I want to
start out by saying thank you so much to all those who came out to Chili’s and
Chick-fil-A as well as those who have purchased pajamas. I will be updating our
fundraising site as soon as I get the totals.
I wanted to
take the time to update everyone and answer some questions on where we are in
the adoption process so y’all can continue to be praying for us as we make
decisions.
1. What agency
are we going through?
We have
selected an adoption agency called Chosen Child. They are a Christian based
agency that works with birth parents that want their babies to go to Christian
homes. We have been working with a lady there who walked us through all the
steps of the adoption process and is working with us as we move through each
step.
2. Have we been
accepted by this agency?
We will not
actually be applying to the agency until January when we will be attending an
orientation but they already have all of our information and we have been told
that there is really no reason why we would not be accepted.
***With that
being said, we also have other agency that we have not completely ruled out in
the case that this one does not work out and if, for any reason, Chosen Child isn't the agency we go with we will not be losing any money we would simply
move onto the next one.
3. Is it really
that expensive?
Every agency
we have looked into cost roughly the same amount to adopt an infant so our
fundraising goal will remain the same. Yes, $30,000.00 is a lot and sadly we
don’t have that sitting in a bank account so in order to reach our goal we have
done and will be doing different fundraisers as well as Chris and I are making
sacrifices so that we can set aside extra money each month.
4. Where is all
the fundraising money going right now?
We have a
fundraising website set up through You Caring and when donations are made on that
site or given to us through the different fundraisers we have a separate
account set up just for baby Dallas. We have been keeping track of who has
given through the website and the amount in which was given so that if for any
reason (Highly unlikely) the adoption falls through and we chose not to adopt
those that have donated will receive their money back.
5. Why are we
fundraising already if we haven’t been accepted by an agency yet?
When you
give birth to a baby insurance covers it and the parts they don’t cover you can
make payments on after the baby is born but in an adoption you can’t make
payments after! You have to have the money in full when the baby is born
whether it’s through a loan, grant, fundraising, saving etc. so after talking
with the ladies at Chosen Child as well as many other families that have been
through the adoption processes both domestic and international we were told start
fundraising NOW so we took their advice.
6. So what are
we doing between now and January, other than fundraising?
Chris and I
have a long check list of things that we need to get done by January so that we
will be ready to go to the orientation and the application process. Some of
those things are preparing the house for a home study, becoming CPR and First
Aid certified, and creating a portfolio for the birth parents to look at.
7. When will we
actually be holding Dallas in our arms?
That is the
million dollar question! We were told that once we have completed all the paper
work and everything is official then the real waiting begins! Chosen Child’s average
wait time once all the paperwork is completed is 6-18 months. We wait for the
birth parents to pick us then depending on how far along she is and depending
on if everything goes through (signing over parental custody at birth and
such) will
determine how long the wait actually is. Hence “Waiting for Dallas”!
8. Type of
adoption?
Through
Chosen Child we will be adopting an infant and it will be a semi-open adoption in
which the birth parents will pick us for their baby. We will meet them and
together we will work through other details of the adoption. For the first year
after Dallas is born we will communicate with them with monthly letters and a
picture sent to the birth parents through the agency.
If you have
any other questions about this whole process PLEASE do not hesitate to call,
email, or text! We are new to all of this and we are learning as we go.
Again, thank
you for all the prayers and support that we have received!!!
