The exact same night, we received a call from our realtor with an offer on our home. God is good! I had a feeling this would all happen around the same time! Not to mention, The Jester got his contract signed that day as well (phew!). Over the next few days, emails between all the social workers went back and forth giving us more information and setting the date for the "full disclosure meeting." We let them know that we are moving, but they were okay with it and wanted to proceed with the meeting. We figured the children moving in would need to be timed with our relocation.
Over the weekend, we were asked to make a scrapbook of our life and what the children should expect in their new life with us. The social worker or current family will read it to the boy in anticipation of our first visit, so we are not as new and scary as he might imagine. The Jester and I spent WAYYYY too much time and money in Michael's buying all of the supplies for what was described as "the best scrapbook she has ever seen," by the Superhero. BOOM!
Definition of Full Disclosure Meeting:
A gathering between social workers and prospective adoptive parents where they give you the (known) details of the children, their case, and basically scare the poo out of you.
Our meeting was this past Monday and the process was very interesting. We met Superhero outside, watched Cinderella for a few minutes in the waiting room, then moved into a visitation room to meet the social worker. The children's social worker began the meeting by jumping into the details of why placements have not worked out, why their current adoptive home is not working out, and things we should be aware of before fully committing to taking the children in. While the backgrounds were a little more severe than we were aware of, the delays and challenges were just as we had been told by Superhero, and neither of us were shaken by what we were told. We asked several questions and discussed visitation. It was during this meeting that we received the biggest shock..... because of an impending court date, they would like the children to move in with us ASAP, despite our move. WHAT???!!! We were asked to go home and think about it and let her know by the end of the week. We walked outside and it was no question for us, we had already thought and prayed about it.
Our first visit is on Monday morning at the current foster family's home!! We are so very excited and nervous at the same time! We will most likely visit daily, as the anticipated move-in date is NEXT FRIDAY!!! Again, WHAT?!
7 years ago, we made a commitment to adopt 2 beautiful, loyal fur babies. Under no circumstances will be get rid of our dogs, so one of the visits next week will be having them meet the children to make sure they will all get along. Our dogs have never met children before, so we are not sure how they will react, especially since they are very skiddish around people (they are rescues). This is the biggest part of the entire process for us, and it may turn out that we will not be able to go through with the match, I anticipate that visit will be next Wednesday, so PLEASE PLEASE pray that our pups will understand that these are littles and not to jump on them or scare them. This process has been a journey of faith and obedience, and this is just another example of that. Because they are so nervous, it makes me nervous, but we feel that we are being led to go on this journey, so He will find a way to make it happen if thats His will. Also for this reason, I cannot bring myself to purchase anything until that visit goes well... which will leave like 1.5 days to get everything we need when it goes well.....(did you like my subtle slip to convince myself to stop panicking?)
When the children move in, we will be packing and getting ready for our move to.... not sure where yet..... since we have not found a location or even focused on one city to move to. We had our home inspection this past Tuesday and our appraisal is today, which is why we have the brakes on signing a lease elsewhere.
Overall, this entire journey is only survivable when we rely 100% on Jesus and his plan for our lives.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremian 29:11 (NLT)
Relying on Him for the appraisal to go well, to find somewhere to live, despite having 2 new small children in the home and 2 fur babies, to find all the "stuff" they will need, to make the meeting with the dogs go smoothly.... For relying on Him that the boy will adjust to being removed from a place where he is attached, and into another new home, for continuing to work throughout this process, and for our hearts to remain fully fixed on Jesus through the process.... NO. MATTER. WHAT.
Thank you again for the prayers, we would not survive without them!
