More Lessons....

Bill and I just finished our foster parent training requirement for Bethany. It ended up being an amazing experience in so many ways. For one, we were surrounded by people with the same beliefs that wanted to adopt a child like we did. Although we were all in the class for different reasons, we were united in our values and purpose. During the past 4 weeks, we also had the opportunity to really see all sides of the adoption process. I think so often I think about things being as simple as Bill and I finally having a precious baby but it isn't that simple. We were able to witness the testimonies of not only birth mothers but also grown up adopted children. It was eye opening to see all the realities of adoption and not only the idealism of it all. I feel that the whole experience is more real and we are in fact going to one day have a baby! This isn't just a dream...it's a reality! More to come soon...

Training Season

It's been a while since I've updated this but here is the latest:

Bill and I are in the middle of our home study. For those of you who don't know what that means, basically Billy and I complete certain requirements (and there are many) in order to be approved as adoptive parents. This past week we also have started taking the required Foster Parent Training as part of the adoption agency. It was a group of about 9 other couples from all different walks of life. It was a very eclectic group!

Even though we have only had one meeting, we are very excited to continue attending the classes and getting to know these people but more importantly, allowing God to reveal to us exactly what steps we need to take. With adoption come a lot of difficult decisions. Open or closed adoption? Interim care of the infant or direct placement? What race? What sex? Is it okay if the mother drank through the entire pregnancy? Are you willing to adopt a kid with special needs? All of these questions, while they may seem quite "surfacy", will affect the rest of our lives and most importantly, the life of the child God has chosen for us to adopt. Bill and I had a great talk driving home from our training about how God's plan for us is bigger than we ever dreamed. I know this process will bring us not only an addition to our family, but a greater understanding of our adoption as children of God. Uh oh, I'm starting to preach! That's a cue to stop...more news to come in the next month or so.

Oh and if you are reading this, please keep my cousins Christy and Mike in your prayers. They are planning on traveling to China in the beginning of May to meet their new daughter, Gracelynn. It sure is an exciting time!