I love new adventures and this one I have a feeling is going to be quite a roller coaster! We are excited and nervous about this adoption but we know God has called us do this. We have had many ask us so many questions pertaining to the adoption I'm hoping to answer and clarify the process. First we completed an info sheet about ourselves to be accepted into one of the adoption programs at Gladney. We researched different adoption agencies and Gladney just seemed to be the right one for us. After filling out our info sheet we were told that we would know in about 10 business days whether or not we had been accepted into the program. Now we were not sure what all it took to be accepted but we prayed that if this agency was not the one for us then we would look a different one. In three days we received news that we had been accepted into the domestic infant program! Tears of joy filled my eyes as I ran through work calling J.R. to tell him the good news and tell my co-workers. We learned that before being accepted they present couple's info sheets to a board that decide if the couple would complete the adoption process and if they met the agency's standards to present to birth mothers/parents. So to receive the news that we had been accepted and what it meant for them to accept us was enough confirmation for us. We then set a date to attend orientation at Gladney in Ft. Worth. We attended along with 11 other families and learned more about the domestic infant program, financial needs, and the legal aspects of adoption. We then were given a tour of the dorms for birth mothers that choose to stay at Gladney. The dorm was absolutely beautiful and it was nice to learn how well they take care of the birth mothers and support them from the time they arrive to the time they leave. They support them even after their baby is adopted. After the tour they brought two birth mothers in to talk to the families and tell us about their experience at Gladney and what their expectations were when choosing a family. We then had the opportunity to also meet a couple that had just adopted their newborn baby and share their adoption experience. The entire day was wonderful and We walked away excited and ready to begin our adoption journey! So here we are now waiting for our adoption notebook to arrive any day now to begin the paperwork. So here is a layout of what we will be expecting.
1. Info Sheet
2. Orientation
3. Paperwork
4. Home Study
5. Home Study approval
6. Profile Books created and sent out
7. Wait to be chosen
Each adoption is different and it is hard to say how long our wait will be once our profile books are presented to birth mothers/parents. The great news is our profile books will be presented to birth mothers all over the nation which will give us more opportunities. The wait will seem long but we know God has a plan and we look forward to the day we get to meet our little one!
Picture credit: Rachel Leigh Photography
