I will WAIT for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me."
Micah 7:7 (NASB)
Linda Dillow uses the above verse to liken waiting to a rocking chair. As you rock back and forth fluidly you are watching expectantly as you lean forward, then waiting patiently as you lean back. (Satisfy my Thirsty Soul
, pg. 175) This describes our waiting for our adoption perfectly. You do everything you can and lean forward to watch expectantly (ring, phone, ring!) then lean back and wait patiently on the Lord. August 2008-October 2008- We attempt to privately adopt twins. It fell through. (Sam and Grace)
October 2009- We move to a new state due to J's job. Immediately begin home study.
January 2010- Approved by Agency #1
March 2010- Approved by Agency #2
May 2010- Adoption attempt #2 with Agency #1. It fell through. (Isaiah)
- Decide to work with a third agency and begin this process.
July 2010- Agency #3 matches us for adoption attempt #3.
August 2010- Caeden Michael is born! We rejoice, visit the hospital multiple times, but on the day we would take him home, it falls through. 3 days later we were matched with adoption attempt #4- also with agency #3.
September 2010- Abigail Chiara is born September 12! We bring her home September 14!
January 2011- TPR complete!
February 21, 2011- FINALIZED!!!!!!
October 25, 2011- Learned about Gianna!
November 2011- Gianna Luce is born November 18! We bring her home November 21!
January 2012- TPR complete!
-TOTAL TIME for Home Study to be approved: almost 3 months
-TOTAL TIME from Home Study to Placement: 11 months
-TOTAL TIME from Placement to Finalization for Abigail: 5 months
-TOTAL TIME from Placement to Finalization for Gianna: ? months
I should stress that our wait time was reduced because we were open to any race, almost any complication (physical, medical, psychological), and an open adoption. This openness, plus our biracial marriage, helped us fit many birth mom's criteria.
More common questions and answers coming soon!
8 comments:
I don't know if this is a common question or not, but do you have any statistics you've come across in your search about how many adoptions happen, how many people are looking to adopt, or how many children are in foster care? A big sticking point in a current discussion I'm having over abortion with a friend is that adoption isn't a viable option because babies don't get adopted, and then end up in an already overwhelming foster care system. While there are other problems at play there, I thought you may have some data you've seen somewhere...
Allie, I would be shocked if there were babies (at least a number worthy of statistics- not 0.0001%) that were available for adoption but not adopted. Children only get put into foster care if they are in an unsafe situation and removed from their birth parents. The vast majority of these children are ultimately returned to their birth parents. I haven't run across any statistics up until now, but did a quick google search and found this on foster care statistics:
http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/FactOverview/foster.html
It's an older study, but seems pretty thorough. Here's a study from 2009:
http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Adoption-Facts/Foster-Care-Facts
And I found this on how many children were adopted in 2000 and 2001:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_adopted/s_adopteda.cfm
Hope that helps!!!
Allie - I am no expert here, but I too would be shocked that babies up for adoption would go un-adopted. There is usually a significant wait for couples desiring a baby because so many couples want to adopt babies! Even babies with special needs, like Down syndrome, are often adopted quite readily (I am friends with one mom who has adopted three children with Down syndrome and is part of a network of adoptive parents of children with special needs). As Lauren said, foster care is typically a different path entirely and used for different purposes.
Wow. What a journey that has been well rewarded:)
Wow.. that is some time line and your faith put you through it all! She was made for your family and everything was perfect time on God's plan. Did you get the hair bows? I hope it work out just let me know if not to send you a different one. God Bless you and your family!
Posts like this keep me going during the tough times :)
Allie, Lauren and Sarah are exactly right. My husband did some Child Advocate work, and the foster system usually happens after the children are older (never infants) and the parental rights haven't been terminated. Usually has to do with bad homes and parenting. Totally different beast.
Love this!!! I think I'm going to copy you.
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