We're expecting...

this to take a while. We have some exciting news to share- we are adopting! I haven't said anything because this is a crazy road, and you just don't know what will happen. But not saying anything is killing me and it feels very lonely here. So, I'll say this...we are planning to adopt. That is our hope and our every intention at this point. Trust me, we wouldn't spend this much time going to class and filling out paperwork! And preparing our house to meet some really crazy rules set by the state.

This is our notebook. It is totally crammed now. You can't fit anything else in it. It is full of notes from our classes and paperwork we've filled out.

Here I am with what we had gotten filled out so far. You should understand something about me. I am weird- I love paperwork. I love filling out information and can do it quickly. I had our first packet done in one night and most of the second in a day. It nags at me begging to be done...now! There were a few things lingering that are now pretty much done. Anyone who has adopted internationally is laughing at what I have to fill out. It is a drop in the bucket to what they face. I think we each only had to have 2 things notarized! :) And our fingerprints get done right here in Fort Worth. We do all have to get TB tests. I am not at all excited about this. But the lady at our pediatric clinic promised me they have the best nurse that will do all four of us. Still... how do you explain to a 4 and 6 year old that they are getting a needle put under their skin so we can bring another sister into our house? There will be ice cream after that appointment for sure!

We are planning to adopt domestically through the state. We would like to just do matched adoption, but most young girls end up staying with their foster parents...so we may foster to adopt. This does carry with it the risk of the child going back to their biological parent or family member. So it is actually pretty stressful to swallow all of this! These kids are coming from all kinds of really horrible situations and TX is actually pretty slow to remove children from their parents, so when they do get removed it isn't good.

We have been amazingly blessed by God. Crazy blessed. He has been continually putting adoption on our hearts-starting about two years ago when we were in OH. We would stick our toe in the water and then take off running. (well, that was mostly me) Each time we'd get a little bit farther in, but each time it always ended the same. As we learned more about domestic adoption and all of the rules we ran even faster. But God is funny- he won't let you get too far from where he wants you. He made it ABUNDANTLY clear that we are to be involved in adoption in some way. We decided it was time to do more than just find out more information. So in our kitchen we decided it was time. It was surreal. A huge decision made in a matter of minutes- but really over a couple of years.

Take a look at this picture, do you see what I see? I see two things. 1. An extremely blessed, happy family. Looking a little too relaxed huh? 2. See that space next to Travis. It's the perfect spot for another sweet little girl! :)

I would like to say that hopefully soon we'll have a picture up of our child, but we aren't allowed to put pics up until they are legally ours and the age group we desire is the most desired, so we will probably be waiting a while. We are praying for wisdom and guidance during all of this. We know God will bring us the child he has for our family. We aren't in a hurry.

I still have two all day Sat. classes to do and we have our homestudy. After that we are put on the list until we get matched with either a child that is up for adoption or needing a foster home. I will be totally honest- this has been an emotional roller coaster. With so many questions, doubts and FEARS. And the classes and books we are required to read do not help with fears! We have had to, over the past couple of days, step back from all of that and pray for God to fill our hearts with hope and joy and remember why we are wanting to do this. - Which can and will totally fill up another post!

Thanks for joining us on the newest journey in our lives!