FSA Meeting #1

My intentions were to write everyday, but in the attempts to buy a house, I lost my focus and sight on what I really wanted. Because of that, I spent every waking moment searching houses and trying to make the money work. After finally praying and doing some pondering, I realized that a house was not meant to be right now and that we needed to start the adoption or we might risk missing our baby because we weren't ready. So, I expect to be much more regular.


Last night was our first FSA meeting that will help us in reaching our 10 hours requirement. I had butterflies all day and was so excited to meet others who were facing the same challenges we were. There were probably twenty or more couples there, one who had been placed with a 12 hour notice, two who are awaiting placement in July, one who is flying to California to meet a birth mom, several who are in the waiting/searching stages, and several who are just like us-starting out. Our meeting focused on some of the facts and unfortunately disappointments of adoption, but the purpose was to get the knowledge out there. We met our future case worker and knew instantly that he is doing a great work and that he is very in tune with the spirit. We couldn't ask for a better agency to work with. The first speaker was the case worker and he spoke for an hour about all of the possibilities ranging from quick placement to no placement and even touching on scamming. It was nice that there was no sugar coating the truth. We were also able to learn that he is extremely passionate about what he does. The second hour was taken up by a young family who has two children, one with special needs. They explained to us what it is like having a special needs child and how it involves every member of their extended families as well. They introduced us to their beautiful daughter Michelle and were available for a question and answer session. Then we were informed of things we will be asked on our preference checklists so that we might be able to make the right decision for us.

The entire meeting was a heartfelt one in which the spirit never left our sides. We were told that this process is in the Lord's hands, and that we cannot do anything if we do not trust in him, pray to him and ask for help and guidance, and then listen to his promptings.

We felt so wonderful after the program that we went home and filled out the remainder of our application, wrote out our very large check, and dropped it off with the agency today. There is no turning back, and now we are excited to move into the next stages of this process.