Still Waiting!

I never thought we would STILL be waiting for a referral! Our two (2)-year anniversary of beginning the adoption process is this Thursday, February 12.

We were so disheartened to learn that Vietnam was going to shut-down while a new agreement is worked out between the two (2) governments. We have become even more disheartened as month after month go by, and the governments have not even met to discuss a new agreement. However, we knew from the beginning that adoption isn't for wimps, so we are doing our best to stay positive.

Please keep us and all of the other prospective parents in your thoughts and prayers. It is bitter-sweet as we drop on the waiting list. Because the program is closed, it means that families are dropping off the list. I pray that they have found their precious sons and daughters in another country or through another way.

God bless you all, and thanks for waiting for over a YEAR for me to post!

Beth

The New Year

Well, 2007 is officially behind us. As the year ended, it made me reflect on all Jody and I have done this year:

• First and foremost, we made the decision to adopt!
• Research, research, research as we looked for our agency. We couldn't be happier that we were led to Michelle and then Sara with Children's Hope.
• More research to find an agency to do our homestudy. Erica with Adoption Assistance led us step-by-step through the process (before she moved to Texas!).
• $$$ - like it or not, adoption costs. We secured an adoption loan and, while we were at it, refinanced the house...it will be paid off before Evan goes to high school!
• We completed our home study. We had our fingerprints taken! WE WERE CIS APPROVED! WE WERE ADDED TO THE LIST!

We definitely had a productive year. As the anniversary of our decision to adopt aproaches (February 12), I can definitely say the year has had its ups and downs. But we are that much closer to Evan!

Patience, Patience, Patience!

Adoption is not for wimps! It is also not for the anal retentive! Nothing happens as planned. There is NO schedule. The process happens as it happens. Prayer, friends, family, and chocolate get you through it!

The wait times for boys has increased. Rather than the 12-15 months we expected to wait for a referral, we will now wait 18-24 months. That turns the 2 year process into a 3 year process. Little Evan will have more clothes and more toys than any other child in Kentucky!

The List!

We're on the list! We received CIS approval (finally) on Friday, and we were officially added to the waiting list today, Monday, July 30, 2007. We are 199. It's a long way from number 1, but it's a step in the right direction!

Waiting for Evan

We are officially four months into the two year (or more!) adoption process. We are currently waiting...again! So far, we have waited for CHI approval, waited for our bank loan, waited for our CIS fingerprinting appointment, and waited for our home study to be completed. I heard from Erica yesterday (it's past midnight!), and our home study is officially completed! Julie will send it to CIS on Monday! So we are now waiting on CIS again - this time for approval, so we can be put on The List - the list for Evan!