The Next Step

We had Anthony's final post-placement visit today from our case worker.  Which means our lawyer can submit all of our paperwork and file for a court date.  It cannot be before October 10 (6 months after surrenders were signed and we took legal custody of Anthony).  Hopefully it will be right around then.  I can't wait.  That's putting it mildly.  That's another post for another day, but it will be a wonderful day for many, many reasons.

So while we had our case worker here, we talked with her about our next step.  We know we want more children.  We know God is calling us to have more children.  However, neither Jeremy nor I is ready or willing to do another infant adoption right now.  We are very thankful for our two children who came to us as newborns.  I wouldn't change it for the world.  But at this point, we're not ready for all that the infant adoption process entails.  Namely the checks we have to write (yeah, it's a sad day when you have to choose between adopting again or putting on a roof, but that's reality!). 

At this point, we're feeling called to adopt children through foster care.  There will still be some classes we have to take (we're signed up for a four week 27 hour class in November).  And a homestudy meeting.  However, there are no checks to write.  And there are children waiting whose parental rights are terminated.  These children are in need of a forever home.  We still have one empty bedroom upstairs.  And two children who would be more than happy to share (because they don't have a choice :-)).  We are hoping for a sibling group with young children. 

Our caseworker said we would be a perfect fit in the AWC (Adopting Waiting Children) program.  She wasn't surprised when we wanted to discuss it.  Our caseworker loves working with us and is excited to continue doing so. 

So we're going to once again become homestudy ready.  We're hoping to add children to our family sometime in the middle of next year.  But if there's one thing I've learned in our infertility and adoption journeys, it's that my timing doesn't matter a bit.  God's timing is perfect.  We have spent a lot of time in prayer lately, asking God what he wants for our family after Anthony's adoption is final.  God knows I don't take subtle hints, He's making it crystal clear. 

So AWC, here we come.  And between now and then, I will pray for my future children, that may be (and probably are) already alive and in the foster care system.  I pray for their safety, their health, and for their hope.