[Leigh131313]

Hey there Dawn!!! Haven't seen you around these parts in ages!! how the heck are ya??

[devildogwife]

Congrats Rob! Isn't it a great feeling?

[HappyHopefulMommy]

Rob - that is very exciting. Thanks for sharing your great news. Congratulations!

[Sleepydream]

Inhiswill - Well, let the teenaged rebel inside me tell you how good it will feel one day when your wee one is home, your adoption is final and you can "IN YOUR FACE" to your parents. I realize it is juvenile, but I do still get satisfaction out of proving my parents wrong from time to time. They may be your parents, but what jerks to be that way when you are hurting.

You know what? The greatest gift ever given to us came at the expense of suffering the likes of which we can only imagine. It's called salvation, and even Christ needed help bearing his cross. But in spite of it all, he managed to keep walking.

So, keep walking this journey you were led to. If they will no longer help you bear this burden HE will see to it that someone else will and you will have your happy ending. Ever heard the saying an ounce of pleasure is worth a pound of pain? When this journey is complete you will have total understanding of that phrase, and be glad to do it again a hundred times over for the reward you will receive in the love of your child. I have been where you are and I know the sorrow in your heart, but you must trust that HE has a plan. That trust is the only thing that kept me from going insane from worry and grief during that time.

My family is living proof that there is more to adoption than pain. There is hope after disruption. Look around at this site and you will see that we are not alone. GOD works miracles for us AND through us every day. You never know how your interactions with this baby and his birthfamily may have helped him.

[Canadamom92]

Hi Leigh,

Things are slowly getting better. My health decided to be unpredictable just after our last match, so things fell through. It was rough for awhile, but we're getting back into things.

Unfortunately, all of the rules changed in the meanwhile, so we have to do training and paperwork all over again - luckily our homestudy is still approved, so it's more like an update.

We've been at this now for about four years, so we're at the point where we keep going but aren't thinking anything will ever really happen... We're trying to get approved for fost-adopt right now, and I'm trying to talk dh into babies. Our preferred age was 4-14, but I'm trying to talk him down to newborn.

Good to be back and "see" everyone again!

So what's new with you in the past... oh... 11 months?

Dawn H

[inhiswill]

Sleepydream- thank you. I am pm'ing you!

[Amber76]

In His Will: Just wanted to say you are still in my thoughts and prayers. We didn't have a disruption, but we did lose our daughter. Getting our son certainly doesn't take away that pain, but it does make it all seem worthwhile. I hope you parents will change their minds. They're probably just worried about you getting hurt again-I know mine were until they saw sweet Ben's picture and now they're head over heels in love again.

DDW: Still praying for Cameron and for you and DH

Rob: Congrats on finalizing!

Crystal: Hope those classes are going well.

I'm still hanging out in Texas waiting for ICPC. Today some of the girls I used to work with when we lived here had a small shower for me. Too sweet since I haven't even seen or talked to most of them in a while.

[crystalp]

Well, I had my first class tonight!! It was great, nothing surprising in the info that they are giving us. Everyone on this board and the foster board has helped me be prepared. My only gripe was that there were these two guys that kept asking stupid, irrelevant questions. Things like can dcfs get private money to boost its budget, and even arguing with the trainer about rules and regulations!! I really knew one of the guys was just going to get on my nerves when he asked if a lot of "illegals" were in the system, and that he "figured there would be." Just rude and ignorant! Oh well, now I know to not pay attention to him.

[labgirl]

Congrats Rob!

[missw005]

I, too, am struggling with the wait. This was made even worse yesterday when one of my favorite students ran up to me and excitedly announced that she was pregnant and wasn't I happy for her?
Stunned, I nodded, but honestly..........do these kids really expect adults/teachers us to be thrilled about their teenage pregnancies? Good grief.
This is my fifth, yes, 5th!, pregnant student this year. (keep in mind that the graduating class has less than 30 kids in it, so it's a small school.) I look at them and think, ugh, how are they going to manage? Some won't finish high school, some won't go on to college or further education.......and they all have such promise, it just breaks my heart. They are woefully unprepared. Three of them have already had their babies. Two have quit school and are staying home with their families. One came back to school (within a week of giving birth!), barely looks like she even had a baby, and her parents are raising her child. One is due a few weeks after graduation (at least she'll graduate! ) and is already living with her much older boyfriend. And now another girl has joined the ranks. She will graduate this year, which is great, but I had such high hopes for her - college, a great job, a much better shot at success than her family had (I know her family history pretty well)
I will say that I am glad that they all have family support. The shame that surrounded girls when I was their age seems to have disappeared, which is great, but it also seems like it's typical teen these days, which I think is sad.
And yes..........I'll admit, there is a small part of me who thinks of all the families waiting to adopt out there, adults who have the maturity, time, finances and unconditional love for a baby.
For myself, I do feel the sadness that these girls are having a baby when I've waited over 3 years for my next child - but I sure as heck do NOT want a newborn. I'm not that crazy!

So.................that's my vent for today.

I'm really glad I'll be at a different school today, so I can have some time to think about what I'm going to say to this girl. We talk quite often, and I'll have her in class twice on Thursday, so I'll have to think of some positive/constructive things to say by then.
But I'd be lying if I said I was happy for her. Ugh.......I don't know what the heck I'm going to say. Ideas gladly appreciated.

Sandy

[Tigger2]

Rob~ Congratualtions! Lots to celebrate at your house.
Can't wait to experience it first hand : )

[mdesi]

Yippee!!! I finally get to post on this thread! We got our home study approval today. We are Mario and Melissa, and are (im)patiently waiting, now.

[inhiswill]

Congrats Rob!
Hang in there missW!
Each class is one step closer, Crystal, how exciting!
Welcome mdesi!
Amber, coming home soon?

[Amber76]

Originally Posted by inhiswill

Amber, coming home soon?

Thanks for asking, but we're still here in Texas. Our ICPC paperwork was sent to Austin last Wednesday, and they haven't even forwarded it to Indy yet. Blech. But, Ben and I are enjoying our alone time until Daddy comes back tomorrow and I have to share him for the rest of the time here.

[Saya]

OK Amber, I just went on your web site to see the updated photos of Ben. I can't BELIEVE what that little boy is up to at just 3 weeks old!!! What a amazing little guy - and BOY are you going to have you hands full!!