The most important interview of my life.......

When Kari and I decided to begin an adoption plan to add to our family we chose The Adoption Option as our adoption agency. The Adoption Option is a collaboration between The Village Family Service Center and Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.

The adoption process is very detailed and involves numerous visits with our adoption counselor and/or other staff at the adoption option. Our journey began with an informational session, then the Adoption Educational & Preparation Workshop. We are currently in the Assessment portion of the process. This includes taking a Temperamet Analysis and Parenting Inventory as well as the visits with the counselor.

Today, I had my first invdividual interview with our counselor. This allowed her to learn more about me in a one-on-one discussion. We talked about many different topics, a few of which include my family history, school history, medical hisotry and my parents. I learned alot about my parents as we disucssed their parenting techniques and my many experiences growing up. Thank you, Mom & Dad, for setting such a great example of how to be a good parent - it's going to be useful very soon!

Kari had the same individual interview yesterday. Next, in two weeks, Kari and I will meet wtih our conselor together to discuss marriage and additional family background information. After that, hopefully by the end of October, we'll be able to schedule our first in-home visits. If all goes as planned, we'll be added to the list of available adoptive families ready to bring a newborn into our home by December.

Good Day...

I have to say...we are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. It is you guys that share in our good times and help us out of the bad. One great example...on Sunday night we opened our email and had this amazing message from my mother-in-law Peg. I know I say it all the time, but I really hit the jackpot when it comes to in-laws. I just have to share...

Hi,  I think God speaks to us in many different ways ....... through nature, people and situations.  Today He spoke to me in church during the reading of the lessons.  The Psalms for the Day was 113. The last verse reminds me that He is in control of your adoption plans and that all things will work out.   Love, MOM

Psalm 113 (The Message)

    Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!
      Just to speak his name is praise!
   Just to remember God is a blessing—
      now and tomorrow and always.
   From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
      keep lifting all your praises to God!

 ^4-9 God is higher than anything and anyone,
      outshining everything you can see in the skies.
   Who can compare with God, our God,
      so majestically enthroned,
   Surveying his magnificent
      heavens and earth?
   He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
      rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
   Seats them among the honored guests,
      a place of honor among the brightest and best.
   He gives childless couples a family,
      gives them joy as the parents of children.
   Hallelujah!

 

Nighty night little one

Time to pack....and play! I have been waiting for the "right time" to start buying baby supplies. I have had my perfect baby room planned in my head for a long time, but have been too scared to buy anything not wanting to jinx us. Well, I threw that out the window today and bought our future child a pack n' play!

Now that the ball is really rolling on our adoption process, I thought it was time we start to prepare for the arrival of our new family member. We talked it out and thought a pack n' play would be a good idea for our first purchase because we can use it for the first few weeks after our baby arrives. We are also hoping our darling little goddaughter will get to use it from time to time!

With each step, my heart soars with the prospect at being a mom. It is amazing how much you can know you love someone without even knowing they exist in this world yet. Can't wait to meet you my little one.

Taking the first step....

Sometimes taking your first step is the hardest part of the journey. Aaron and I always knew that we wanted to have kids. We have been through quite a few ups and downs in our journey to do so. When we came to the decision that we would grow our little family through adoption, we felt like a huge weight had been lifted from our shoulders.

We are currently still in the approval stage of our adoption process, but we are getting closer everyday! We are going to use our blog to keep in touch with family and friends on our adoption process and as a way to get get in touch with families that are looking to make an adoption plan for their child.

Wish us luck! Now onto the next step....