A Sigh of Relief... and a Few Details...

So the phone call came in that I was waiting for today. The adoption worker's voice was soothing and calm and that really helped my nerves. I did fumble a few of my words.. but well.. that is just me!

She asked a few questions that they felt weren't addressed in our homestudy. They included things like:

How do we plan to homeschool our oldest two and balance having five children.. three, 2 and under?

What activities are the girls involved in with their peers?

After that we went over the little one's health history and I got a few pieces of information about her birthparents.

When I got off of the phone with the adoption worker, I recieved an email with the release of information form for our homestudy agency. I quickly filled that out and sent it back.

We should know at the very least a little more late next week.

Shortly after I took care of that, I found myself chuckling as I wiped the counter. This has been a wild ride. If we are indeed matched with this little one, I'll be able to share more. Let's just say that God is SO in the details. I never imagined when we started thinking about adoption in 2007 that I'd ever be able to hand the whole thing over to God and simply say, "Your will be done."

But I have and I can't wait to see the rest of the "ride."

And so we wait....

and hope.

The Tiniest of Adoption Updates

Today I got an email scheduling a phone call for tomorrow. So tomorrow I'll have a phone conference with social worker about a potential match for a baby girl.

Did you just read the last word of that sentence? It makes me go "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..."

Maybe Julianne's prayers are going to be answered... (See what I mean here and here.)

If all goes well, then I'll sign a release of information and she will call and speak with our homestudy agency. Our homestudy worker is on vacation, so she'll have to speak with one of the other social workers.

So.. if you could pray for the phone call to go smoothly tomorrow, I'd greatly appreciate it. The time is listed as somewhere between 9am and 3 pm (eastern time.) Oh and you could pray that the children cooperate and that maybe World War 4 not break out while I'm on the phone.. that would be greatly appreciated too! Brandon will be at work so I'll be holding down the fort by myself.

~Steph

PS: Oh and the baby boy that we were hoping to match with (the one I nicknamed SB) isn't a possibility anymore. That situation got a little weird and we've taken it off of our radar.

Doing the next thing...

Today we got a call from an agency we've been in contact with. The call came in a little after 8pm, which is well after I gave up hope of getting a phone call today. My hopes seem to rise and fall with each 8am and 5pm cycle. LOL

Anyway, we were told that we are one of three adoptive couples that are being presented for this adoption situation. That presentation will take place this week. I've seen pictures of this baby and he is adorable. (Aren't all babies?)

Meanwhile, another adoption agency has us in a pile to possibly be presented to another potential birthmother this week as well. I've not seen pictures of this baby but he is already born. I bet he is adorable too.

So, what's a girl to do?

N-E-S-T!

The fridge is cleaned out and the pantry is straightened. I purged some paperwork. Our laundry was complete until we put on pajamas tonight. I sorted through baby boy clothing. I played around with some travel arrangements. I started to think about what to pack. I made a grocery shopping list and a "To Finish" list.

Tomorrow we will go and get refills for prescriptions (they just happen to coincide with this), fill out paperwork for some reimbursements, and do a grocery shopping run. Then we will head to the pool to live life as a family of six. I'm not sure we are brave enough to take 5 children to the pool without any help.

We temper every hope with the fact that there is a chance we don't be picked. And this is why adoption nesting is different than pregnancy nesting. When you are pregnant you have a date to count down to-- a general idea of when baby will arrive. We don't have that.

But I ate a philly cheesesteak tonight.. just in case. You know... cravings. ;)

Would you pray for the birthparents as they make these life changing decisions? Pray that they are being supported by caring professionals and that they have peace with their decisions. Pray for the children as they are awaiting their placements. And pray for the adoptive families that are going to bed tonight, hoping.

~Steph

Resting in Him...

I've had a long night up with the Lord. I've gotten no sleep but lots of time to talk to God.

I was praying over our adoption and telling Him that I was worried about the possibility of being double matched and how I'd ever choose between two babies. (Double matching is when you network with several agencies and you are chosen for TWO situations... and then you have to pick which situation/child to go with. You may recall that the family that originally matched with Xander was double matched and went with the other situation/child giving us the opportunity to match with him.)

Our situation count was up to 5 when I went to bed last night. Five homestudies sent, only a few profiles requested so far. We've been approved 9 days today. But if there is something to be worried about-- I'm all over it. Brandon often says that he rarely worries because I do enough for both of us!

Anyway.. I was praying about it and God gave me this verse... that I've read a thousand times.

"God sets the lonely in families..." ~Psalm 68:6

So, I'm choosing to rest in His Word. He does it. We just have to be obedient and in His timing, it will happen, if it is His will for our family. He did a fabulous job setting Xander into our family and we know he was meant to be ours. I mean.. have you seen his monster face? It looks just like his Daddy's. Have you heard him laugh until he snorts? Yup.. definitely a Bee! Xander is the one child of ours that is constantly told how much he looks like his Daddy. It makes me giggle. His birthmom thinks it is hilarious too!

Then I got out of bed to start my day and found an email from a friend asking if I had seen an adoption situation posted.

So now we are up to 6.