Entry #7 VM about lawyer and $4K grant

I have a couple of exciting updates to share, but first I need to confess once again how my anxiousness continuously creeps in. Last week, our family was on a road trip and throughout the week I kept waiting to hear back about the two applications we sent in – one to the lawyer’s office and the other for the financial assistance. Last Friday, during one of my driving turns, I set aside the anxiousness and started to pray and ask God to settle my heart, give me patience, and trust in His timing.

What do you know, but later that day I received two voicemails while we were in the St. Louis Arch! The lawyers looked over our applications and wanted to set up a consultation! The second voicemail informed us that we were given a $4,000 matching grant! As I write this blog entry, it is quite fitting that today’s verse of the day on the Bible App is, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” from Philippians 4:6.

We will meet with the adoption lawyer at the end of July and will know much more then. As of now, all of our paperwork is all set so there isn’t anything else to prepare. In regards to the financial assistance, we have to set up some logistics, so more will come on that later. Lastly, we will continue the process of applying to work with our second option, an adoption agency. We were playing a little bit of phone tag, so completing this step will be our next goal.

I just wanted to share a quick update on God’s goodness and why I continually know I can keep my hope in Him! As always, your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Entry #6 Paperwork after home study

Entry #6

For those who know me, when I do something I get it done or want it done immediately. It has been quiet the past couple of weeks, due to research. There is really so much paperwork that it can be intimidating to understand it all. So, praying for me to not be anxious and be patient in the timing of it all would be appreciated. And for God to give me the understanding of each step of the process would be helpful too.

Since our home study is complete, most of the next part of the journey is completing paperwork and applications and more paperwork for agencies and lawyer firms. During our home study, our contact gave us a list of where to start. There are SO many agencies and lawyer firms out there, some dedicated solely to adoptions and some that include adoptions in their practice.

After reviewing some of their websites, we have narrowed it down to one agency and one lawyer firm. During our home study, we were given a list of questions to ask the agencies. The two questions to ask at the forefront are: How many babies did you place last year and how many waiting families are you working with?

We have also completed an application in connection with our church. It is a financial one that will determine if we qualify for any grants and such. This one went in the mail yesterday. Since the adoption process costs about $35-45K, we are hoping this will prove to be a fruitful one.

The application for the lawyer firm went in the mail today, which will hopefully turn into a consultation with a lawyer.

If you are looking to adopt, or on the journey too, know that this phase requires a lot of reading, writing and research.

All prayers are greatly appreciated. We continue to place our hope in God each step of the way. The specific prayers now are for financial assistance, finding the right agency/lawyer firm, getting on a waiting list and ultimately getting matched with the baby that God has for us.

From the many resources we have been given, there are recommended books to read to help prepare for the adoption process. I am currently reading 20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to Succeed by Sherrie Eldridge.

We thank you for your continued prayers and for joining us along in this journey.