We're Certifiable, um, er, Certified!!

Hallelujah! 

Our ten-week GPS class concluded last night!!  As we have told several people, now the waiting begins.  Followed by more waiting.  And then some more, well, you get the picture.

We have filled-out all kinds of paperwork and done all kinds of thought-provoking exercises.  We're glad to have done every bit of it since it has really had a positive effect on our outlook and pre-conceived notions.

The second home visit of our home-study is this coming Monday night.  Katey, our social worker, will be meeting with us individually to talk about what we've learned and what we expect.  She will also take a tour of the house to get a feel for the layout and to look for any issues we need to address.

For example, we had to find a way to lock-away Mike's guns so they could not be messed with by the kiddos.  We also had to make sure we had the correct fire extinguisher(s) and they were in the appropriate locations(s). 

Mike also tested the fire alarm.  THAT was fun considering (1) there was no test button because (2) it is part of the home security system that (3) is monitored and will send the fire department if it goes off.

Never fear, he called the monitoring company to let them know he was about to set it off.  He then lit a paper towel on fire, blew it out to smoke it up and held it under the ceiling-mounted sensor.  It worked.  Oh boy, did it work.  He put out so much smoke it went off twice, and the smoke (and smell) lingered for quite awhile.

Ah, good times!

Hopefully we have taken everything into consideration that we need to prior to Monday but we'll find out for sure then.

We know the most diificult part is ahead of us, waiting, and neither of us is a patient person.  Right now we're wondering how long it will take for our fingerprint check to be completed.  We have heard horror stories about it taking months to be done and we can not adopt until they are.

Keep praying for us.  We covet all your support, love and prayers.

A Mea Culpa

We have not been as active in blogging as we wanted to.

Although we wanted to blog at least weekly, you will note there are some gaps in the entries where we don't have anything to say. Well, I'm here to tell you, there just ain't enough time in the day!

Kerri has just finished the soccer season and, as I write this, is in Washington D.C. with the eighth-grade class from school on a three day, five night trip. (I am accepting offers for people to provide me dinner during this time of separation!) She is also involved in the Montgomery Chorale and they are doing a series of concerts over the next month or so.

As an example, here is her schedule for just this past weekend (April 16 thru April April 18):

Friday
Host Soccer Tournament at middle school 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Saturday
More Soccer Tournament (10 hours)

Sunday
Teach Sunday School
Chorale Concert at 3:00 (west side of town)
Chorale Concert at 6:00 (east side of town)

We actually do have two posts we have not finished that will appear when we have the time. Make sure you look over the entire blog each time you visit since they will appear in the list under the date we started them.

We love you all and are grateful for family and friends that care about this process and care to know how it is progressing.

Thanks!

Panel Night

Well, this Monday night was week 9 of 10 in our GPS class. We are both glad to see this process coming to a close and look forward to being able to stay home on Monday nights.

This week was Panel Night where people from various aspects of the adoption process sat at a head table and took questions. Participants in the class were encouraged to bring with them family members and relatives who might be impacted by an adoption so they could participate as well.

The panel consisted of:
- An 18-yr-old adopted daughter of one of our class leaders.
- 2 representatives of APAC, the organization sponsoring the GPS class.
- A couple who already had one child who adopted one who was later diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder (and had a ROUGH time).
- A couple who had three children of their own who have adopted, so far, six more.
- Two lawyers that specialize in adoptions (they will be ours when the time comes).

It was good to hear some of the stories of what happens when your children come home after an adoption, some of the problems and some of the victories. Honestly it was about what I had expected but there was some things we talked about that I had not thought about.

The end result of the night, for Mike, was a real peace about what we're doing and a confirmation that this is what we want to do. There is so much that can go wrong. There is so much that is going to change. And right now, as you read this you're shaking your head saying "You don't know the half of it!"

You're right. But neither did you before you had kids. One of the panelists said something that has really stuck with me. She said there is no difference between adopting a child and bringing one home from the hospital - unless you make it different. They need the same love, attention and care. The same security and consistency. They need the same family and home that you have, and had.

When we talk to each other about why we are doing this, it really makes the desire even stronger that we want to do it not only to have a family, but to be able to provide a home for someone who needs it.

We have been blessed immeasurably by God and when we bought our home, we made a commitment to look for ways to honor God with what He had provided. Through they years we have hosted missionaries, groups of missionaries and a our Thai "son", Beaver. We have never felt put out. We have never regretted a single moment.

We know things will be different. We know things will be tough. We know there will be times we look at each other and say "Why did we do this?" But the bottom line is, again, it's no different than it would be if we'd had our own.

We already love our kids. We can't wait for them to come home.

Home Study and Timetable

Greetings!

We just had our first home study! We feel really good about it - our worker is a wonderful woman who is going to check out our blog, so I can't gush too much - she'll think we're kissing up! Thanks, Katey!

She asked us questions about our already turned-in paperwork to clarify some things and to get to know us better. We will have another visit in the beginning of May.

Catching up...

Well, it's been two weeks since we last updated our progress and a lot has happened.

The weekly classes are going well but this week's felt long and difficult. It was a good topic ("Gains and Losses - Preparing a Child for the move from Foster Care") but there was so much information we had to cover that it was "Go, Go, Go, Go, Go" and two hours in I was ready for it to be over.

We (I) have started watching a new television show called "Parenthood" and let me tell you: If you ever thought about having kids, you need to watch this show. If it doesn't scare you off then maybe you will make it after all. It's a great show (minor language issues and adult situations) and, as Kerri said, it's really nice to see them present a family that is strong together, committed to their marriage and family but also has to deal with difficult issues. Check it out.

Tonight is our first visit from our social worker, Katey, to start our homestudy. We have two of these visits. The first will be with both of us, together. The second (as yet unscheduled) will be talking to us individually. I guess they want to make sure Kerri hasn't coerced me into adopting.

We are both so excited about this whole process. We have started talking about things in terms of "once the kids are here..." and it adds a new dimension to it all.

After three weeks of back and forth with Rooms To Go, the kids bunk beds are finally completely here and installed. We are not going to buy any bed linens until the boys come so they can pick out their own. We hope it will give them a sense of ownership and a sense of home and permanency.

Keep praying for us and the boys - we (and they) need all we can get. Also, please pray for the foster family where they currently live. One thing we have learned through all this is how strong the attachments the foster family has to them can be and how difficult it can be for them to let go.