Adoption process

Isn't that a pretty rose? It is from my garden. I'm not ready for summer to be over and I imagine that I might have one last flush of roses before the winter really sets in. We have been having some windy weather lately and I guess it is pushing out the heat and moving in the cool. Last year at this time Rodolfo's mom and grandmother were here. I remember our evenings in the "green room", chatting quietly so not as to wake Georgia and drinking tea. We reminisced about days gone by, laughed about all sorts of funny things and fretted over Rodolfo's job. It was nice having them here.

Lately we have been busy applying for our adoption. We are going to go through Deaconess Hospital. Lengthy is the perfect word for the process. First you apply to the agency. Once approved you begin a 6 week home study. In February we will attend a 11.5 hour training class that teaches us about adoption and prepares us for the event. We must then submit a "life book", like a scrapbook, that gives a glimpse of our family. People put in wedding pictures, travel pictures, graduation pictures and family photos. I'm going to create mine on blurb.com. Once all this happens, then our profile is posted online and in the agency office for interested birth mothers to peruse. Once selected by a birthmother, depending how open she wants the adoption to be, we will meet with her so that she can make sure we are the type of people she feels comfortable adopting her child to. If she approves of us, then we wait for the baby to arrive. Many times the adoptive family gets to be present at the hospital when the baby is born. After the necessary stay, we can then take the baby home from the hospital. There is a trial period where the birthmother still has a chance to change her mind. I think it is about 2 weeks. If no changes happen, then the baby will legally be ours. At least that is how I understand it. We prayed with our pastor yesterday about this entire process and I left feeling very good and a little humbled. It is really remarkable to watch God work and to be a part of His greater plan. A year ago I was planning when I would have my next child. Now I realize how little control I have. I also realize more profoundly than ever how each child is a blessing. We pray for this little one, this blessing, that God will lead us to him/her and that he/she will have a safe and healthy journey to our home.