Waiting to Adopt check in!

jillianmb

This is a place for anyone in the waiting-to-adopt phase to check-in.  Whether you're still checking out different agencies and programs or you're bringing your child home tomorrow, this is for you! If your adoption is already complete, feel free to offer encouragement to those of us who don't have our little ones home yet! 

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)?

2) Where in the process are you?

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

5) Biggest challenge of this week? 

6) Anything else you want to share?

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

Rachel Sonnier

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? Agency Assisted Domestic Infant Adoption 2) Where in the process are you?Waiting on our paperwork to be approved 3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?nope 4) Most encouraging moment last week?  My close friend with the friend that wants to place her little boy, called to say that she had been talking to her friend earlier and that she told her that they were both 100% on board with making an adoption plan, and they were really set on placing with us.5) Biggest challenge of this week?  See #4...I am trying so hard not to get my hopes up too high, because as far as I know, they haven't even called our agency yet...and when they do, they will be shown plenty of other profiles that I'm sure will be just as wonderful as ours. The only thing we have going for us, is that the expectant parents have our friend's word that we are nice people and great parents. I guess I am just struggling with relaxing and letting whatever is supposed to happen, work out the way that it is supposed to. It just seems too perfect and too easy to actually work out.6) Anything else you want to share?We are buying a FARM!!! Eeeek!! :-D

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

It's not an adoption song per se, but its my favorite song right now. It gives me some perspective on the different "journeys" in my life (marriage, spirituality, IF, adoption, parenting, etc). It reminds me that all of these little trials and adventures are just a much smaller part of the bigger picture, and its ok to be "not there yet".

Building 429 "Where I Belong"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOtsB4O1p3o

lady_chance_99

jillianmb:

  

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? We are still waiting for our foster care license to be sent in to the state for final approval, we have been waiting for that since May... Once finished we will be taking in up to two children between ages 0-2.

We have also started seeking out an agency for domestic infant adoption. We are still between two agencies currently. I haven't been able to choose because I am still waiting to hear back from them. Last year when I called them I had the same problem with both agencies so... maybe I am getting a sign?! lol

2) Where in the process are you? In the end of our fostering licensing, and in the beginning of our domestic infant adoption.

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate? Well,it has been exactly one year since I started looking into adoption, and an excruciating six months since I started the fostercare training and handed in all my paperwork. Funny enough I feel like I am not any further along in either scenerios...

4) Most encouraging moment last week? When DH agreed that we should looking to domestic infant adoption as well as fostering.   

ETA: One of the agencies called me back today and I have a meeting set up for the 18th!!!!!!

5) Biggest challenge of this week? Being patient. The person I need to speak with at one agency is on vacation (this happened to me last year when I initially contacted them too). The fostercare licensing worker has had my application and all needed paperwork including the homestudy since May and has yet to submit it. It's frustrating for me because I starting the fostercare journey while I was still ttc so that I wouldn't have to wait like this. Just like I am trying to start the domestic infant adoption process for the same reason- to limit the time where I have the distinct sensation of stagnation. I really need forward momentum and a good project to help me feel like we are in a good place. I need to know that I am doing everything possible to bring our baby home...

6) Anything else you want to share? Just a thank you. You guys have been so helpful; answering my questions and listening to my bellyaching. It means a lot that I have somewhere to vent to people who understand. So... Thanks. 

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.   It's a Michelle Featherstone song called Sweet Sweet Baby. I am going to try and link it, let's hope it works...

 

https://youtu.be/7hZsqL5ol5w

jillianmb

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)?  International, Russia, 2 y.o boy

2) Where in the process are you? Preparing to travel!  First of three trips is in 3 weeks.

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?Got our travel date, booked tickets and accommodations!

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  Box after box after box of meds and clothes etc arriving at my doorstep from YOU ladies, for our orphanage donation.  I can't believe how much you sent!  So awesome and humbling.

5) Biggest challenge of this week?  Just more paperwork, but nothing I can't handle.  :-)

6) Anything else you want to share? No

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

 This song called "Mended" by Watermark.  I have really struggled with missing the first two+ years of our little man's life.  I love the lyric that says about God, "We will dance as you restore the wasted years."  Gives me hope and faith that God will restore those two "wasted" years for His glory.  

Youtube video.

erinmc1

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? 

Domestic infant open adoption 

2) Where in the process are you?

We are waiting.  Just past the 7 month mark. 

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

Well...we got a matching call last Monday, and submitted our letter TODAY. 

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

Getting the call. 

5) Biggest challenge of this week?  

Waiting to find out who the parents chose as adoptive parents. 

6) Anything else you want to share?

Trying to be patient gets a little easier with each call. 

