The Big News!!!

Ok, so here it is! We've been making a decision for a few months now. Since Little Miss left our home, we've been agonizing about whether to continue foster care or not. Most people didn't know this. Most people assumed we were just waiting for our next placement. I have a deep passion for foster care, but as great at Little Man's exit was, was how awful Little Miss's was. I loved both of these children as my own. Little Miss's exit was unsure, unstable, and dragging. I knew she was getting ready to leave, but the dates kept changing. Her family wanted her with them, it was all just a mess. Even after her family got her, it still wasn't over. So we were deciding what to do next. As a family, we feel strongly about helping children, but at this point, we didn't think it was right for our family to have to say goodbye to another child. So we started talking. And talking, and praying, and talking, and praying and talking. Well, you get the point. So what is our news? Get to it already.

We have decided to adopt!!!! We prayed about it for weeks. We came to the decision to adopt pretty easily, it was the from where that was the major question. I was set on international, Ethiopia to be exact. Johnny wasn't keen on that. I wanted a baby, he didn't want to 'start over'. We looked into adopting a multi-racial child from a domestic agency. My friend had used them and at the time, they only charged fees for home studies. Sadly, they have changed their fee schedule and it was more than international. I couldn't get over the fact that it seemed like buying a baby.(this was this particular agency, and not a shot at anyone who adopts domestically) At least with international, the fees make sense, the flights, the hotels, the foster program, you're supporting the orphanages and such. But these are just American mothers living their lives. None of the money went to them, so I couldn't figure out where the "placement" fee was going to.

So after a lot of thought and prayer and talk, we decided to look into waiting children. They are mostly older kids. We have decided to add to our family from these children. As of right now, we do not have a particular child in mind. We are talking with our social workers about in-state children, and then we'll learn more about out-of-state.We are considering 1-3 children, as sibling set. We're looking at no older than 9. There are so many children available for adoption. We're excited to be adding to our family. We're looking at a girl, but will accept a sibling set with a boy in it. The boys were excited and definitely wanted a new brother over two sisters :) We talked to our amazing social worker to find out all we need to know. We have to write a narrative about our family and she's going to send it around. As of now, we are officially an adoptive family! In meantime we will be working with social services as a respite family. I'm happy to still be in helping foster families while we wait. As for how long this could take? We're not sure. We're in the lead already. We've had two foster children, we have a valid home study, and all our background checks have been cleared. So it's basically just waiting for the right children. They will be foster children for 6 months, according to the law. And then there's an additional 1-3 month wait for the official paperwork to come down. We can't wait to get started! We're grateful for any good thoughts, prayers, and support while we wait for our forever child or children. . God has blessed us beyond measure and we trust in His timing to bring us the child or children meant for us! 

The big news blog...

The big news is coming tonight! There should be a blog around 8pm. I actually already wrote and saved it. I can't wait until my meeting tonight to be able to share with everyone!!!! <3

1/27/11

I think we found our arrow!!!! We'll know for sure after Monday. Sorry to be so vague, but we agreed not to say much before we were sure. I think we're 75% there! Thanks for hanging on with us!

1/25/11

I feel like such a slacker for not writing. The truth is, I've been looking hard. Too hard maybe. The goal of this blog was to see without having to search. We're in the middle of a major life changing decision. The decision is basically made, but we need clarity about which direction to go. I've been reading a book called When God Winks At You: How God communicates with you through coincidences. So I've been on the look out for a God Wink. I'm pretty sure I've heard from Him a few times through "coincidences" but it's not making the decision for us. We want a big flashing neon arrow, saying ANDERSON'S OF GLOUCESTER, THIS WAY PLEASE. Maybe with our kids names too, just so we're sure it's us. But, in the mean time, we're still looking and praying hard.

I haven't been blinded.

I promise, my eyes are open now more than ever before. There is a HUGE blog coming soon with a HUGE decision, but I'm not releasing it just yet. There's a few more days to wait and a few more prayers to pray, but it's going to be good! Stay tuned, I promise it'll be worth it!

1-17-11

My husband is off today and once again, I can see God in my family. It's too easy. Today, I told the kids that we only had to math and Narnia. Johnny took them upstairs to do school!!! I found them doing Bible as well. It's amazing the difference that God and church has made in our lives. There was no miracle, oh we're all perfect now, things are easy change. But it's been nice, a bit more peaceful, and more loving. I love seeing my kids want to do charity work, they donate toys easily (for the most part), and they really enjoy learning about God.

1-14-11

All I have today is a solid prayer that I sent up. Asking nothing for myself, only for the protection of two little souls that are near and dear to me. I can't really go into detail. But two sweet girls need a bubble of protection around their bodies and their minds and mostly their hearts. A solid honest prayer, a prayer that I know God has heard. A prayer is about all I can do for the moment. I'm thankful that I am able to do that.