Step Three...almost

The next step in the process is filling out the application forms, but the agencies around here do it a bit differently. You start the state-mandated training and then, after the second or third meeting, they start the paperwork. I assume this is to weed out those who do the paperwork but aren't serious enough to take the training.

The training runs for 30 hours. 10 weeks of training, 3 hours a week. There are a couple of options available. Due to our schedules, we are going to do a night training, from 6-9pm. Luckily this is only one night a week. I would like to do the Saturday morning training, but schedule conflicts make that impossible.

Please pray for us that a couple of minor schedule conflicts will be worked out before we start training next month!

Step Two...sorta

Last night (Thursday) was our Orientation to Adoption/Foster Parenting. It was originally scheduled to be held at a college in Apache Junction (East of Phoenix), but was changed to the training room for another agency.

We arrived at the address given and found that the facility was locked up. The facilitator was already there and on the phone trying to get someone to come back and unlock the building. No luck. So, we had our orientation meet in the dining room of the What-A-Burger fast food establishment next door.

It was interesting to learn the steps and processes and some of the stories of the kids (in generic terms). We came away from the meeting still eager to follow this thing through, and on a Coca-Cola buzz. Since when did "Large Soda" come in a 5-gallon bucket? Whew.

Step One

We printed off the appropriate information pages from the State of Arizona websites and are determining what our next steps will be. At this point, I am praying for guidance. It is heartbreaking to look at the pictures of adoptable children online. Such potential waiting for someone to help them realize it.

Do we do it?

Is this the right thing? Do we really want another child? Is it in God's plan for us to have another child? Am I talking to myself?

I started on this journey during the Christmas music season. I was listening to a local Christian radio station and heard this wonderfully tear-jerking song about a boy's letter to Santa and all he wanted was a family.

Lately, everywhere I look, I see indicators pointing down this road. Listening on the radio I hear Focus On The Family do a show on it today and it really starts me thinking and praying for guidance on this endeavor.

Tonight after work, I started looking at adoption sites online and now I'm totally overwhelmed. Yessika has hinted that she would like to adopt another child for quite a while now. Oh, I figured out what that song was that set this whole thing in motion. It's called "All I Need," and it's by Steven Curtis Chapman. I found a video of it on YouTube.


He also has another song video on YouTube that directly speaks to the adoption issue.



So, now we study and pray for guidance. It is almost "sexy" lately to adopt a foreign child, but there are 140,000+ children in the US Foster Child system that need homes too.

My heart goes out to these "local" children who are almost forgotten in a foster program never designed to hold so many for so long.