Foster kiddos

So there is a little girl in foster care that is pulling on my heart strings. She is an adorable three year old with some developmental delays. I saw her picture about a week ago and I can't stop thinking about her. I finally told Joe and showed him her picture. Of course, being the big softie that he is, he would love to adopt her and make our family hers. :)

What do we need to do? Not sure, so we call Tandie (this is the call that we found out we have another new CW). She is super helpful and gets us the information. In order to adopt out of the state, we would need to take 10 weeks worth of classes, no problem, then apply and see if the state feels we are an appropriate match, ok we can do that, then if we are chosen, she would come home with us and we would start the adoption process. First we would be in a waiting period to make sure she adjusts and we are a match. (Apparently, you can return a child like a pair of jeans??-not cool). Anyway, if the state feels we are a match and she adjusts well, then we can proceed to adopt her.The finalization takes roughly 6-8 months. After that we would be able to go back into the match book and wait for a match.

Or, we can wait until we are matched with our newborn, finalize the adoption and after the baby is 9 months old we can pursue adopting an "older child".

WHAT A CROCK! There are so many children waiting for homes, for forever families, but all the state seems to care about is making you jump through hoops. I am dumbfounded, flabbergasted, irritated beyond words. Dang it, we are a great family, we have the room, the resources, the hearts for children...but the state would rather these kids stay in the system.

After prayerfully considering our options, we have decided that we are not going to pursue the foster adoption situation. Not right now anyway.

A Year

We started our adoption journey in November of 2011, well, we started making plans anyway. We started with research and all that jazz, presented the idea to the kids...we didn't find our agency and official begin the process until the first check was written--December 15, 2011. I thought for sure the process would be quick and relatively simple. I mean, we are a pretty awesome family, we have lots to offer, love, compassion, fun, faith, laughter, adventure.....I was determined that as soon as we went into the match book, we would be matched. I rushed through everything, the classes, the home study, I stayed über busy. AS the clock ticked closer to our letter being put into the match book, and receiving our licensing from the state, my heart began to race and my excitement peaked. I barely hesitated buying little things for the baby. At first I tried to take it easy and just wait, for crying out loud, we didn't know if we would have a boy or a girl and I do NOT want to dress a baby in the wrong gender clothing, but waiting took too long. So, I went gender neutral, we picked up a swing, a play pen, a crib, a car seat, a few basics, cloth diapers, some bottles. Knowing there wasn't much more to buy, we waited and waited and well, we are still waiting.

Let me tell you, the wait is the hardest part of this process. At first, I wouldn't leave a room without attaching my phone to my body, I couldn't bare the idea of missing "the call", however, as time is passing, I am starting to inch further and further away from my phone. I don't jump and hold my breath when it rings, I don't dive across counters trying to answer it before voice mail picks up. Don't get me wrong, I am still crazy excited and can hardly wait until our baby comes home, but I'm just not looking at the situation with as rose colored lenses as I did in the beginning. 

Maybe the glisten has dimmed a little due to the fact that we are now on our THIRD caseworker. First we had Summer, but for whatever reason she was asked to step in and help with the pregnancy department and her caseload was too big. So we were traded off to Tandie. We met her once, and saw her int he office the one time we had a match meeting. Then, we call her to ask about a child in the foster system (another post) and she informs us that she has been promoted and we will now be working with Renee. We were assigned to her on December 17-wow, almost a year to the day from that first check. : / It doesn't make you feel real good to be shuffled around. I have definitely questioned whether or not we have been traded because we are unlikable or because they feel we are unmatchable.

Hmmmm, anyway, it's been a long year, but we are not giving up. God works in crazy ways and always provides...so in my heart of hearts, I know He will provide here too.