Updating the Timeline

Fost-Adopt can be a short process. Unless you are a procrastinator like me.

Since adoption is something that I have wanted SO badly for so many years, you would think I would be whipping out paperwork and checking off boxes like a Type A Superstar.  Seriously, what is my problem?!

I could blame the 'system' for taking so long between steps. I could even leave it as chronic procrastination, but I know it's more than that. It's fear.  I'm terrified about a whole laundry list of what-if's. I know so much about adoption and the good, bad, and the ugly, and I'm terrified that we will only experience the bad and the ugly and none of the good.

It gets harder and harder to hold on to our resolve to 'get our hands dirty' when you start to see the mud puddles. Intellectually, I believe that we are not in this world to have everything easy and that eternity will be worth any pain, suffering, rejection, and grief that we experience in this life.  But signing up for all that FOR REAL is just plain scary.

But,

" For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."
 2 Timothy 1:7
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

So today, I am going to look to Him for the power, love, and discipline for each new task on the adoption process timeline and pray for the wisdom to do the same each day for all my days. To God alone be the Glory.

(Be sure to check for updates to our timeline HERE)

The Timeline Post

Since I know that there are some people reading this blog in order to keep track of our adoption process, I wanted to have a permanent post where I will continually edit updates to the timeline.  There isn't a lot to it, yet, but hopefully it will help people to understand our particular process.  Our sincere thanks to all of those who are praying us through it! I'll put the official steps in bold as we complete them.

First discussed adoption as a couple - Fall 1991 (while we were dating)
Finally decided that it was time - November 2010
Agonizing over who, what, when, where and how - November 2010-June 2011
Finally fill out the first piece of paperwork for an adoption agency May 6, 2011 (for domestic infant adoption)
Foster Care/ Adoption Orientation Seminar at our Church - June 11, 2011
Convinced that God has called us to adopt from the Foster Care system instead of domestic infant - July 4, 2011

The Official Process:

Orientation:    June 11, 2011

Application Rec'd: July 29, '11

Application Turned In: August 29, 2011

FIngerprinting/Background Check: October 5, 2011

Homestudy Visit #1: November17, 2011

PRIDE Training #1: February 18, 2012

PRIDE Training #2:February 25, 2012

Learned about a child available for adoption: March 13, 2012
Program-changing decision month: March 2012
Saw his picture for the first time!!: August 31, 2012