And so it begins...

Dear Family & Friends,

We wanted to updated everyone on our journey through the adoption process. As of yesterday we've completed our last bit of "homework" necessary to make us ready and available to receive a baby. (Woo hoo!) We've through with the immeasurable paperwork, home study visits, background checks, adoption profile (sort of like a portfolio of our life that birthmothers can choose adoptive parents from), and finally the visit with the attorney. So, as far is we're concerned, we're done with "labor" and are waiting for "delivery." We consider ourselves officially "expecting."

Of course, the question of the day is "How long will it take?" Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing, but here's the good news. The two directors of the agency (New Life Counseling), our social worker and our attorney all have been INCREDIBLE to work with. We feel so blessed that God lead us toward each one of them. None of them stand to make a profit with this or any adoption they're involved with and they are all doing it for the sake of the babies and all the decisions they make are discerned in prayer. (How refreshing!)

All of them have affirmed us and have told us that the others on the team keep telling them, "We've got to find this couple a baby." Of course, they don't solicit babies, but they feel so confident that we are ready for placement. We know that God has already chosen our children, so it's just a matter of everything to line up and having all the doors open for God to move.

Back to the timing issue.....they don't think it's going to take as long as we're prepared for. It could be a matter of a birthmother choosing us and we wait the few weeks/ months until she delivers, or it could be that a baby's been born at the hospital to a mother who is unable or unwilling to parent and we go and pick him/her up!

Either way, we've have been forewarned by the professionals that we're embarking on a roller coaster ride. There can be mothers who change their minds at the last minute, legal complications, medical/financial issues, etc. Sooooo......we're asking for prayers from you guys.
- Prayers for these birhmothers, that they choose life and make wise choices for these babies
- Prayers for the professionals working with these women and with us.
- Prayers for Iain and I that we can meet whatever challenges and graces that lie ahead and that we prepare well for parenthood.

The last thing our attorney said to us was, "Folks, it never fails........there's always a Christmas baby." Hmmmmm. Maybe a baby before the year is out! But really, any day we are united with our baby will be Christmas for us!

Apologies for the lengthy letter. Consider yourselves officially "caught up" and jump on the prayer wagon with us!