@#$%&*@

No, that doesn't represent a bad word or thought.....just my frustration for which there is no word. Seriously, we are still waiting on answers. We had our last home study about three weeks ago (or more!), and we are still waiting on some answers that came up in our last meeting with the home developer. I tried not to harass her about it, but maybe I should have bugged her a little sooner than I did. I waited so long to ask the status of our "situation" that the director was already headed to the coast for a week long cruise. We had to set up a meeting for today at our agency to discuss some hot topics that came up last visit, and that meeting was cancelled almost last minute. I know the director can't help that she is sick and I am so thankful she kept her germs at home so Eddie and I didn't have to share them with her :), HOWEVER, we are very anxious to get the ball rolling again, and a month of waiting just seems a bit unnecessary if you ask me. We should have been licensed by now. I am not the most patient person, so I know this has to be God. For me to be as calm as I am (oh this is definitely calm for me!), I can't imagine that it's anything but His perfect timing. Every time I start to get anxious about the fact that we still aren't licensed (and still no finger prints OR bed!!), I have to remind myself that in His perfect timing we will meet our foster son. Maybe he'll be the first and only, or maybe he'll be the first of many. Either way, we didn't go down this path thinking it was an easy one. I did a lot of research and praying before "jumping" into this.

I hear a lot of commercials lately bringing a little spot light to foster care and adoption. Even got to catch the tail end of a talk show that's guest host was an adoptive dad on my way to the kids' dentist/doctor's appointment earlier this week. Makes me smile inside hearing other people talk about their adoption experience. Speaking of which, have you checked out Tara and Brad's page lately?? They have some super cute pics of Jacob posted. :)

Please keep us in your prayers if you're still reading this (you know, since I practically abandoned the blog while waiting (not) SO patiently!). We have a lot of things coming up (training, events, trip to visit friends out of town, mother's day) that should keep us occupied, but also cost $$$ and we still have a couple expensive things on our list! (I am seriously having issues w/buying another bed we won't be using. I am cheap, people!) Any and all prayers are appreciated!!!

on hold

So for right now everything is on hold as far as our licensing goes. Kind of a bummer, but Eddie and I don't want to spend any more money (the extra bed, finger prints, etc) until we get some answers. I don't really want to go into all the details, but something came up in our last home study that upset me a little. I asked for some answers before we continue with our agency. This by no means will stop us from fostering, just puts a bump in the road. We were supposed to be licensed by the beginning of April, and obviously that hasn't happened. It's good to know we only have a few things left to do, but it should all have already been done. Makes me a little angry to have to wait on something like this. As much as we both like the people at our agency, sometimes things seem so disorganized, and I am NOT a fan. I sent an email to our home developer today asking for an update since we haven't seen her in a week, and she called me right away. I think she knows I'm upset and she really is trying to get me some answers, however, she still doesn't have one. Sooo, we wait. And wait. And wait.....or at least it feels that way. I know everything is in God's perfect timing, but some days it just seems like this will never happen. It's kind of like being in the middle of a pregnancy. You feel like the day will never come, and then it does and it seems like time flew by. :) But trust me, right now, time is standing still! So while we wait, go check out Brad and Tara's blog (The Mowen's Adoption Journey) to see how things are going for them in ET while they wait for court to take their son, Jacob, home! I can't wait until she can post pics. He is stinking ADORABLE!! His Aunt Amy sent me a pic that I have kept to myself for far too long. (Thanks Ames!!) So happy to know that God has blessed them with a HEALTHY baby boy.

home study: it's a wrap!

Yes, our fourth and FINAL home study is complete! I wasn't home for a good portion of it (purposely!), so I don't have much to post. I can imagine it was very similar to mine. What was your child hood like? Do you have a good relationship with your parents? How were you disciplined? How do you discipline your children? And then, of course, all the questions about his first marriage. Most of which, I know the answers to, just didn't want to be around to hear a second time!

Our home developer talked to Trey and Alyssa separately for about fifteen minutes each. Not sure what exactly they talked about since I gave them space to answer honestly, and then I was off to pick up Alyssa's friends for her sleep-over. Trey left not long after I got back to visit with his mom for the weekend, so I haven't gotten a chance to ask them what their interview was about. Campbell flat out refused to talk, so I have nothing! :)

What I do know is this: *We had to take our trampoline down. Eddie is the only one happy about this. The kids and I are still pouting a little, so I hope there is no resentment when we finally have a placement. *The kids all have to have TB shots. Bummer. I just told them this week they aren't due for any vax when they go to the doctor in two weeks for their well visits. *We have to get another bed. We are now being licensed for two kids, not three like we originally were told. They are going to make an exception because of our vehicle situation. Even though we only have plans to accept one child, we have to have beds available for the amount of children we are licensed to keep. UGH. I wish she had gotten her stuff together and told us all this SOONER so that we could have made a little more room in the budget. I think it's ridiculous if you want to know the truth. We have a credit card and a Walmart RIGHT down the road, so if we're ever put in a situation that we feel God is asking us to accept two kids, then we can go from there. Why do we have to have it in the house? So many rules, so many kids, so few foster families. No wonder the statistics for the kids aren't good. Sometimes I just sit here and shake my head thinking about the ridiculous things they focus on.

So now my list looks like this:

Finger prints x2
TB shots x3 (Eddie and I get ours annually at work)
Purchase ANOTHER twin bed/mattress/bedding?
Send home developer family pic

***Pray for us!! :) Not a lot left to do, but running out of patience, and maybe funds LOL.