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube. 

I know it's so common and cliche, but Michael Buble's, "I Just Haven't Met You Yet."  I played that song over and over in the car when we first decided to adopt.  Since then, "In God's Time" has become more dear to me.

IRR

jillianmb:

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? 

Lawyer and agency infant domestic 

2) Where in the process are you?

Meeting the birthparents on Friday! 

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

Signed our agreement with the lawyer about baby P 

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

Talking briefly to birthdad 

5) Biggest challenge of this week? 

Flying 2 hours and then driving 2.5 hours to meet the birthparents 

6) Anything else you want to share?

no 

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

Not a big music person, so no song comes to mind. 

 

jwpbride

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? 

infant domestic, not race or gender specific 

2) Where in the process are you?

starting our 4th month of waaaaaaaaaaaaiting.  

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

We may set up the crib soon!  

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

Hearing other people's adoption stories. Makes me so happy! 

5) Biggest challenge of this week?  

It's been a pretty average week, so not much.  

6) Anything else you want to share?

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

Out of the Depths is a song that we sing at church all the time that I just love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS9hL7qQ6kU  I really loved this song even before we started the adoption process. It really helped me get through miscarriages. 

"Though I might fail to trust Your promises
You never fail to hear my prayer"

and the chorus

"So more than watchmen for the morning
I will wait for You, my God
When my fears come with no warning
In Your Word I?ll put my trust
When the harvest time is over and I still see no fruit
I will wait, I will wait for You"

are my favorite parts.  

MrsB2Be2008

I've been reading posts from you all for a long time and finally decided to join in the discussion!

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)?

Domestic infant

2) Where in the process are you?

Homestudy approved last week, finishing profile book!

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

I guess our homestudy approval last week.

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

Same! Finishing something!  

5) Biggest challenge of this week? 

Trying to decide when to buy any baby things...not sure how much we can handle having the baby stuff sit around, but we want to be prepared, too!

6) Anything else you want to share?

Thanks for all your posts! They have been so helpful.

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

Hmm....I will have to think about this.

HopingforChange

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? 

Foster/adopt, and not sure on ages right now. 

2) Where in the process are you?

Well, after a disappointment when no one showed up for our orientation and the supervisor refused to apologize, the actual social worker called, apologized, and rescheduled our orientation for this month. 

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

We will do our class on the sixteenth and will start our twenty-three hours of classes in september. 

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

That this lady called. 

5) Biggest challenge of this week? 

None in the adoption arena. 

6) Anything else you want to share?

We are going to this class with the state, but we may end of switching to a private agency to finish the courses. It depends how the first session goes.  We are still wary. 

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

 

I don't think I have one yet.  I am sure that I will in time. 

meganalaire

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)? International adoption through Ethiopia, one child (either gender) age 0-12 months 2) Where in the process are you? Gathering dossier documents and waiting on our final version of the homestudy! 3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate? DH was able to enroll for his health benefits this last week (just finished initial 500 hours at new job)!  4) Most encouraging moment last week?Having girl's night with my two best friends: one is pregnant with twins and the other has a 4 month old (who also came to girl's night). They are both so encouraging about the adoption and when I'm feeling sad they remind me that I too will be a mommy soon. 5) Biggest challenge of this week?  Just finding enough hours in the day to get everything done!  6) Anything else you want to share?Nope!  

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube. 

Adele's version of "Make you feel my love". She sings this with such soul and emotion, and it describes my feelings for my little one perfectly.

My favorite (tear-inducing) verse is: "When the evening shadows and the stars appear, and there is no one there to dry you tears, I will hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love."

MarionB79

1) What kind of adoption/fostering are you doing? And what age(s)?

domestic newborn adoption 

2) Where in the process are you?

6 months of waiting 

3) Any recent accomplishments or milestones to celebrate?

caseworker got to meet my brother-in-law who's living with us for the month of July 

4) Most encouraging moment last week?  

finding the time for caseworker and bro to meet (he works 7 days a week 12 hour days while he's with us - so this wasn't easy) 

5) Biggest challenge of this week? 

Patience! (as usual) Being happy for others who receive placement without feeling hurt that we weren't picked.  

6) Anything else you want to share?

The meeting with our caseworker was really good! She asked my brother-in-law how he would feel about us getting a hospital call tomorrow and his response was "Sweet, we've been waiting so long. I'd be ecstatic!"  She liked that response ;o)

And the QOTW: Share a song that has been special to you in your adoption journey.  Bonus points for a link to the song on youtube.  

"Hold me" by Jamie Grace has been getting me through the last few months of waiting.

If you don't know this song, I hope you'll fall in love with it just as I did! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysrIY84Ubmc