Adoption Questions

Thank you all of your encouragement and support!  It means the world to us.  We are feeling so many things right now.  I love your questions.  I wanted to address a few of them here.

Are you working with an adoption agency?
Yes.  We chose Bethany Christian Services because we know several families personally who worked with them and had a great experience.  They have been very supportive and helpful.  They're a nation wide agency that has been around a long time.  They are a great fit for us.

How long have you been in this process?
Almost exactly one year ago we had our initial interview to make sure we weren't crazy people.  Somehow we made it through :O)  

How did the expectant parents choose you?
When expectant parents contact Bethany [Christian Services], they begin counseling with a social worker.  Then, they make a list of preferences for an adoptive family.  It really could be anything: married couple, with or without children, college educated, pets... Their worker takes what she knows about the situation [i.e. medical history, gender of the baby, ethnicity...] and compares their preferences with waiting families.  She pulls all the profiles that match.  Then, she gives all the profile books to the expectant parents and asks them to identify a family.

What was your book like?
We created this profile book.  Take a look!  We used a company called Artifact Uprising and we LOVED working with them!  The final product came out so well!  

Are you planning an open adoption?
Yes.  Open adoption is when the biological and adoptive families have access to varying degrees of each other's personal information and have an option of contact.  We are really excited to build a relationship with the expectant parents and their families.  This will include letters, pictures and visits.

Did you request a girl?
Nope.  We didn't specify gender.


Have you met the family?
Yes!  We met the expectant mother and her mom last Friday.  They are wonderful!  We had the best visit with them--just getting to know them and asking questions... it was hard not to stare at her beautiful face and belly.  I really wanted to bring her flowers and cupcakes; but we're not allowed to exchange any gifts at all.  I suppose cupcakes for a pregnant women would be coercion...

What was the meeting like?
We met at the Bethany office.  We got there first [okay, we were a hour early--a little excited].  We met with our social worker, who we love!  Talked about questions we should and shouldn't ask that day...  They arrived and spoke with their social worker for a while.  Then, they came in to the conference room where we were.  It was such a moment.  I'll never forget it.  Surreal.  We introduced ourselves, sat and talked.  Our social worker helped prompt a few questions to begin with.  We ended up talking for over an hour.  We left sharing hugs all around.  We met with our social worker for a bit afterward-- then, floated home on a cloud.  It went really really well.  I just love them already. 

What now?
Now, we wait.  We wait for her to be born.  She's due at the end of this month!!!

Will you bring her home from the hospital?
Unfortunately, no.  In the state of Maryland, birth parents have 30 days before they can terminate their parental rights.  Basically, if we took her home and they chose to parent, we'd have 24 hours to give her back.  We feel like an "at risk" placement [straight from the hospital] is not the right choice for our family..

Where will she go?
Bethany has families whose whole job is to care for these tiny babies during the risk period.  They are called interim care families.  We will get to visit with the baby once a week for one hour... her biological parents will also have the option to visit her too.  

How can we pray for you?
Pray for protection over this sweet baby and her mother.  Pray that God would strength them both: mind, body and soul.  Pray that we can rest to God's will and trust that He will provide for all we need to welcome this baby into our home.

We're happy to answer any other question you might have.  We are so thankful for you sharing our Adopt Together.  Any encouraging words you want to send our way are always appreciated. 

Thank you for everything!
Kristen

p.s. The current standing of our Iron Bowl Fundraiser : AUBURN- $750 alabama- $950... There's still time!!!  War Eagle!