Over the course of the last couple months we have inquired about many other little girls, but have not been selected for a staffing yet. We were pretty bummed earlier this week when we found out we were not considered a good fit for a little girl on the other side of the state. We have so hoped we can stay in Missouri as this will make things less complicated in many ways. The same day we found out we were not a fit for this one particular child, we sent an inquiry on another little girl. We heard back this morning from her case worker who received our home study and has selected us for a staffing to take place in the next couple weeks! We obtained a fairly detailed report about her history, why she entered foster care, her health, behaviors, etc. If we get selected as the adoptive family, we will then receive access to all of her records and then at that point we would decide if we want to continue to pursue adopting her or not. However, after what we read today, there isn't anything we are too scared about. Of course there are issues, but when it comes down to it, don't we ALL have issues? Including our own biological kids? There are certain days I wonder if my bio kids temperaments and behaviors were listed out, they may not look so adoptable! So we aren't looking so much into those things, although we will do our homework and ask lots of questions. But we trust more in God opening or closing doors as we choose to walk with Him through this whole process as opposed to being super selective.
This child is here in Missouri! This means in the next few weeks we will meet with this child's case worker, current foster family, guardian ad litem (usually an attorney), possibly a CASA volunteer ( Court Appointed Special Advocate), and maybe additional members of the team such as a therapist or other relatives. They will look over our home study, our life book and interview us AS WELL AS OTHER FAMILIES and then decide who will be the best fit for the child and vice versa. I have heard these can be intense! We may be in a waiting room with these other families who are vying for the same child! Weird!!
Last month, we attended an event for adoptive parents where there were children there available for adoption. It was an interesting and slightly sad experience. First off, there were not as many kids there as the workers who organized it anticipated would be there. So the ratio of adoptive parents and available children were about equal. There were also many teenagers and many boys there. So unfortunately during this occasion we did not connect with any children. This event and those like it are suppose to give opportunities to interact with children needing to be adopted in a fun, lax environment. This particular one was held at a pumpkin patch in town. We are going to another one of these events this weekend. I will write if any connection is made! But otherwise, we will await this staffing meeting that will take place very soon.
There have been so many ups and downs and moments where we have felt discouraged. In the midst of it, we have had a number of totally random, challenging "life" things happen. While it's been deflating at times, we choose to grow towards God and know He knows what's up. I realized I needed to stop saying "nothings happening" with the adoption when people have asked. Because while nothing per say has been happening externally, there has been lots of things happening internally in both Ryan and I. While we haven't been able to love on a newly adopted child yet, we HAVE been fortunate enough to love on our own three kids daily and many other kids at our church that God has put in our lives. For this we are thankful! We know that God has both allowed us to step out of our comfort zone and has chiseled away more of our full of fault selves. Ryan and I are even more on the same page and more prepared for our new kiddo to arrive!
We very much hope this is our girl, but if she isn't, we will be grateful that we have had the opportunity!
Oh, and we saw a number of pictures of her today... and she is beautiful.
This child is here in Missouri! This means in the next few weeks we will meet with this child's case worker, current foster family, guardian ad litem (usually an attorney), possibly a CASA volunteer ( Court Appointed Special Advocate), and maybe additional members of the team such as a therapist or other relatives. They will look over our home study, our life book and interview us AS WELL AS OTHER FAMILIES and then decide who will be the best fit for the child and vice versa. I have heard these can be intense! We may be in a waiting room with these other families who are vying for the same child! Weird!!
Last month, we attended an event for adoptive parents where there were children there available for adoption. It was an interesting and slightly sad experience. First off, there were not as many kids there as the workers who organized it anticipated would be there. So the ratio of adoptive parents and available children were about equal. There were also many teenagers and many boys there. So unfortunately during this occasion we did not connect with any children. This event and those like it are suppose to give opportunities to interact with children needing to be adopted in a fun, lax environment. This particular one was held at a pumpkin patch in town. We are going to another one of these events this weekend. I will write if any connection is made! But otherwise, we will await this staffing meeting that will take place very soon.
There have been so many ups and downs and moments where we have felt discouraged. In the midst of it, we have had a number of totally random, challenging "life" things happen. While it's been deflating at times, we choose to grow towards God and know He knows what's up. I realized I needed to stop saying "nothings happening" with the adoption when people have asked. Because while nothing per say has been happening externally, there has been lots of things happening internally in both Ryan and I. While we haven't been able to love on a newly adopted child yet, we HAVE been fortunate enough to love on our own three kids daily and many other kids at our church that God has put in our lives. For this we are thankful! We know that God has both allowed us to step out of our comfort zone and has chiseled away more of our full of fault selves. Ryan and I are even more on the same page and more prepared for our new kiddo to arrive!
We very much hope this is our girl, but if she isn't, we will be grateful that we have had the opportunity!
Oh, and we saw a number of pictures of her today... and she is beautiful.