Home Study Interviews x's 3

A week ago today, we received an e-mail from our social worker with some unexpected news. She said that she wanted to go ahead and begin our home study interviews. She is expecting and would like to finish up before she goes on leave! Wow, we had actually assumed the fact she was expecting meant we would have to wait much longer to begin and that we would be waiting until she returned. We were blown away, but so excited!

So we had our first interview on Friday, this was a joint interview with both E and I. This meeting consisted of a lot of questions about us and our relationship. We were about 3/4 th's of the way through our meeting when our social worker was called out of the room. She came back and apologized but she would have to leave as they had an expectant mother just give birth! Wow, we thought that was just so neat. So E and I left just feeling amazed at how this whole process works. I said a prayer for the baby, the mother, and soon to be adoptive family. How neat!

We returned on Tuesday to finish our meeting and for E to have his individual interview. This time we went over a couples inventory that E and I had worked on the week before. This was a really neat tool that looks at the areas of strengths and the areas of growth for your marriage. Then I left and E had his interview. I told him to try and remember the questions so he could fill me in haha (you know you would do it too)! He laughed and when he got out he called me but couldn't remember very many questions. Bummer. It was probably better that way!

I went in yesterday and had my individual interview. Mine took much longer than E's that is because I like to elaborate and I ended up having a lot of questions! It was great getting my questions answered and just getting my mind around some things. We love our social worker and have really been blessed to have her working with us through this process.

On September 4th we are scheduled for our last home visit. Our social worker will actually meet our pastor late that morning and then come to our house. She will talk with the girls and check out our house. So, I have got to fit some serious cleaning in between homeschooling and caring for my husband and children!

Thought I would also share this cute picture. We were filling in names on our puzzle of people who have donated and S and S run back to their room. Out they come carrying their piggy bank. Mommy, we want to give money for our baby too! Oh, my goodness. It was hard not to cry. Here is a picture of S #2 (S#1 didn't want her pic taken.)

One Step Closer (or maybe a few)

This week we attended our second training. We were glad to see some of the same faces as we had in our last meeting. It was a much smaller group, so it was a very relaxed meeting (the doughnuts and coffee didnt hurt either!) We delved a bit deeper this time into the joys and challenges that adoption presents. Some of the couples we were in class with have already been through the process once, and we learned so much just listening to them.

All our paperwork has been turned in, and our file is complete. We should be hearing soon when we can start out homestudy meetings. We are working on paperwork to apply for a grant that would help with part of the homestudy fee. We also need to get started on our profile book. This is the book that will be shown to the expectant parents as they are making an adoption plan. This book will hopefully give them a glimpse of who we are as a family. Trying to decide what photo book site to use. Do you have a favorite you would recommend?

We have also had company this week! E's Dad and cousin are here from out of the country! We have enjoyed having them with us.

Picking blueberries with her Grandpa!