The Home Study

Ok, so I know that it has been a ridiculously long time since I have posted anything, but I am going to try to get better : )

With that being said, Josh and I finished our home study today, which is a huge step forward in the adoption process.  For those of you who are learning the lingo of adoption, a home study consists of a written portion of essays (mine ended up being 11 pages, Josh was only 7), as well as an at-home interview and a house inspection (there are certain qualifications your house has to meet).   I was really, really nervous about this step in the process, but it was actually very encouraging!  Our home study was broken up into 2 portions - the first meeting included the home inspection as well as the interview with Josh and I together.  Today, we had separate interviews and then more together interviews.  Both times, I have finished feeling excited and like Josh and I are ready to take on this challenge.  From here, our home study will be submitted for approval, and hopefully we will begin looking at children's profiles in September!

For those of you who don't already know, our adoption is thru a state program called Texas Waiting. These children are in the Foster Care system and are waiting for an adoptive match to be made.  This means that we have the opportunity to adopt a single or a sibling group, a child of different ethnicity, a child with special needs, so many choices!  Josh and I are hoping to be matched with a sibling group (around 3 kids), and are very open to any of the other "options" - we know that God will lead us to our perfect match!

This entire process has been challenging, but I have been told that the next period of waiting is actually the most difficult, especially as you look at profiles, become invested in the children, and then are ultimately told these will not be your children.  Please pray for attentiveness to the Lord's leading and confidence in His beautiful timing.