As we listened to the adoption specialist go over the information in the PowerPoint it felt a little like deja vu. Deja Vu can be both good and bad. The good thing is we've been down this road before. We know, for the most part, what to expect. The bad thing is we've been down this road before....and I'm a little scared that road may not look the exact same as it did before!
As we went through the powerpoint several things stuck out to me:
We first went over some statistics: There are an estimated 3 million unplanned pregnancies yearly and 1.2 million abortions performed. So sad! 1 in 8 couples experience infertility. Although it is somewhat comforting to know Ben and I are not alone I am also heartbroken every time I meet another family who has struggled like we have! In today's culture adoption is still looked down upon. Many people think it is shameful that someone would "give away" their baby. I look at Nathan's Birth Mom as the Hero in our situation. She chose life for him! A life that she very well could not have provided for him.
Our agency, much like the one we used while living in Arizona, is a faith based and child centered organization. They do what they do because they feel called to find every child who needs one a loving home. Although this agency is much larger than CFCA in Arizona I feel very comfortable working with them already.
The orientation talked a lot about open adoption and what it looks like. When we first learned about open adoption with our last agency it was overwhelming and scary. We didn't really know what it was. In today's society people outside of adoption still struggle with what open adoption really is and means. All I can say is that our hearts longed and still long for an open relationship with Nathan's Birth Mother. For now that door remains closed and we have respected that. But everyday as Nathan grows older and we remind him of his story and how he came to be a part of our family I wish I had more to tell him. I don't know a lot about his birth family other than that his Mom was young and was already raising one child on her own. Eventually he will ask questions that I may not have the answers to. And I find myself praying when that time comes that God will give me the words to answer them in the best way possible.
We were a little surprised to hear from Bethany that they only allow 35 families to be on their waiting families list at one time. If that waiting list is full we have to wait to enter their matchbook. The more open we are to adopting a baby from a variety of racial backgrounds and "potential" risk factors the shorter our wait usually will be once in the matchbook.
The next step we will take is meeting with an adoption specialist in person to go over the paperwork we will need to fill out in order to start our home study.
We covet your prayers as we begin, yet again, another adoption journey!
I am so honored that I get to read about your jorney. I will continue to pray for God's wisdom and direction for you and Ben.
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