...And Now The Wait

A couple months ago Shelly and I started a project. Now two months later, about $1500, background checks, 12 hours of orientation, very well written letters of recommendation from family and friends, and a home study we are now approved to be foster parents and adoption.

:) Talk about paperwork lol. We both had to write biographies and to list each and every place that we have lived. Because we have not been residents of PA very long we had to have criminal and child abuse clearance here and NY. Of course since you will be caring for a child they want to know everything about you and whether you are capable emotionally as well as financially and have a stable home environment.

We got to meet alot of adoptive parents through our our hours of orientation. There were some who have adopted from foreign countries like Korea, China, Russia and Guatemala and there were those who adopted locally. We got to hear all there stories. Some have been adopting for years while one or two have kept their families small.

I think the most rewarding part of the classes was the last night when we got to meet some of the children that had been adopted and they got to tell their stories.

The length of wait depends on how restrictive on the type of child you are willing to accept. The more restrictive, the longer the wait. We are willing to be foster parents but I think only in the case that the child is legally free for adoption. I think it would be too hard on all of us to get attached to a child for a period of time only to have him or her leave us. We would prefer to adopt.

Soooo, here we are. Our social worker is writing up the home study today and tomorrow and will be sending our info out to a handful of agencies.

Zack is very excited. He even went to our last orientation session with us and got to see all the children that have been adopted. He thought it was very cool. He doesn't care if he gets a bigger brother or sister or younger brother or sister. Maybe he will change his mind if he has to share his toys lol.

Whether it is an infant to a child aged up to 10 or so years and whether it is white or mixed race it makes no difference as we are opening our home :)


....and now we wait.