Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Waiting Game
It's been awhile since I've posted, so I thought I'd write today. The agency has our home study report from the social worker and they have received our scrapbook. They have had everything for about a month now. They are sharing our scrapbook with girls they think might be a good match. We know that God is in control of the timing and the right girl will look at our book at the perfect time. That's pretty much it for now. I just wanted to write a short update. I'll try to post again in a month or so. Thanks for your prayers!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Home Study Part Three
I did our final interview this morning for our home study. I got to answer all the same questions that Nathan did yesterday. The social worker also did an initial walk through of our house, so all she needs to do is come back once we put in the outlet covers and cabinet locks. Hopefully we can get that taken care of in the next week or two and then our home studies will be complete.
Nathan and I also both need to have a basic physical which includes blood work. I did my blood work today and my doctor's appointment is scheduled for next week. Sadly, I have to see a different doctor because mine is out of town. I'd wait for her to get back in town, but she only does physicals in the morning and once I start school I can't do a morning appointment. I'm just glad I can get this taken care of before school starts. Nathan is going to have his physical done at his next transplant appointment in September. It's really hard for him to get off work so it makes sense to do both appointments at the same time. Especially since that office does their own blood work.
I know I've spoiled you all with 3 posts in one week. Don't be surprised if you don't see anything for a while. We promise to keep you updated as things happen. We really appreciate your prayers for us and especially for the birth mother.
Nathan and I also both need to have a basic physical which includes blood work. I did my blood work today and my doctor's appointment is scheduled for next week. Sadly, I have to see a different doctor because mine is out of town. I'd wait for her to get back in town, but she only does physicals in the morning and once I start school I can't do a morning appointment. I'm just glad I can get this taken care of before school starts. Nathan is going to have his physical done at his next transplant appointment in September. It's really hard for him to get off work so it makes sense to do both appointments at the same time. Especially since that office does their own blood work.
I know I've spoiled you all with 3 posts in one week. Don't be surprised if you don't see anything for a while. We promise to keep you updated as things happen. We really appreciate your prayers for us and especially for the birth mother.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Home Study Number Two
We had our 2nd home study interview this morning. We started out finishing the couple questions mostly about the community. We discussed the things our community has to offer like shopping and theaters as well as many doctors and fantastic hospitals. Then the social worker moved on to Nathan's individual interview. I thought I might have to leave the room, but was allowed to stay. He got to answer questions about his childhood, parents, relationship with his parents and sister, as well as his medical history. Then he talked about the schools he attended, extra curricular school activities, and feelings about school. Nathan also got to talk about me and our marriage. Luckily it was all good stuff so I didn't have to make too many editorial comments. =)
Tune in tomorrow to read about my individual interview.
Tune in tomorrow to read about my individual interview.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Home Study Part One
We had our first home study interview this morning. The social worker came to our house and asked us lots of questions. Most of what we talked about today had to do with us as a couple: why we wanted to adopt, what we have to offer a child, our discipline philosophy, and how we would encourage spiritual growth in a child. We also talked about our feelings toward the birth family and how we would answer questions from our child about their adoption. The social worker also had us look at our application and see if anything had changed in terms of they type of child we hope to adopt (race, age, disability, gender). She also gave us a list of some things the agency would like copies of: insurance forms, W-2, birth certificates, our marriage license, and a notarized form stating we have no criminal history (a state requirement).
Tomorrow we will finish up the last few questions as a couple and then she will do Nathan's individual interview. My individual interview will be Thursday. They don't normally do all the interviews the same week, but we both happened to be off work since I haven't started school and Nathan is recovering from surgery. The social worker also happened to be taking her daughter to VBS at a church down the street from our house, so it worked out well for all of us.
We also received a list of things the social worker will be looking for when she does the actual inspection of the home from a safety stand point. We'll probably head to Home Depot this weekend for plug outlet covers and cabinet locks so everything will ready. Then it's just a matter of scheduling the inspection. Once that's done and we mail all our copies and the scrapbook then it's in God's hands to connect us with the right birth mother.
