Little House on the Prairie

Can't wait!!!

Not sure if I will get used to this

I know that most people don't understand adoption. 

They don't understand why others adopt, especially internationally.

They don't understand the dynamics.

They really can't be blamed, it is just because they are not informed.

I expected this when we began this journey. 

But it still leaves me in awe every singe time someone makes a rude comment.

For example:

Last week as I was pulling out of the Y, a man literally chased me down, and asked me if we were adopting from China.  I told him yes.  He then proceeded to give me a lecture on reasons why we should NOT adopt and had to tell me a horror story of someone he knew who adopted from China 10 years ago.

Like when you're pregnant and people feel that they need to tell you their horrific birth experience, or worse.  Like telling you about their miscarriage or some other terrible event.

Not necessary.

And today at the Y, a woman asked me if we were adopting.  She then told me a story that went JUST like this:

"Oh that's great!  My sister adopted a girl from China (because that's all you can get of course) in 1996.  She is very short, but they have been very happy with her.  In fact, they still have her and everything! "

Like she was a sofa they got a great deal on.

Oh boy.  This is gonna take some patience!

Full Disclosure

When two people are contemplating marriage, there are certain discussions that MUST take place.

These conversations require complete honesty.

You should know your potential life-long mate intimately.

You need to know and accept all of these things, regardless of your own opinions.

It's part of the foundation of a good marriage.

This unconditional love.

You not only have to answer questions, you have to ask the right ones.

You cannot go into it blind.

You have been prepared.

But......

When you are sitting in a movie theater watching the preview for the new "Footloose" movie,

and the man you have been with for 8 years looks at you and says.....

(wait for it....you are going to DIE)......

"I've never seen the original Footloose"

All bets are off!!!!!!!

On Our Way!

We had our first official appointment with our homestudy social worker this week.

I was super nervous--as in stomach butterflies, scrub the house from top to bottom, new fragrance in the Scentsy burner, be crabby to (and hang up on) your husband for no reason--kind of nervous.

I didn't really know what to expect.

It's weird.  Awkward.

And I wasn't sure what to expect.

She had told me she would be here for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 

It ended up taking 30 minutes.

She explained her role in the adoption process, answered our questions, gave us some reading materials and some homework. 

And some paper.

This is some of the stuff we have to read through.  This stack is approximately 2 inches thick!

The homestudy application.  Each of these is several pages long.

Foster Care Licensing paperwork

This was the (26 page) application for our placing agency in California!

I don't really consider myself any kind of tree hugger, but geesh.  This is crazy! 

So today Tyson and I spent about 7 straight hours filling out paperwork, digging out financial papers, insurance papers, and medical information.  And we barely put a dent in it all! 

But we will get it all done, as soon as the holiday weekend is over and someone can answer a few questions!

I know this is just the beginning of MONTHS of paperwork, and I am by no means going to complain about any of it!  It all just puts us closer to our daughter!

To the best of my understanding, our next step is to finish all this paperwork, then we will be fingerprinted (probably late next week).  Tyson and I have to get our first set of medical exams and toward the end of the month we will have our training class. 

It feels so good to be DOING something, because I know it will be hard while we are in the "waiting" phases of adoption. 

We are super excited!!!

HERE WE GO!!!!!