What's Next?

Last night, I was giving my mom the play-by-play of our home visit . . . she got much more detail than you got here . . . she heard it all the good, the bad, and the ugly. Okay so most of it was good, and none of it was bad or ugly, but yeah okay, I'm getting off track. Where was I? Oh yeah, so I was giving my mom the play-by-play of our home visit, and she asked, "so what's next?". And then I heard all of you invisible people out there in cyberspace asking the same question, then Patrick asked the same question, and I decided to oblige everyone with an answer.

First off, the home study has to be completed. Our social worker will spend this weekend typing it up (I'm sure she's thrilled) and then submit it to our home study agency for revisions early next week. Hopefully, it won't need too many revisions. After that, it is emailed to AGCI (our adoption agency - keep up people) for revisions, and then they approve us to proceed. After it's complete, it comes to our casa - actually six notarized originals will come our way. From there I'm a little fuzzy, but I know that at least one goes to Bulgaria. By the way, if you will pray for our social worker. This is the first international home study she has done, and while I have the utmost confidence in her, a little bit of prayer couldn't hurt.

In addition to all that jazz, we have to continue to gather information for the Dossier. "The Dossier?" you ask. Oh I haven't told you about that? The Dossier is a collection of documents, including the home study, that are submitted to Bulgaria so that we can be approved to adopt. It includes photos of (every) room in our house, medical letters stating that we are healthy and sane (please refrain from smart alec comments on that one), NBC approval (that's some sort of government agency), and various criminal background checks. Some of these we have already. Some like the FBI background check are still in process. Apparently, it takes a long time to prove we're not criminals. Patrick is there anything I should know?

On Monday, we will send in our adoption workbook. That sucker has taken some time. Talk about daunting. Twenty chapters . . . very long chapters. But alas, after more than a few nights (literally about 20 hours combined) of answering questions and reading, we have slain the beast completed the workbook. On top of that we had the online training which took between 10-12 hours. So thankfully, we have that stuff out of the way. In all honesty, it was very insightful, and I'm certain that as we get closer to the adoption we'll crack open the workbook (we get it back) for a refresher. Right now I feel like we've been going solid for at least two weeks. I can honestly say that I am mentally and physically exhausted.

With all that's going on, it's so easy to get caught up in both the excitement and process of adopting, but it's also very important to realize that this child we are adopting will come from what are likely to be less than ideal conditions. On top of that there are so many people/agencies that have to "approve" you. First, the social worker, who I cannot say enough times was amazing. Then our agency has to issue approval. Followed by the United States and Bulgarian governments respectively.  Having said all that, I have a few prayer requests. Please pray that the "approval" process continues to go smoothly and uneventfully both here and in Bulgaria. We have seen God's faithfulness through the social worker we received, and we are praying and trusting that we will continue to see that same faithfulness. Also, pray that our FBI clearance comes back soon. Really soon. Finally, please pray for our little girl. We have no idea if she is born yet, but we are praying that God will protect her mentally, emotionally, and physically. We are praying that she has caregivers that nurture her, love her, and provide for her in all the ways she needs. I am learning so much about trusting God throughout this whole process. There are so many uncertainties. So many mountains to climb only to realize that you have another mountain in front of you, but the important thing to remember is that no matter how many mountains you face you are never climbing alone.

Psalm 91

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

  ¹ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 ² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
       
 ³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler^[a]
         And from the perilous pestilence.
 ⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
 ⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
         Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
 ⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
         Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
       
 ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
         But it shall not come near you.
 ⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
       
 ⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
         Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
 ¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
 ¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
         To keep you in all your ways.
 ¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
 ¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
       
 ¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
 ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
 ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”