step 2

We have already completed step 1 in our foster/adoption process, which was the pre-application. Today was step 2. The first half of 14 hours worth of training that we have to complete before moving on in our journey. We spent 7 hours today learning the ins and outs of this program. Some we knew, some was completely foreign.

We got to meet a lot of other couples on the same path as us, which was encouraging. They come from all walks of life. Some were already adoptive parents, some had biological kids and felt called to the adoption front, some we much older, and one couple was a lot like us.

We still have a long way to go. One step at a time though. Next week is another 7 hour course and then our 14 hours of training will be complete (for now). We have a lot more steps though. Here is what we still have to go through before we can meet our kids:

- Application
- SLED authorizations
- Fingerprints
- Discipline Agreement Form
- Financial Agreement Form
- Family History Form
- W-2's and pay stubs
- 14 hours of training
- Disaster Preparedness Plan
- Autobiography (from both of us)
- Medical Report
- Child Factors Checklist
- Openness Checklist
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage License
- Social Security Cards
- Driver's License
- Pictures of home/family
- References
- Fire Inspection
- DHEC Inspection

So you can see we have a long way to go, but a lot of it is just paperwork. We actually received most of it today, so we will be diligently working on as much of it as possible. We really need to pray over some things before we start filling them out willy-nilly (like the Child Factors Checklist).

Eric and I can't tell you enough how much we appreciate your prayers and support during this time in our lives.

Stay tuned for more updates!