Friday, January 25, 2013

Meeting Our Social Worker for the First Time...


Yesterday Michael and I had our first home study interview.  It turned into a 2 hour long joint interview.  It was only suppose to be an hour or so, but time flies when you are having fun!  I have been nervous about this day because it was the first time we met our social worker/adoption specialist and it was our first interview!  Yikes!  Michael and I spent the night at my parent’s house because it is a little closer to Columbus than Corinth.  If you know anything about me, then you know I am not a morning person. Ha! 

Lately we have felt like we are in fast forward with our lives.  Wednesday I came home and started throwing things in bags for our night away from home and trying to make sure our four legged baby was settled in for the night.  We are thankful Michael’s mom and dad love our BIG fury baby as much as we do and keep him company while we are away.  They even turned a fan on to make him feel like he was at home!  Yes, he is spoiled! 

We left our house and headed to Blue Springs.  Although Michael and I missed church due to packing and traveling; we caught my childhood church services dismissing and stopped for a brief visit with my large family before heading to bed.  We woke up semi-early and ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  It was delicious!  After a long car ride we finally made it to Columbus.  We were greeted at Bethany Christian Services by a sweet lady who introduced us to our social worker/adoption specialist.  We were so thrilled to meet her for the first time.  Michael and I have been praying for our social worker for a while.  She is amazing!  Before Michael and I felt the call to adopt we had started the process of foster care, but quickly found out it wasn’t what God was calling us to do.  We went through all the classes and paperwork, but stopped right before the home visit. I said that to say this: We have seen the importance of a good social worker!  We have been blessed with a wonderful social worker and are very excited to be working with her. 

We started off by introducing ourselves and everything else that goes along with meeting new people.  Our worker mixed things up to make it feel more like a conversation rather than an interview.  I liked that much better.  I didn’t feel like I was being interrogated.  It was a very pleasant experience.

Bethany has started a new process of paperwork that we completed which is supposed to be easier than before.  So far the paperwork hasn’t been hard.  We have completed our self study that will be used to guide our individual interviews, physicals including a drug screen and TB skin test, financial statement, copies of our birth certificates, tax form information from last year has been sent (we are waiting to file for this year), copy of marriage license, insurance coverage affidavit, and several criminal background checks.  We were informed that this completes our paperwork process, until placement. YAY!!!  This means we are that much closer to being approved!  Yep, you heard right!  We are very close to waiting on “THE CALL!”  Our social worker told us that if all goes well (and she felt like it would), then we would be approved at the end of March. 

Michael and I still have our individual interviews, which is scheduled for February 14th at 10 AM.  The interview will be on the same day, but one will wait in the lobby or ride around Columbus while the other is being interviewed and vise versa.  Sounds fun, huh?!  After the interviews are complete, we will set a date and time for our social worker to come to our house for the home visit.  I am nervous about this because I am a little OCD!!  Michael thinks I go overboard cleaning the house when family comes over, so I am sure he is worried about my reaction to a total stranger coming to inspect our house!  He is laid back and I am Mrs. Spastic!  It is okay, we will get through it, I know. 

The last step to our process is an all day mandatory meeting that will be held in March.  After this meeting, we will officially be approved! 

Then we just wait.  We wait on God’s timing!  

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  Habakkuk 2:3

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;).  Hebrews 10:23

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.  Thou openest thine hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing.  Psalm 145:15,16

This is a faith walk with God!  Please continue to keep us in your prayers!  Please help us pray for our adoption journey, for the birthmother as God guides her through this difficult process, for the safety and health of Baby Shook, and for our patience as we wait on God’s perfect timing. 

I would like to send out a very special thank you for everyone that has purchased a t-shirt already.  You are a large part in our adoption journey!  A simple thank you is not enough!  We are overwhelmed with gratitude towards you and your family.  May God bless each and every one of you in a very special way!  As I said before in an earlier post; the t-shirts are not just for raising money, but to join us in prayer.  Every time you wear our shirt or toss them in the washing machine let it be a reminder to pray for our journey!  We love you all so much and if you have any questions about our journey feel free to contact us by phone, facebook, or e-mail.  We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about our journey. 

The t-shirts are still for sell and we are hoping to place another order next week if all goes as planned!  There is a store in Corinth that has agreed to sell our t-shirts for us which will be announced when we are ready for you to purchase/pick up from that very generous store!  More information on that later… 

I apologize for not posting the amount of the t-shirts in my earlier post.  The long sleeve is 20.00 and short sleeve is 18.00, for those of you who were wondering. 

Michael and Ginger

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