Our Adoption Story

Our new kids 6 month after being placed in our home.

As many of you know we have adopted two older children recently.  They have been with us since April 11, 2010 and the adoption was final on January 6, 2012.  We adopted through the State of Oregon.  I was invited last month to speak on an adoption panel that was held last night.  As I was speaking to the class all these memories came flooding back to me.  It hasn't been that long since the process.  This morning I thought I would tell you about our days and our experiences, our defeats and our victories.  

I can remember going through the classes uncertain which direction we were going to take.  We were indecisive about adoption vs. foster care.  At the time we had 4 children.  Two of them were out of the home both were 21, and then one was 16 graduated with one foot out the door and then our 8 year old boy.  

We decided on adoption because it was more final than foster care.  The purpose for foster care is to eventually reunite the children with their parents (if the parents get their act together).  I am so glad we took that road to adoption.  It is funny as I think about it.  I am a very efficient person who has my list and knows what I want and I go.....yes I go and get the job done.  I had in my mind that we wanted little ones (5 of them to be exact) but no babies.  Needless to say -- The Lord had a different plan for us and knew what we needed and what we could handle.  Before our homestudy was even complete the adoption worker called me and asked if we would consider older kids--- 11 year old boy almost 12 and a 12 year old girl and almost 13.  Brother and sister.  I said before we decided I need to know more information.  She asked her boss and they were able to get our homestudy approved that day and I picked up a "box" of papers telling about these children and their parents.  After reading about them we said yes "we would consider them".  I was surprised that there was no real devastating things that happen to these children from what I was reading.  They wanted to be adopted by a Christian family, who had animals, who had a dog, had a tv and went to church regularly.  Once we gave the okay, two weeks later we went to committee.  There were two other families that were trying for these children.  We found out that after two weeks of saying "yes" it was decided the children were ours! OH MY GOODNESS!!!  There was no backing out now.  We had to wait a week so the workers can look over paperwork and then we finally got to meet them after the 7 days waiting week.  We went up there on Friday to meet them and brought them home with us on Monday.  It was happening really fast and boy were we in for a ride!

This is one of the first photos that we took.  This is the day we met and they were spending the night in the hotel with us.  We were getting ready to go swimming. They look sad, uncertain and scared.  When I saw this picture my heart sunk because I don't remember noticing those faces of uncertainty. If I had I would have wrapped my arms around them to give them comfort. I can tell you they are different kids now.  I am excited to fill you in on the rest of our story.

To Be Continued..................................