[Michellemomof5]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anybody can share their experiance with adopting a child from the "waiting child" list or from foster care directly.

We are hoping to be approved for a little girl from TX and just curious about time frames. We could also use some prayers to help the little girls workers get her where she needs to be. Which may not be with us, but I am a firm believer God gets kids where they need to be.

Thanks Again!

Michelle

[missw005]

Michelle -

I adopted both my sons as waiting children out-of-state adoptions - I'm in MN, my oldest was from NJ and my youngest was from OR.
It was about a month from the time I was notified I was selected for my oldest until I flew to NJ. It was a month and a half for my youngest son til I flew to OR to get him.
Now had 9/11 not happened, we would have flown back the very next day - he was extremely delayed (and they thought moderately retarded) and they didn't think he'd have a problem transitioning.
My youngest's SW suggested I do a visit, then come back a week or two later to do the 5-day stay (required in OR) and bring him home after that. However, financially I couldn't swing it - and he was only 1-1/2, so I didn't think the transition would be that difficult. (it wasn't)
The funny thing was, my oldest had been in 1 fh all of his life - straight from the hospital - and the state didn't give him any transition time. Then my youngest had been bounced around a lot - relatives, then foster care - and they insisted he needed this long transition period!
It is different by state, though - and SW.

I, too, have several applications out there, waiting for staffings to be held and decisions made about these little ones' lives. It's hard to wait, yet to a point (some SW's and states wait WAAAAY too long to make a decision) I'd hope they'd take their time as this is a life-changing decision! Like you, I also hope I'm the right choice for one (or all ) of these kids.
But, like my all-knowing college roommate would say, "What's meant to be, will be."
And I have struggled with that over the years - with foster kids that have returned to bparents - and with possible children I felt surely were meant to be with me. But in the end, I've eventually realized that even though I may not see it or agree with it, everything that happens, happens for a reason - and is guided by a hand that none of us can see.

I wish you all the best and will keep you in my thoughts.
((hugs))
Sandy

[Michellemomof5]

Thanks Sandy! The waiting is tough. I know the social workers are busy, and I am trying to be patient. It just is sad to hear about all of the kids waiting.

Hang in there too, and keep me posted if you get your call!

Take Care,
Michelle

[missw005]

You too!

Sandy