How is the adoption process going?

 

This is the question we get asked often from friends and family wanting to know where we are in our process towards our future baby. To help me explain how it’s going, I usually end up having to tell how we get matched with a birth mom first. The process is very similar to a blind date. Our social workers Hope and Rachel email us about a “situation”. I hate the word “situation”. It’s not a “situation”, it’s a baby, maybe our baby! The email outlines all the medical, legal, and financial cost and process of this adoption as well as the birth moms story. We then have 24 hours to decide if we want our profile along with 2-4 others sent to the birth mom. She then looks over them and usually makes a decision with in a few days. If we both feel a peace about moving forward, and agree on the details of the adoption, then it is an official match.   

 Since being active 5 weeks ago we have had 3 birth moms look at our profile. We haven’t been matched yet, but feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to be shown 3 times already. Every time we get that email, we can’t help think what if this is our baby? Excitement, fear, anxiety, and wonder flood our thoughts. During the 24 hours that we have to decide if want our profile shown or not we pray, A LOT! Our biggest prayer is ‘Lord we don’t want any baby; we want the baby you have all ready chosen for us.’ Even though those 3 precious babies weren’t suppose to be part of our family, we will continue to pray for those birth moms and babies.

A month ago, our social workers told us that it would be a roller coaster ride and to just ‘hold on!’ Boy, were they right. One thing that is a constant is God’s hand in this journey. He is guiding us one step at a time and is loving us so well. Chris and I are truly excited and can’t wait to meet our sweet baby!

Thanks to all our friends and family who are praying for us and encouraging us through this process. I am daily getting an encouraging text, email, or call from one of you wanting to know how the process is going and how we are doing. Please know I couldn’t make it through with out all the love I’m getting!

“I have prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted what I ask of him.” 1 Samuel 1:27

 

Jamie

Waiting!

The long months of paper work, back ground checks, applications, and making a profile book are over! We officially passed our home study and have been accepted to our agencies. All of this work has been a labor of love and we are so excited to be closer to our precious baby!

Most domestic newborn adoptions are facilitated through an adoption agency or through a private adoption. The main difference, in an agency adoption you have a third party helping facilitate the adoption process and it is usually much more expensive. In a private adoption we locate a birth mom, negotiate through an attorney, and independently take care of all the adoption services. After speaking with many agencies, other adopted families, and our attorney, we have decided that we are open to both.

A little bit about our agencies:
We chose two adoption agencies in Utah. Heart to Heart Adoption agency and Heart and Soul Adoption agency. Yes, I know the names are cheesy! Both came highly recommended and have been more than willing to answer our 100 questions! Why Utah you may be asking? The laws in Utah are more favorable for both adoptive families and birth parents.We are also excited about the opportunity of a private adoption. There are many ways to try and locate a birth mom. Physicians, internet, attorney, and friends and family are a few. For now we are spreading the news of our adoption journey and would like your help. If you know of someone who is pregnant and looking for a family, we’d appreciate you passing that info along and we can send you our profile.

Thank you to all who have walked with us and your continued prayers. 

 

Love,

Chris and Jamie

Our first post!

We wanted to start a blog for family and friends as we begin the journey of adoption!

Some of you know we have struggled with infertility over the last year. In May, we were told we would never be able to conceive a child together. Those are words that we never thought we would hear. There is no avoiding the grief that follows that news. Our dreams of what we thought our family would look like were shattered, and we were truly broken. What has been revealed to us through this grief though is bittersweet. We have a new love and respect for each other that only trials can bring, and for that we’re truly grateful. A huge thank you to all our family and friends who have loved on us and prayed for us. We have felt so cared for!

 Honestly, adoption seemed very plan B for us right away. For many, adoption is just the next step in infertility. For us, it took months of wrestling with God and exploring alternative ways out. He had to bring us to a place where we had to surrender our desires for His perfect plan. Once we finally gave God control of our future family it has brought such a peace. Not that we expect it to be an easy journey, but we are so excited that we’ve been called to adopt and it is our new plan A.

 We’re still early in our process. It has been amazing to be placed in a community with so much support and a heart for adoption. After much prayer and many meetings with adoptive families, we have decided on a domestic infant adoption. We had our first meeting with our social worker, and began the home study process. This will take about 8 to 10 weeks to complete.  Then we can file our paper work with an agency. We will keep you updated through this journey.

Thank you for all your support and prayers. Please continue to pray for our future baby and his or her birth mom. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

Chris and Jamie