and filled with pain
The tears run down like the falling rain.
She has no choice but to leave her there
The cost of keeping is too much to bear
She hopes her daughter will one day know
True love can be found in letting her go.

This morning in China a baby cries
Hungry and scared as tears fill her eyes
Her mother has left her in this public place
Another lost daughter of the Chinese race.
Someone passing by has heard her soft moan
She’s soon quickly taken to a foster home
It’s here she’ll reside in the care of another
Until she’s adopted by a brand new mother.

That very same moment, in the U.S.A.
A Husband and Wife cry as they start to pray
Their heart is heavy but filled with much love
Each pray for a daughter they think the world of.
“Dear Jesus I ask that your arms would be
Wrapped tightly around the one picked for me
Guard her in China ‘till we make our way
And then in our arms forever she’ll stay.”