goodbye paperwork

Ok, I have some pretty major news!

Eric and I are officially turning in our adoption paperwork on Tuesday! Are you as excited as we are? Probably not, but I can still feel your excitement. Our final steps were to make copies of some financial stuff, take pictures, and get our physicals.

Here comes the not-so-fun part. In our physical we had to have our cholesterol level tested. Mine came back Friday...high. Like way too high for a 5' tall, 108 lb, healthy-eating, exercise-doing, 25 year old. If you don't know my medical history/our whole story you can read it here.

Now in all fairness, it wasn't a fasting cholesterol and it didn't give us the breakdown of HDL, LDL and triglycerides. I go back in three months for that. Now I am asking for prayer. Please pray that this recent health discovery won't affect our adoption process in any way, shape, or form. Right now I don't feel like it will, but it has been such a long and hard process that it's easy for me to dwell on negative.

The other prayer request comes in the form of this: Once we turn in our paperwork I feel utterly and completely like I have no control over the situation anymore. Once it's in we are at the mercy of SC DSS with their homestudy (or home invasion as I have recently begun to think of it as), fire inspection and DHEC inspection. These should be completed within three months of our paperwork, which puts us officially in the category of "waiting family" in November. Here is our updated checklist:


- 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
- 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
- Homestudy

Just to clarify thought, Eric and I don't view our child(ren) as a checklist. We know they are living, breathing, beautifully created, loved by God human beings. The checklist is just one of the hoops we have to jump through to give them the loving and nurturing home they so rightly deserve.

I am terrified and excited to say the least. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! (Excuse me, but I just needed to get that out). I am scared of the waiting. I feel like we have been waiting for so long already (two and a half years, actually) that I really can't bear the thought of my kid(s) being out there somewhere not getting the love, the affection, the sturdiness, the security that they so desperately need. I want them. I want them with every single fiber of my being.

Please, please pray that this process would be as quick and painless as possible. That Eric and I would continue to not run ahead of God, and to seek his will, and to believe in His perfect timing. Pray for our future children and their safety and environment. Pray for their birth parents and the decisions that they have/are going to make.

I will be back with more as soon as I can, but for now this is all my heart can bear to pour out.

5 comments:

  1. Heather,
    I know that we really dont know much about each other, even though we are family, but I want you and Eric to know that I will be praying for you everyday. I totally understand the aodption process as I use to work for the state in the adoption system here in FL. I have seen what the families have to go through. I am so excited to hear that you are using the state agency as there are soooooo many children out there that need GOOD families and I know that you an Eric will provide a GOOD CHRISITAN home for the child or children that the God puts in your life. I cant wait to hear how it all turns out. Just keep your chins up. I often have to remind myself that everything happens in Gods time. I usually tell myself to Be Still and know that he is God. Love you Both and I will be praying for you.
    Hollie

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  2. I love you...and I love your heart. I am so super excited about what God is doing. I love hearing every update and I am praying for you and Eric both, and for your child(ren).

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  3. this is huge!!! congrats! praying for you, heather!

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  4. You have no clue how excited I am for the paper work part to be done! WOO HOO!!!!!! YAY!!!! I can't wait to babysit for you guys on YOUR date nights! Gonna be AMAZING! We will keep on praying for you guys! But my dear, even when the paperwork was being done, it wasn't in your hands. It is in His. And He is going to do a great job for you and Eric. Your reward is coming soon and it will be so worth the terrible wait. You made it through all but 3... you can do it! You are almost there!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  5. Praying for you Heather. I know what paper work is like. Being married to a man from another country and mother to a baby born in another we have a lot it. It also seems like with every paper turned in and every exam done money is required but God will be faithful. Trust him and try not to be anxious. Remember he is Fathering the little ones who will be entrusted in your care and he is overseeing each step of the process.

    Praise God that things are advancing!!!

    Thank you for the Salsa Lizano.

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