We went to orientation at the beginning of March and fell in love with the staff at Christian Homes & Family Services. They have such a heart for all who are involved in the adoption process. They have an apartment complex just for birth moms to utilize if they need a place to stay. They provide counseling to all involved before and after the adoption. And you can just hear how much they love birth moms, adoptees, and adoptive families.
I was amazed with everyone we met and our social worker, Sharla, already feels like she has been a family friend for years. Sean's favorite part of orientation was the panel discussions. The agency brought in 3 adult women who had been adopted, 4 birth moms, & 2 couples who have recently finalized their adoptions. Each group was given a chance to speak to us and we were able to ask any questions we needed. All in all it was an amazing weekend & we were well prepared for completing our home study.
Typically after orientation it take 6-8 months to complete your home study, which includes stacks of paperwork, fingerprinting, disaster planning (yes, we have an escape route posted in our kitchen), fire marshal inspection, letters from our doctor, letters from our pastor, references, CPR & first aide classes, financial records, an interview with a social worker, writing a letter to the birth mom, putting together a family profile & scrapbook, and lastly the social worker visits to our home. I'm happy to say that we have completed all of these things in just under 2 months!!! Ok, so I'm still nit picking my scrapbook, but it's almost done.
So now we wait... wait to be selected by the birth mother of our future child! We wait and we pray. We pray that her journey to us be filled with people who love her and guide her towards Christ's unconditional love. We pray that she may find Christian Homes quickly so that that can help bear her burdens as she makes a difficult decision. We pray that she is wrapped in the love of Christ & can feel our prayers. We hope that you will pray with us too!
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:13
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalms 139:16
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14:1
If you happen to run into a pregnant women in need of support, please don't hesitate to give her our blog or the following contact information for Christian Homes & Family Services.
Christian Homes & Family Services
Toll free 1.800.592.4725
www.ChristianHomes.com
Excited for you! I am praying for you and your baby who the Lord already has for you.
ReplyDeleteI want to see your scrapbook!