Friday, November 1, 2013

Our Adoption FAQ

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!!! 

2 comments:

  1. What will happen to the money you received thru Chili's and Chick-fil-a, could u commit to giving that to your church since it can't be given back to the people who supported those ventures?

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    1. Anonymous: The chances of us not using the funds for an adoption are HIGHLY UNLIKELY but if for some reason our plans change we would be more than happy to give the money to our home church!

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