Adoption Process {Update}

There's LOTS to share since the last update so, let's start with "the adoption process".

Well.... first, I think I need to give a bit of a disclaimer:  Our incredibly wise, talented, caring Bethany adoption training class teacher has implored us to keep a journal for our children. Since I've been documenting our family's journey on our blog (and Facebook notes) for the last six years, I'm just gonna take the liberty of warning you that this is now officially "my journal".  I'll try to keep it short & relatively interesting or informative, but, as you can tell just from this one paragraph, you are choosing to subject yourself to the writings/wordiness of a self-proclaimed non-writer.  The best writers know how to succinctly articulate their thoughts into a cohesive, neatly packaged, punch-packing sentences. Yeah, not me.

Anyway, on to the update:  There are several stages to the adoption process with Bethany Christian Services.

Stage One: Go to an Informational Meeting.  We went in June because God miraculously provided the initial funds needed to begin our Home Study.
Stage Two: Fill out the preliminary application (send in $50).
Stage Three: Preliminary application approval + Invitation to an Orientation meeting = Formal application + $550 due at the Orientation meeting (an all-day training done four times a year)
Stage Four: Leave Orientation meeting with ginormous packet of paperwork (extremely lengthy questionnaires about our individual childhoods/adulthoods, our parents' marriages, family health histories, our marriage, why we are adopting + doctor visits + drug testing + criminal background checks + psychological evaluations + financial statements + veterinary paperwork for Picasso).  That is turned in with a $2000 check and then they have to review it all before deciding to go ahead with the Home Study.
Stage Five: The Home Study (begins with a $3000 check).  Our first home study visit was yesterday.  Our case worker took a tour of our home (our nursery is not set up and doesn't have to be... we just had to show her where the baby's room will be) and she interviewed us as a couple.  Our next home study visit will be next Wednesday where she will interview us individually.  The (hopefully) final Home Study visit will be when she presents us her rough draft to look over, we go over final questions, and then just wait for them to say that our Home Study is complete.  During the Home Study is also when we write individual letters to our child's birthparents and prepare a "profile book" with photos and whatever else we want her to know about us to help them in their decision to choose our family in the adoption plan for their baby (I say "they" because the birth father and even birth grandparents can be involved in the adoption plan).
Stage Six: We wait. (The balance of our fee will be due when our child is placed in our home.... Side note: Another miracle ~ someone anonymously donated $1,100 to our adoption fund!!!!! We got a call from Bethany and they just said to subtract that amount from our final total. We are BLOWN AWAY! Incredible!!).

There are many more stages after that, but I don't really know what that will look like for us, so let's leave it there for now.  People keep asking "How's it going?"  Well, we're in Stage Five, which means we aren't "waiting" yet.

But, really, we are waiting. We've been waiting. 67 months and counting. And every single moment of waiting has had such a beautiful purpose.  We look back at the tears and the pain and the joy and how God has been with us through it all and just cannot find the words to express how grateful we are.  The training that we have received through Bethany and through Empowered to Connect & ShowHope has been INVALUABLE.  I cannot wait to meet our baby but am also thankful for each day we have to strengthen our marriage and prepare to be parents.

As you know, we are striving to adopt with out any debt. (Thank you Julie Gummwww.juliegumm.com!)  In addition to the money that God has practically dropped in our laps, we have had a fantastic Yard Sale and also become Amazon Affiliates.  Just in the last month and a half, our Amazon.com affiliate link has brought in $205.13 to our adoption fund!  That's just people doing their normal shopping, but using our link to shop!!!!  THANK YOU for remembering our link and for passing it on and for tweeting it and for posting it to your Facebook pages!  THANK YOU!!!  Once our Home Study is completed, we will be able to apply for grants, plan another yard sale, and consider other fundraising options.  Right now, passing along our amazon.com link is the BEST, easiest, FREE way to help us in our journey to adopt debt-free!

We'll keep you updated as we have "news".  We are praying that we "begin waiting" before Christmas.  That would be the best Christmas present ever!!!  In the meantime, we are grateful for your prayers for us and for all of the families who are waiting for their children and for all of the families who have adopted who NEED prayer as they travel this incredible journey.

Blessings,
Rodney & Stacy

P.S.  If you want to help spread the word (Christmas is coming!), just copy & paste:

Facebook Post:  Help Rodney & Stacy ADOPT A BABY just by using this link when you shop Amazon! http://amzn.to/iVTHDU The site won't look any different to you, but it will make a world of difference to their family.  Click. Shop. Help them Adopt!!!

Twitter Tweet:  Help @SacredHope & @KennedySells ADOPT A BABY just by using this link to shop @amazon! http://amzn.to/iVTHDU #easiestfundraiserEVER!

Click on the picture to see our earnings report from 9/1-10/21 :) YAY!!!!