J Cooper Photography

First off…THANK YOU for all the wonderful comments, emails, and phone calls regarding our BIG NEWS!  We are so very excited about the journey that we are embarking upon.  God has been tugging at our hearts for awhile now we realize, and we feel so blessed that we can work towards this change for our family together.  While we were asking friend and relatives to write our reference letters this past week, I found an email Mr. P had sent out that said this…”Over the past month or two God has really shown us that we need to share the blessings we’ve been given and that we need to open our home to a child who can not help themselves.  It’s amazing how opportunities have opened up and other distractions have disappeared – looking back it feels like we’ve been getting set up all summer for this decision.”  Amazing how my guy who only wanted 2 girls has had such a change of heart…I LOVE that about him!  We have been working hard on our home study this past week, compiling information, forms, and writing, writing, writing.  Our home study is conducted by a local adoption agency (we are using Adoption & Beyond for all you KC folks) and helps us prepare every type of documentation you could ever dream of.  Here’s the list of what is required!

1. Birth certificates

2. Marriage certificate

3. Income Tax return (first page of latest Federal Income Tax 1040 Form)

4. W-2 Forms

5. Medical Insurance Verification

6. Family Photo / Home Photos

7. Driving Directions to Home

8. Reading Agreement

9. Home Safety Handbook

10. Grievance Policy

11. Home Study Application

12. Autobiographies

13. Criminal Check Waiver Agreement / Statement Form

14. Criminal Record Check

15. Child Abuse Central Registry Check

16. Confirmation of Employment

17. Personal Reference Forms

18. School Reference Form

19. Health Statements from Physician

20. Adoption Preference Form

21. Release of Information Form

22. Authorization Form

23. Identifying Documentation (photo copy of driver’s license and SS card)

24. Fee agreement

25. Home Study Fee

26. International Post Adoption Fee

Tired yet?  WE ARE!  I have hit the paperwork with guns blazing…doing my best to get everything filled out and turned in as quickly as possible.  I know the entire process is long…and the waiting will be the hardest…and working on our home study is something I can control (at least a little bit).  We should have the entire home study finished by mid October.  From there we will begin preparing our dossier (immigration papers).  Once all of that is complete we will WAIT (and wait and wait) for our referral of our beautiful BABY!  The wait time could be 6-8 months…it could be less.  We do not plan on specifying a sex for the baby…which means we will likely get a boy (there are more boys available right now in Ethiopia).  Once we accept our referral we will receive our court date…and once we pass court our baby will officially be ours and we can travel to meet him/her!!  We will be working through All God’s Children International.  And our baby will come from Hannah’s Hope Orphanage.  (Follow the link to see video footage and a slide show of images taken of the orphanage)  It is so amazing to be able to see images of the exact spot where we will meet our newest little one!  I have heard wonderful things about the women who work and pour their lives into the children in this home.  I can’t wait to make the journey to see it firsthand.

There have been so many people who have inspired me through their stories over the past few months.  But this video in particular really captured my heart.  I had been struggling in my heart for several weeks about adoption when I found this video on You Tube.  I could barely breathe.  It is beautiful.  Once I saw this video I knew that I couldn’t turn back.

Over the past few weeks I have emailed with Kristi and she has been a HUGE source of encouragement.  We are finding all sorts of connections locally and through the internet of other families who have already walked down this road.  At times I am thrilled beyond belief…and as the day wears on…I second guess myself and my ability to handle the roller coaster of adoption.  But in the end….I know God will take care of the details.  It is strange thinking that we have a family member on the other side of the world waiting for us.  I can’t wait to hold and hug our little one.  And in the meantime, there is SO much to do.  I have two little girls who will be sharing a room and a little guy who will move to his “big boy” bedroom.  And the paperwork. And the waiting…

We are thrilled to be on this journey as a family…thrilled to add one more special child to our already crazy and chaotic lives…thrilled that God has an ultimate plan…just thrilled!