The Home Study - Part 2

April 5th we drove to OKC for our initial meeting with the Oklahoma Baptist Childrens Home to get our home study started. We attended a 2 hour "seminar" and got the application packet. The packet is rather thick and there is many things to think about during the filling out process.

During the meeting some things that I had already started thinking about and doing were re-affirmed. She told us to start a journal... this is it... and she told me to start learning as much as possible about the culture of Ukraine. I have thought about that a lot and although I am finding it difficult to find information about Ukraine I am still committed to learn as much as possible before we actually go to the country.

The woman completing the home study is Teri Blanton. She will be a big part of getting the entire home study process complete and she will be meeting the child we adopt on a few occasions. I am told by my boss that she is a very nice woman and they were very pleased with her during their Home Study.

The Home Study, Part 1

As part of the adoption process we have to complete a home study. basically they will have to do a few interviews and a home safety inspection to make sure we aren't crazy and that we are stable enough to adopt a child. We are getting our home study done through the Baptist Children's home in Oklahoma City. Since we are active Southern Baptists we are supposed to get our study for free. That is good because it saves us $2000. All we will have to pay for is the fingerprinting and background checks. Our first appointment is scheduled for the 5th of April. At this first meeting we will meet the agency and get our application packet and discuss what comes next.

Adoption Update

Things are progressing well. We are fundraising and getting closer to our goal everyday. We got our first packet from America World describing the next steps and asking for the initial fee in addition to some paperwork. Currently we are selling candy bars, accepting cash gifts, and using credit opportunities to pay for things. Once the home study is complete we will start applying for grants and subsidies, but the fundraising will continue until the adoption is near completion.

Candy Sales and Credit opportunities

Funding the adoption has begun. I have started by trying to sell candy bars from fund raiser kits. All I have to do is sell 26,000 candy bars and I will be all set. I figure that won't be to hard if I have every man, woman, and child buy a candy bar in this town. I should probably get some other things lined up.

We have been looking at various credit opportunities to cover some small part of the adoption costs. I know that is not the route we really want to go, but I am sure we will need some money from that type of source. Anything borrowed will be the first paid back with the Tax relief we get when the adoption is complete.

I am still looking for other ideas for fundraising. I appreciate all of the suggestions I have already gotten, I am sure I will use them. Any help in any form is greatly appreciated.

We are working hard and I am sure this will be over before we know it.

The Paper Pregnancy

It is official. We heard back from America World Adoption Association. We are approved to proceed. We will be getting a packet in the mail with forms to sign and the initial payment is due. I am not sure how much that will be, but it brings the urgency for fun raising a step forward. I am constantly thinking about ideas to raise money for the adoption. If anyone has any ideas I would happily welcome them. I am trying to come up with creative ideas, and currently I am trying to think of a way to harness the internet.

So the "Paper Pregnancy" has begun. In as little as 9 months we could have a new baby boy or girl. We are both so excited. :)

Waiting Waiting Waiting

Ok. So It's been 10 full days since I sent in the application for adoption. I have not heard one thing yet, and no one has said that they have been checked as a reference. I am nervous about it and my wife is more anxious about this process than I thought. She is excited and wants it to be over already in the sense that she wants to have the child in her arms ASAP. This process will be difficult in that I don't have much patience when it comes to paperwork and actions similar to this.

We will have to pray for strength and patience in this long and difficult process.

The Adoption - Introduction

Welcome to my new blog about our upcoming adoption. For those that don't know, which would really consist of people who don't know me or have not seen me in a while, Reneay (my wife) and I have decided to adopt a child. We have chosen to adopt Internationally from the Ukraine. Here I will keep a journal of happenings about the adoption process and how things are going for us. Feel free to comment.

This week, February 9, 2004, I submitted the application to America World Adoption Association. This decision to submit the application came after a long process of debate and consideration for other possibilities. We think that we are making the right decision and we are confident that things will proceed well.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts are we get through this process. It is going to cost a lot of money so I may post information about fund raisers we will be doing in the future. Check back to see how things are going soon.