I Need a Family... - Part IV

So, we wait.  Wait for the next home study meeting.  Wait for documents to come back.  Wait for the home study completion & review.  Wait for the USCIS.  Wait for approval.  Does the wait ever end? 

This is where it gets tough.  Life keeps going on.  Work get busy.  Really busy.  I don't just have cash to just lay down for this.  The kids we have at home have their own needs.  Stress.  Questions.  Doubt... 

I pause to think... How long has Kristin been waiting?  How long has she needed an eternal family? What option does she have?  Faith.  Hope.  Endure.  Wait...  Wait.

Kristin's foster mom tucks her in and turns out the light.  Kristin lays there momentarily.  She buries her head in her pillow and pleads...

"Please. I need a family."

The paper chase - Part III

So what next? Instructions begin to come in the mail but there is so much, it seems overwhelming. Authentication, certification, home study, fingerprints, notary... Where do we start. So I started with the easy stuff, the things I could afford. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, letter from the employee. A few weeks into it i finally realize that the "critical path" (sorry, I'm a program manager) is the home study and that the paperwork for the home study is another whole list. It doesn't seem to matter too much what I do first since it all needs to be done.

Reid had just set off as a missionary so we needed to tell him ASAP. Off goes the excited letter to the missionary training center by overnight courier. It arrives. We don't hear anything. Days go by. No word. Finally we call the training center and ask them to have him read the letter. So he does. He had never received an express letter before so what was he to do? All the kids are excited and supportive. All is good.

We finally meet our social worker for the home study. She is very kind. The candles cover the Clorox scent pretty well and we make it through the home inspection with everyone still alive. More visits follow but we are now pro's and we set them up so we don't have to meet at the house. Much less complicated.

Kristin waits. In foster home number 4. Unaware that we are now waiting.

Family - Part II

Cancer. It makes my stomach turn to think about it. I have to admit Kristin caught my eye and heart at first sight. But, wouldn't it be irresponsible to possibly leave my wife with one more mouth to feed if IT came back. I delayed considering until Saturday.

There are people we can talk to who have adopted older children. Complete strangers... Ok. I'll talk.

Doll feels less nervous about older children. In all her wisdom she asks "Are we going to live our lives in fear of cancer?" Did IT teach us anything? What is really important to us? Family.

We make the call to the agency. I ask questions. I know the answers. Acceptance. Peace. Excitement. Fear.

Journey To An Older Child-Part I

Cancer. My stomach turns as I think of the surgery and recovery. But a single surgery cleared me for a few more years. More importantly it started me down the path to the rest of my life.

Life was good. We had 4 wonderful biological children... two of which were out of the house doing great works. We were making good money. Doll was able to stay at home to love and nurture our little nest. We had a nice home in a very nice city where we thought we were keeping up with the Jones pretty well. We bought new cars when we wanted to, a nice boat, and lots of busy with our children. Life was good.

The phone rang. Chris called to "chat" with Doll. The subject came up about their successful adoption of 2 little girls with special needs. Somehow the conversation transitioned to the discussion of a young lady who was available for adoption. She went by the alias of Kristin. Kristin was 10... had been in foster care for the last 3 years. She had some special needs with her back. Scoliosis. She had been on the "list" for quite a while and nobody had seriously considered her. In 2 weeks she would come off of the list and chances of a family would be pretty much gone a short bio was available online with a little photo. The description read "not as bright," "Not as pretty," "scoliosis." Doll fell in love.