Tomorrow we will finish up the last few questions as a couple and then she will do Nathan's individual interview. My individual interview will be Thursday. They don't normally do all the interviews the same week, but we both happened to be off work since I haven't started school and Nathan is recovering from surgery. The social worker also happened to be taking her daughter to VBS at a church down the street from our house, so it worked out well for all of us.
We also received a list of things the social worker will be looking for when she does the actual inspection of the home from a safety stand point. We'll probably head to Home Depot this weekend for plug outlet covers and cabinet locks so everything will ready. Then it's just a matter of scheduling the inspection. Once that's done and we mail all our copies and the scrapbook then it's in God's hands to connect us with the right birth mother.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Home Study
I received a call this afternoon from our agency about our home study. They have assigned us to a social worker who lives in Wylie, TX. This is good news because Wylie is only about 30 minutes from us, where as the agency is in Tyler, TX and is an hour and a half away. They are mailing the social worker our application and references, and she should be calling us in the next week or so to set up our first interview.
The only down side to having our home study done locally is that I will not be able to deliver our scrapbook to the agency in person. I guess we could make a special trip, but gas is WAY too expensive to consider that. So it will be mailed with all the extra insurance and return/receipt stuff I usually don't pay for.
I also still need to make copies of the scrapbook before I mail it. Most of the girls the agency works with live in Tyler, but some of their girls live in either Austin or Houston. The original scrapbooks are large and expensive to mail, so they asked each couple to give them a copy along with the original. Of course, I will want to make a copy for myself as well, since the original will go the the birth mother that places her child with us.
For those of you who may be asking what can we pray for, here you go.
The only down side to having our home study done locally is that I will not be able to deliver our scrapbook to the agency in person. I guess we could make a special trip, but gas is WAY too expensive to consider that. So it will be mailed with all the extra insurance and return/receipt stuff I usually don't pay for.
I also still need to make copies of the scrapbook before I mail it. Most of the girls the agency works with live in Tyler, but some of their girls live in either Austin or Houston. The original scrapbooks are large and expensive to mail, so they asked each couple to give them a copy along with the original. Of course, I will want to make a copy for myself as well, since the original will go the the birth mother that places her child with us.
For those of you who may be asking what can we pray for, here you go.
- that the home study would go smoothly and quickly
- that Nathan and I would have patience to wait on things to in God's timing
- that we make wise financial choices in saving for adoption expenses as well as the addition of a new family member
- continue praying for the birth mother, that God would prepare her for the journey she has ahead
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Background Check: Complete
Today's Post is from Jenny:
We called the agency last week and found out that our background check has been processed and there were no problems. We didn't expect the background check to turn up anything, but it's good to know it's done. We originally thought our next step was to do an FBI fingerprint check, but it turns out that only couples who have lived outside of Texas in the last 5 years are required to do one.
Our scrapbook is finally finished! We are very pleased with how it turned out. It includes a biography of Nathan and me, lots of pictures, and letters from each of the grandparents-to-be. The agency isn't ready to receive our scrapbook until after we have completed our home study.
What is a home study you ask; let me tell you. The agency will conduct four separate interviews with us: one with Jenny alone, one with Nathan alone, and two as a couple, one of the couple interviews will take place in our home. During these interviews we will be asked many questions, some of them are state requirements and others are questions the agency asks in order to get to know us better. I'm sure we'll have much more to say about our home study once we've actually done it. The agency we're working with is fairly small and only has 2 or 3 people who do home studies. So, we are now waiting until it's our turn.
Once our home study is complete the agency will begin showing our scrapbook (and several others) to girls who are making an adoption plan. They will look at scrapbooks until they find "the one." At that point the agency calls the couple and tells them that a birth mother is interested in them, gives them a little information about her, and asks them to pray about setting up a meeting. Most meetings are scheduled 4-6 weeks before the birth mother delivers. If all goes well at the meeting then the couple has that time to prepare for the baby.
There is lots of waiting in the process so it may be awhile until our next post. We have complete peace that this is where God is leading us right now and we appreciate your prayers!
We called the agency last week and found out that our background check has been processed and there were no problems. We didn't expect the background check to turn up anything, but it's good to know it's done. We originally thought our next step was to do an FBI fingerprint check, but it turns out that only couples who have lived outside of Texas in the last 5 years are required to do one.
