Adoption Interview

Hey guys! First of all, I just wanted to thank everyone for your prayers today. We just back from our first adoption interview in North Carolina. This was basically a requirement for Barker Foundation to meet all their adoptive parents face to face and to go over the entire adoption process from Korea. It was more informative than it was an interview. One of the MAJOR things we learned was that there was a change in Korea's escort option in that they no longer offer it unless it is an emergency. Soooo, this means....WE ARE GOING TO KOREA!!! Bryan and I were on the fence really about this option. Although it would be cheaper to do the escort option, there are so many benefits to going to our child's home country! We would experience the culture first hand and also be able to meet our child's foster family and all those who have loved and cared for him/her for 10 months of their life! We were open about this option and prayed that if God wanted us to go, that He would make it an obvious choice. Well, there's no choice about it, it is a requirement now, so He made it kinda easy! ;) We are so excited that we get to do this and won't get too discouraged by the additional cost. We know that God will provide for this as well. :) I'll give more details about our trip later on when we know more about it. Overall the meeting was very beneficial, and gave us a good idea of what to expect in the next 13 to 15 months (estimated time line until we can bring him/her home!) On another note, I definitely underestimated the work still left to do, even after the home study is complete. We would ask that you would pray for us as we struggle to find time to complete all our requirements in a timely manner and to rely on God to get us through what seems so overwhelming to us at times! Just a reminder...our Home Study Interviews are scheduled for Friday, April 9 at 9:30pm and Saturday, April 10 at 8:30 am! Thanks so much for your prayers and support! We love you all! P.S. Sorry no pictures! We forgot to document this trip! :( But I'll have some coming up soon, I promise!

The Dates Are Set!

Just found out this weekend that we have our home study date made! It will be scheduled for April 9 at 9:30pm and April 10 at 8:30am. If you think about it, please keep us in your prayers for these days. I am a little nervous about it all, but I am very excited that it is happening so quickly! We also found out that the man who is doing it, is going to be coming down to Charleston for a visit anyway, so we don't have to pay the mileage fees associated with that trip! Also, our adoption interview with The Barker Foundation, is scheduled for March 31st. It was originally supposed to be in Maryland, but the lady in charge of the Korean program was coming down to North Carolina on vacation and asked to meet with us then instead of us driving all the way up to Maryland! Thank you, Lord, for Your goodness!

Home Study Application Mailed!

Our home study application and fees were mailed in today March 6th, 2010! The home study is probably the biggest, most crucial parts of the adoption processes, because it requires such a HUGE commitment in time and in money! It is conducted by a social worker from the agency and it is basically a written, comprehensive assessment of us as an adoptive family. This process helps to educate and prepare us for adoption, gathers information about us as prospective parents that will help a social worker match us with a child whose needs we can meet, and will evaluate whether or not we are fit enough to be adoptive parents. As you can imagine this is a very in depth process and quite intimidating! We will have our house evaluated, be interviewed several times (together and separately), be required to fill out tons of paperwork and provide many documents including references, doctor's records, guardian information, financial documents (just to name a few) and pay some pretty hefty fees for the evaluation and handling of it all! :) It will take our agency about 6 to 8 weeks to complete and once approved, our paperwork will be sent to Korea and then we will begin the waiting process. We are so blessed to be working with a great Christian agency, Nightlight Christian Adoptions, for our home study, and trust that we are in good hands!

Here we are...just prayed over our documents...and trusting in a Mighty God...