An Amazing Story

I wasn't sure whether or not i wanted to repost this story. It's very heartbreaking though it does have a happy ending.

These foster parenting classes are hard to go through. You learn things that these children are having to go through that no child should have to. However, I decided that I would repost it and I would also say that there is a huge need for foster parents everywhere. If it is on your heart at all to be a foster parent I would urge you to follow through with it.

This story is a great example of what LOVE can do for a child.

Here is the link

http://tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article750838.ece

National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day will be Saturday, November 15, 2008.

ABOUT NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY - National Adoption Day is designed to raise awareness of the 129,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. On National Adoption Day courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates work together to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care. More than 300 events are held each year throughout the country in all fifty states. More than 20,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day over the last eight years.

National Adoption Day 2008 – Goals
* Finalize adoptions from foster care in all 50 states
* Celebrate and honor families who adopt
* Raise awareness about the 129,000 children in
foster care waiting for adoption
* Encourage others to adopt children from foster care
* Build collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts and
advocacy organizations

All information provided is from http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/2008/index.asp
The site also lists local events, by state.

The class

In case you are wondering and waiting to hear how the class went... we didn't go. Danny came down with an awful cold and was feeling pretty crappy, so we stayed home and relaxed. We were both looking forward to learning from this class, and we look forward to the next opportunity to attend. I'll keep you updated on future classes.

p.s. Danny is still feeling crappy, but he is getting better.

Application turned in...

We had our appointment today to turn in our application and get our final fingerprinting done. Everything went so smooth. She checked everything off that was supposed to be there and said, "ok, it looks like everything is good to go". Now we wait for them to assign us our Foster Care licensing worker. She will contact us within 30 days to schedule the home visit. They will come out and inspect our home to make sure it is safe for children, as well as have us fill out MORE paperwork. Once everything is approved she will issue our license. Then we are turned back over to our adoptions worker who will then come and visit our home, then the matching process begins.

Can this be real? Can we possibly be getting close to becoming the family we dream about?

Scheduled the date....

Ok, so we scheduled our appointment to turn in the Foster Care Application and do our Finger Printing for Wednesday Sept 17th! Yay! That means that we should be licensed NO LATER than December 19th.... Yipeeeeeeeee!

We have decided to take an optional class to pass the time and be more educated on situations that may arise.
The class is this Thursday the 18th.
“Being Adopted: A Window into our Children”
Do you ever wonder what lives inside an adopted person's mind when thinking about their adoption? This evening will provide us the opportunity of exploring the adoptees life perspectives through readings, poetry and art and to create meaningful responses to their life views

I am back. I had a fantastic weekend away with the girls, at Apples Bed and Breakfast in Big Bear Lake. When I got back, we spent the evening (Monday) completing the application and copying all the necessary documents. I am going to call tomorrow to set up the appointment to get finger printed (again) and turn in the application. I will let you know as soon as we have a date.

On the Move

We went to the Foster Care Work Shop last night. Basically what that was, is time for them to explain to you how to complete the Foster Care Application. They also answered a few questions for people about the medical / dental insurance for the children, while they are foster kids. We have to get finger printed and have a background clearance (again) because it is in a different department. We have to complete, yet again, another application (all the same information as the adoption stuff) and provide health clearance.. luckily, most of this stuff has already been provided to the adoptions department, and I made copies, so we can just pull those copies and put them with the application.

Once we get all the requested information and the application completed, we can call to schedule an appointment to turn in the app and get finger printed. Once this is done, (the day we turn in the app) the state has 90 days to get us licensed. I am so glad the state puts a time frame on that. The Social Workers HAVE to have everything complete and our licensed processed within 90 days!!

So, I will be gone this weekend. When I get back, we will work together to complete the application and get it turned in. We still have to complete the first aid course, but that does not have to be done before the licensed is issued.. just before the children can be placed in our home (we will get it done right away).

What does this mean? This means that if we turn in the application (lets just say) Sept 22nd then we will be licensed NO later than December 21st.

I will keep you posted and let you know when the application has been officially turned in.

Some progress made

We got a call from the SW today. Yay, some good news. We have been approved for licensing. this is a big step. We were told that her supervisor has reviewed our file and agrees that we are "fit" to adopt. She gave us the referral to the Foster Care Licensing department and then called me today to let me know. I asked her what we should expect next and she told me that we will need to call to sign up for the Foster Care Workshop. So I called as soon as I got off the phone with her and luckily, I was just in time. I was able to sign us up for the workshop that is tomorrow (next one is in two weeks). I will update after we go tomorrow and let you know what the next step is and when we should expect more progress. Yay, I am so excited!!!

"If He's placed a desire in you ....He will fulfill it. Weather it's a child conceived or a child received, in His time it will happen."