Our scrapbook is finally finished! We are very pleased with how it turned out. It includes a biography of Nathan and me, lots of pictures, and letters from each of the grandparents-to-be. The agency isn't ready to receive our scrapbook until after we have completed our home study.
What is a home study you ask; let me tell you. The agency will conduct four separate interviews with us: one with Jenny alone, one with Nathan alone, and two as a couple, one of the couple interviews will take place in our home. During these interviews we will be asked many questions, some of them are state requirements and others are questions the agency asks in order to get to know us better. I'm sure we'll have much more to say about our home study once we've actually done it. The agency we're working with is fairly small and only has 2 or 3 people who do home studies. So, we are now waiting until it's our turn.
Once our home study is complete the agency will begin showing our scrapbook (and several others) to girls who are making an adoption plan. They will look at scrapbooks until they find "the one." At that point the agency calls the couple and tells them that a birth mother is interested in them, gives them a little information about her, and asks them to pray about setting up a meeting. Most meetings are scheduled 4-6 weeks before the birth mother delivers. If all goes well at the meeting then the couple has that time to prepare for the baby.
There is lots of waiting in the process so it may be awhile until our next post. We have complete peace that this is where God is leading us right now and we appreciate your prayers!
Monday, March 17, 2008
New Blog - New Subject Matter - New Information?
Greetings, everyone. I would like to welcome you to my attempt to blog about what is going on in my life. My latest journey is the adoption of a child. My wife, Jenny, and I have decided that our best choice for having children will be adoption.
(If you are not familiar with my medical history, please read: http://nmccart.blogspot.com/)
Today's post is an attempt for me to get everything down on pixels as to what Jenny and I are doing with this adoption and how the journey is progressing (as we move forward).
For starters, we are working with an organization called Living Alternatives (http://www.livalt.org/). They are based in Tyler, TX. They are associated with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). It is a Christian organization that works with Christian couples who are seeking to adopt children. They also work with a maternity home and a crisis pregnancy center in the area. They council pregnant girls and help them decide if they want to place their child for adoption or if they want to single parent. They do not push the girls towards either decision.
As of today, we are in the paperwork process. We have been approved by the agency based on our application. Now, we have to be approved by the State of Texas to be adoptive parents. That means that we have to pass a criminal background check and then get our fingerprints checked with the FBI. Once all that is finished, then the prospective birth mothers can review our scrapbook.
The scrapbook is the next part of the process for us to work on. We need to put together pictures and some information for the birth mothers to read when trying to decide on a couple to place their child with.
Hopefully, this blog will be helpful to me in remembering what all has happened along the way. That way, later on, I can look back at this blog and be reminded of the process. And, if it gives someone else some good information on adoption, then that is a bonus.
(If you are not familiar with my medical history, please read: http://nmccart.blogspot.com/)
Today's post is an attempt for me to get everything down on pixels as to what Jenny and I are doing with this adoption and how the journey is progressing (as we move forward).
For starters, we are working with an organization called Living Alternatives (http://www.livalt.org/). They are based in Tyler, TX. They are associated with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). It is a Christian organization that works with Christian couples who are seeking to adopt children. They also work with a maternity home and a crisis pregnancy center in the area. They council pregnant girls and help them decide if they want to place their child for adoption or if they want to single parent. They do not push the girls towards either decision.
As of today, we are in the paperwork process. We have been approved by the agency based on our application. Now, we have to be approved by the State of Texas to be adoptive parents. That means that we have to pass a criminal background check and then get our fingerprints checked with the FBI. Once all that is finished, then the prospective birth mothers can review our scrapbook.
The scrapbook is the next part of the process for us to work on. We need to put together pictures and some information for the birth mothers to read when trying to decide on a couple to place their child with.
Hopefully, this blog will be helpful to me in remembering what all has happened along the way. That way, later on, I can look back at this blog and be reminded of the process. And, if it gives someone else some good information on adoption, then that is a bonus.
Welcome to the New Blog
This is my first post, just to get the blog up and running. I need to make some adjustments to the layout and such, so it might be a while before you find any real text here.
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