The Beginning

March 13, 2011

I started this blog a little late, but to keep you up to date, we have already submitted our preliminary and formal applications to Bethany Christian Services.  We chose Bethany for a few reasons: 
-The first being simply that they were the first adoption agency that came up when I googled/yahooed agencies.  Their website was very easy to follow and almost anything you wanted to know about them was easily accessible on the site. 
-The second reason being that I liked that it was a Christian agency.  I know you can't go by first impressions alone, but they really seemed to be Christ centered and seemed to have a strong ministry going. 
-The third reason was that after inquiring about adoption, we immediately received information via mail and e-mail.  All the steps we would be taking through the next months were clearly explained and laid out for us.
Although we are early in the process, I have to say that so far, I do not regret our decision in choosing Bethany.  They have been extremely helpful and friendly.  Though it has at times, seemed like a chore, the training classes they require are wonderful.  They have helped us immensely in preparing our hearts and minds for becoming adoptive parents.  They may not be the cheapest agency but seem to have the best of intentions for the child and the birthmother as well.  If anything, adoptive parents are the last priority at Bethany which may sound weird, but I think is great.  After all, the child and what is best for that child is the most important, whether that be staying with his/her birthparents, or joining our family.  "Bethany doesn't find babies for families; they find families for babies." 
   The first Tuesday in February, we began our training sessions to help us prepare to become adoptive parents.  It has been a wonderful experience hearing adoptive parents stories, being with other couples who are adopting, learning ways to deal with any circumstances we may face with our child, and learning ways we can minister about adoption and how great it is.  We've also been required to read at least three books on Adoption.  One book, "The Connected Child" is required and has been part of our training.  It came to me while I was reading this book that I wish every parent, whether biological or adoptive, could read this book.  It has so many parenting tips/ideas/philosophies that I think are great for any parent and child.  Anyway, training will go through the end of March so we're over halfway done. 
   Along with our training during that past couple of months, we have also been tackling the task of paperwork.  I thought there was a lot of paperwork when we bought our house, but that was nothing!  Again, I sometimes feel like all parents should be required to fill out some of this stuff before they have kids :)  We've had physicals, drug testing, psychiatric evaluations, marriage evaluations, along with discussions about our infertility, criminal background checks, credit checks, family history, self-studies, and not to mention I (we) had to take two vacation days to be able to get some of this stuff done.  BUT, whenever we feel overwhelmed and like this is all pointless, we remind each other why we're doing all this.  And of course that's for our child.  Anything that can help us be better parents and better spouses is well worth it. 
  And it's been amazing how much God (and the devil for that matter) has been working with Doug and I.  I can't lie and say that everything has been peachy since we found out we were infertile because it certainly hasn't.  We have had some very intense fights, some very emotionally draining discussions, and many temptations to give up.  But of course, our time of trials has only brought us closer to Him, closer to each other, and closer to our friends and family.  It has made me see what a gracious heavenly Father I have, what a wonderful earthly father and mother I have, and what a loving and committed father Doug will be, AND how blessed I am to have all of them.
  So now, we are waiting to hear back from all of our doctors, finishing our paperwork, finishing the last few trainings, and then once all that is complete we will do that last part of our home study which will be a home visit.  I'm thinking by June (hopefully earlier) we will have all of that done and officially beginning the waiting process.  Lots of waiting but no doubt that what we receive in the end will be WELL worth the wait :) 
  **Also, we are trying to think of ways to raise money.  If anyone has any suggestions, we would love to hear them!  Every little bit helps, so we're open to anything! **