[Mom2Max]

The holidays were wonderful. ( and a little sad) My DH's Grandma passed away on Dec. 23rd, and so this weekend was filled with the funeral arrangements and such. It was a happy time, because his Grandmother was old, sick and ready to go. I am just glad it was such a peaceful experience. It was also nice to get his whole extended family together and visit. So happy and sad at the same time.
I have to say that I couldn't stop thinking about our next adoption throughout this week. I keep feeling like we should start the paperwork, but at the same time we have so many obstacles in our way. ( money, we need a bigger place, etc....) But yet, I still feel that nagging feeling.....

Laura

[JeannineW]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's hard to lose someone even when you know it's time. That's how is was with my father. I think funerals are the last present that the dead person gives the living. It is so much fun to see all your old friends and family. Too bad we don't have parties like that when we are all still living.

Today is a weird day for our family. Our daughter would have been 21 today. She was killed 16 months ago in a car accident. It's hard to know quite how to mark the day. We made a birthday cake to remember her.

On a happier note... sounds like you need to start preparing to adopt. Can it hurt to start the paper work? We felt like we needed to start when our baby was just 4 months old. Logically, it didn't seem like the right time to start but now that she just turned 16 months old and we have only recently had our homestudy completed and are still finishing other details, it doesn't seem like we started too early anymore.

Good luck.

[Mom2Max]

Oh, I am so sorry for your loss! A birthday cake is a wonderful way to celebrate her birthday. My cousin was also killed in a car accident several years ago and her birthday is always a strange day for me, because she always stays the same age in my head.... and it's hard to imagine what she would have been like on her 21st, 22nd, 23rd birthday etc....
My thoughts are with you!

Laura

[crystalp]

Well, I started this thread, but I'm going to have to leave it for a time. We have run into some financial bumps in the road, and we need our adoption savings to keep our little family going. I'm sad, but I keep telling myself that we aren't abandoning adoption, just postponing it. Dh and I talked about it, and we feel really strongly that we are supposed to be changing agencies, also. Right now, we are with an agency that is, truthfully, pretty pricey. We were lead to this agency through much prayer last summer. After a blessing that Dh gave me on Saturday, we now know that the reason that we were supposed to go with that agency has now passed, and a different agency now feels like the one we are supposed to get our new baby through. We have decided that after a few months (probably this summer) we will sign up with LDSFS. One question, though. Since we have an approved homestudy, and it is in effect until July 5, 2008, when we sign up with the new agency, do they just need a copy of our old homestudy, and if it has expired we will just need an update? Sorry this is rambling. I'm still a little down about having to postpone.

[JeannineW]

I'm sorry you are having to delay your adoption. I know you must be very sad and disappointed. If it is any consolation, we had many delays with our first adoption and in the end, the timing was perfect. I think the delays are part of the process but it is so hard to see that when you are waiting and then waiting somemore. I am playing the waiting game now. It took us months to get our stupid fire inspecion and now that we have it, we can't connect with out SW. It's been 3 weeks. I never would have thought this little part of the process would take over 3 months!

We spoke to LDSFS when we began this process last January. I'm pretty sure you need to do a completely new homestudy. Sorry. I'm sure that's not what you want to hear.

Good luck.

[CoryEllen]

Mom2Max - if you feel that nagging, then I think you should act! Let God provide the money when it's needed. The same thing happened to us, we were getting "nagged" pretty heavily by the Spirit by the time we started the paperwork, and we had no idea where the money would come from. Then it just sort of showed up once we did our faithful part. (Luckily I have a wealthy Grandma who would have coughed up a loan if we had needed it quickly, so that was our backup plan from the beginning.) However, now that we have a lovely little pile of cash in savings, I am ever more frustrated with the wait. I just feel like saying "I'm prepared! Now where's my kid?" KWIM? It's hard not to eyeball that money when my girlfriends say "join us for a weekend in Florida!"

[crystalp]

It looks like we will be able to start our application to the new agency sometime this month or next!! I'm very excited. One good thing that happened with my dh's business failing is that we are going to get back a HUGE tax return, which will completely pay for the adoption!!! I was so so excited when we found that out. We will be able to file the return in April, and should have the money in May, so we are going to start all of the paperwork soon and get that out of the way while we are waiting for our return. If the $ is late getting to us, we will just go on hold until it gets here. I'm psyched!!! (Does that word make me sound old? LOL!)

[JeannineW]

Crystal - Great news! Good luck!

[Tigger2]

Crystalp~ Saw your name on this thread and was excited to read your good news. Best wishes as you renew your journey this spring! (Have missed you on the general adoption forum)

[Forever_family]

I didn't realilze there was an LDS waiting to adopt thread!!! So happy to have found you.

A little about our adoption journey. After many reunifications and getting homstudy approved through LDSFS. We got the cal about a beautiful 11 month old baby boy through foster care. After weeks of prayer we knew he was meant to be part of our family. Fast forward one year and he is an adorable 2 year old. Still haven't finalized his adoption...but that is a story for another day.

We are getting closer to parental rights being terminated so hopeful adoption will proceed soon. After that we do want to adopt another baby but not through foster care. Its been very hard emtionally. We recently had our 6 month old foster baby girl leave, another long story. It was something we expected and have gone through before, however, we realized as a family we can't go through it anymore.

Thrilled to follow along with your adoption journies.

[JeannineW]

I had a few moments of excitement today. We sent letters out to several LDSFS offices with our homestudy at the end of October. The cover letter told them that we were working with DSS but that we knew they occasionally knew of LDS kids needing a home through DSS. About 2 months ago one of the offices called to let me know they had received it. Today, another office called to let me know they were keeping us in mind. I think I hyperventillated when I saw the caller id said, "LDS Family Services."

It reminds me that with adoption your life can change in an instant just by answering the phone. I am so excited and scared to get that phone call/e-mail.

[HappyHopefulMommy]

Just wanted to check in and see how every one is doing? I have been over on the general adoptive parents thread and decided to hop over here. We have been approved to fost/adopt for 2 months. We have not heard anything for a good month. There were a few "almost's" in that first month though. We are getting so anxious and excited.

[crystalp]

Hi all! We are now in our new house, and are trying to get settled. As far as the adoption goes, we are going to wait for a little bit to settle in, and then we are going to start the classes for foster/adopt. I'm so excited! I was able to pm a lady that works for DCFS here in Utah that I met on the forum and ask her some questions today. She said that it could take 6 months or longer for us to get a baby boy, so I'm hoping that I can talk dh into starting the classes sooner rather than later!

Good luck to everyone!!

[HappyHopefulMommy]

Crystal - So good to hear that you are moved and settled in. Hopefully you can get started on the process pretty soon. I am not sure how long it takes in Utah to get licensed, but here in CA it took us 6 months. So, if it takes that long to get licensed and then you have like a 6 month wait, hopefully you can talk hubby into it. Keep us posted and good luck.

[crystalp]

Yay!! It looks like I was able to talk my DH into starting classes a little bit earlier! We are planning on starting them as soon as school starts in August! Yay!!