Friday, July 23, 2010

Home Study

Did you hear that?
That's me exhaling because our home study is basically over! Last week Jason and I drove to Charleston for the 3 hour interview process then 2 days ago our sweet social worker drove here to conduct individual interviews of me and Jason and do a home safety check and meet our kiddos. For those of you who don't know, as I didn't just weeks ago, the home study actually consists of all these visits. I had already done research to know that to apply for any adoption grants you had to "have your first home study done." Then, when we applied and found out it requires four face-to-face visits with costs broken down over each visit, I thought only the first one was what was needed for grants. Couldn't have been more wrong!!! Those four visits (two of which can be done at one visit as we had this last week) comprise the whole of THE HOME STUDY. Of which, has to be formally written up by our social worker and four copies notarized for various places it has to be sent. If you're adding this up in your head, we have only had 3 visits, you are correct. The fourth visit will be when she gives us these notarized copies and fills us in on the post-placement visits. So weird that this part is done until we get our child home!

The time with our social worker was really good. She has been through this many times and is very helpful. I didn't realize it but went in to this thinking this was a "weeding out" process, they are trying to get rid of the weak ones! Yep, I am in the medical field! Once again, couldn't have been more wrong. She is an advocate for the child with no family. Like me, she wants to see these kids meet their forever families! She wants us to be ready, not scared. She wants to facilitate, not prevent. She's optimistic, not pessimistic. We talked about all the important stuff- we are now going to be a multi-racial family not to mention an adoptive family, wow. Jason and I had talked a lot about this, we are not naive. Yet, the more you talk it out, the more it sinks in, for real! She got to see our kids interact- they are the only thing "Beaver Cleaver-esque" about our family. I can say this because I don't believe I can take any credit- but, they get along fantastically, very minor frustrations and that is usually over Ruby hugging Linc too long! The social worker commented on how we should be aware that Ruby may have a hard time if our next child does not respond to her in the same way Lincoln clearly has! So true!

When asked, Ruby said she is "so excited" about getting a new sister. In fact, from that point on the answer to every question was "play with little sister"- what is your favorite activity? what do you like to do with your little brother? what do you like about preschool? Hilarious! Just like the little kids in Sunday School who answer Jesus to everything! With further prompting, she told the whole tale of liking to do puppet shows for Lincoln except he always tries to look behind the curtain!

The home safety check was not bad at all. I am not a big "cleaner," I do just enough to not be gross! Seriously, just being honest. Nope, don't move the furniture every time I vacuum, the tops of taller things don't get dusted very often, I don't sweep daily, I should but I don't. I even have people over at my house a couple times a week. Maybe that's why I have become less concerned about it, I just can't. I have two small kids who literally come behind me messing as I straighten, I work a couple days a week, and want my home to be open to whomever needs to stop by. I want to impress the social worker, sure, but I just could not bring myself to scrub down the house. Not to mention, she told me not to worry. Yes, I cleaned more than the usual, scrubbed the kitchen floor, organized the back laundry room, etc. I do like a good excuse to do all that stuff, plus it takes my mind off the many things flooding it over this adoption! So, at the end of the day, we have to put up a hand railing down the four back outside stairs, take pictures of the fire escape ladders and fire extinguisher we have on order, and other minor things. Really nothing unreasonable, which also was a surprise.

About a month and it should be final. That piece of the puzzle complete. Another step closer. I cannot believe it! Thanks for the prayers. For those of you who knew via facebook, our A/C broke the day before she was to come. I did not "warm" (get it? warm?) to the idea of deep cleaning in the hot house! But, by afternoon naps it was fixed and cooling down. Your prayers really protected my attitude, because I really didn't wig out, I was just glad it wasn't flooded or something else that would have made it difficult to check the house and thus prolong the process for weeks as Jason is gone next week then we are on vacation the next. So, thank you! And now, more paperwork for the dossier and start work on grant applications- keep the prayers coming!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Fight

The past couple of weeks have shown little action in the actual work of our adoption, but a lot of spiritual action. I think this is my new normal- lots of hands on labor either in paperwork, fundraising, or both- then waiting for replies, for money, for results of some kind. It is in that waiting that I feel the spiritual work being done. After the yard sale, there was this sense of accomplishment in checking off the first step- we sent in our first adoption agency fee with paperwork AND the application and check to the home study agency. Now this wasn't just any 'ole application- it included written biographies, medical exams, fingerprints, notarized letters from our employers, and many other documents. It felt a little more real that not only was this adoption thing really happening, but God indeed was providing, which is an encouragement that we had not heard His call wrong. I knew it would happen, I am not some amateur Christ-follower. I had been given grace to obey His call before. I knew the exhilaration of feeling the Spirit at work in life to guide you, strengthen you, and go before you. I hope and pray you, reader, know what I am talking about. The mountain peaks of your faith. But, I am not yet perfected, and the valley's follow. I knew this would happen, I anticipated it through prayer. Is it the "Opposer" of this faith or is it my own flesh? I think it is both. And, yet, I also think that this valley is also the Spirit at work. While we are promised great reward and pleasure in this Christian life, we are also promised the not-so-fun times. Philippians 1:29 tells us we have been "granted" our belief in Christ and our sufferings for His sake. Thankfully, He does not leave us as we are, He helps us to grow, to be sanctified. I also hope you all know this to be true as well. While I do not wish the valleys on anyone, I hope you know the growth towards our Savior that He accomplishes during these times. It was all the usual things, really..... looking at the next payments due; trying to be a mom, wife, friend, employee; a hole in the upholstery of our couch and knowing the money isn't there for a new one; car tune-ups; eye doctor visits, and on and on. The seemingly small things become overwhelming suddenly. You feel isolated. Then my sin causes me to question- Really? Why are we being called to this? We already have to ask for money for Jason's ministry and the economy is not great, God! Don't you see how much is on my plate. Then, the real kick-you-while-you-are-down maneuvers of the accuser start- you really stink at this Christian life. This is not really suffering, you aren't being threatened for your life. Do you really think you can mother one more child? Everyone else is doing way better than you.

It seems silly to write it all out, really silly, embarrassing actually. But, I need this to be out there. I need to be sure we are clear- God is accomplishing this call. I don't want to be a blog that portrays some sort of perfection. Adoption is His idea, not mine. He originated the concept, He originated the desire in me. I need for the picture of this journey to be all inclusive, honest. And He has chosen to include me. Me, the one with the struggles, sin, and need. I want this, I want this child so badly. I want what God has started to be finished, in me, in my family. He has promised to do just that, in fact, He did finish it in Jesus. He is loving, good, merciful. And He has strengthened me to fight. For, yes, this is a war. I may not be fighting real persecution, but I fight the ideals of the world around me, I fight my sin, I fight for the protection of the truth of the gospel in my life, in my children's lives. Satan does not want the fatherless to come home to THE Father. That includes me, my family, my daughter somewhere in Ethiopia, you. While we fight, there is rest, peace. He has overcome, won, and called us His.

Right now, my fight looks like this- continuing in the "mundane" callings of my life like laundry, changing diapers, fighting my impatience, and maybe even something crazy like going to a movie! I am enjoying my kids, trying to stay cool, and going to work two days a week. I am tackling the mountain of new paperwork- more on that thing called a dossier later. Jason and I go for our first home study in a week- only a 2 1/2- 3 hour interview ("that's what she said"- our social worker, I mean).

I hope you are encouraged to fight, too.

"be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." Ephesians 6:10