Why Adoption? Why China?

Robert and I knew we planned to adopt for about a year before we told anyone, including close family.  We had talked a little about it to a few people, mostly to get answers to questions, but once we knew that we would adopt we kept it to ourselves.  This gave me a lot of time to think, to read blogs of friends adopting as well as blogs of people I have never met, and time to research.  I knew that people would ask why.  Several people have asked why China and even why adoption.  I am not at all offended by these questions, and even though I knew people would ask I don't ever feel like I satisfy their curiosity with my answers.

Why China?  After much prayer and discussion, we chose China just because it felt right.  I really don't have a better reason than that.

Why not adopt from here?  Again, China just feels right.  While there are plenty of children in our country that need a home, there are orphans all over the world.  None are better than others and we feel led to go to China.

Why Adoption?  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

Now I'm not saying this verse means everyone should adopt.  We feel led to adopt, while others may foster, and others give support by simply praying for families adopting and encouraging them.

I know we will still hear these questions and that is okay, I just may not have the best answers.  I love talking to anyone about this journey we are on, it is the same excitement I felt while waiting to meet my biological children!

 

Survival Bracelet Fundraiser

We have a new fundraiser!  Tanner (my 11 year old son) is making survival bracelets and selling them for $4 each.  All of the money raised goes into our adoption fund.  You may choose one or two color bracelets and we can get most colors.  If you would like to place an order, just message me the wrist size and color choice.  Most bracelets can be made within a day if we have the colors you want in stock.  These make great stocking stuffers!

 

 

Orientation Interview

Today we had our orientation interview.  This interview was a phone call from our social worker that lasted an hour.  Our social worker explained how the process would go and the time frame for each step of the adoption.  She had a list of questions to ask us and answered any questions we had.  Robert and I have a couple of things to be working on, but we have already completed most of the paperwork that is needed and we are currently just waiting on the fingerprints and the homestudy.  The fingerprint clearance can take up to three months but we are praying it will come back sooner.  The homestudy will consist of three visits at the agency and a final home tour and should be complete in about two months.  I'm excited that we are finally starting the homestudy and can't wait to complete it so we will be a little closer.  I will be posting some fundraisers that we are working on very soon.

Necklace Fundraiser

"Hope"  necklace

We are selling these necklaces for $20 each.  These are made locally by my sister.

  http://www.facebook.com/#!/OliveTreeCreations?fref=ts

        Ribbon color choices are light pink, light green, blue, orange, black fuchsia, chocolate and lilac.

 

A little update

We got a call from our social worker last Monday, 10/8.  She basically just wanted to introduce herself and tell us what needed to be done before we can start the home study.  We had a ton of forms to complete so we got started on those immediately.  We also received our fingerprint cards in the mail Friday 10/5, so we went to the Trussville Police Department and had our prints taken.  Some of the forms needed to be notarized so we were going to take the forms to the agency along with the fingerprint cards just to be sure everything was completed correctly but the agency was closed for two days due to a retreat and our social worker had to leave early one day so we just got everything to the agency today.  Next we will schedule an appointment for our orientation interview which is the first part of the home study.  Please keep us in your prayers as we have a long road ahead of us!   

First emails received

Yesterday we received several emails from our agency.  We received a welcome letter as well as the CAM (China Adoption Manual) and several attachments that explain how everything works.  The CAM is about 100 pages so we have alot of information to review.  We are currently just waiting to hear from the social worker assigned to us so we can begin the home study.  I am anxious to be further along in the process so this will feel more like a reality but I am very happy to be where we are.