Joy in the Journey

When Joseph and I were dating, we decided that if we got married we would adopt. 

The choice to adopt has been on the table since before our engagement.  It was never a matter of "if" just a matter of "when." When one of my college roommates became a social worker for a Christian foster care agency she planted the seeds of considering adoption by means of the foster care system. Skip ahead a few drastic steps and here we are today.

This has been a slow, expected process in our minds. Even though we significantly sped up the process this year, many things had to line up for this to happen. We have felt a crystal clear calling that now was the time, and the stars aligned to make it happen. Figuratively of course. Many hours of  prayer and conversation have been invested in this decision  Just like our marriage. Did that mean we were 100% ready for marriage. NO. and that does not mean we are 100% ready for this. But we are even more sure today, than yesterday, and 1000x more sure NOW than we were when we were dating, that this is exactly where God wants us to be. Perhaps it is to try, fail and be humbled. Perhaps it is for one child to join our family. Perhaps it is for 7 children! We can't answer those questions. We are just trying to seek what God has for us, and find whatever joy along the way!

It reminds me of the Michael Card Song "Joy in the Journey. "
There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind

To all who've been born in the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in time 

Forget not the hope that's before you
And never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost

There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to lifeAnd freedom for those who obey~Michael Card

The Process

Joseph and I were married in August of 2009. We enjoyed our first few years as a couple with work and fun, planning on pursuing parenthood somewhere along the 5 year route. With the introduction of the foster care option, it became much a part of our conversation, until the big Firefighting lay offs in 2011. Family talk was on the back burner. After Joseph started in his new insurance gig and all was well, we picked up where we left off, after he settled in routine. First it was conversations and questions. Lunch dates with my case-worker friend turned into mini-preparation sessions. We set up appointments at a few different agencies in late summer, early fall 2012. We chose and agency, started our paperwork, and signed up to start our foster class in January 2013!  Then....on Thanksgiving 2012 we found out about Joseph's new job, and move opportunity within his company. We sold our house, postponed our class, and packed up and moved to Phoenix in March 2013.
Right away we decided to touch base with the same agency in Phoenix, and they gave us the lowdown on an accelerated course in April..  baddabing ....we said OK! Ok not badda bing, more like badda "GAH yes NO...maybe...they want an email NOW... ahhhahhahhha.....hmmmmm yes? yes. YES." OK.

The course was to get us licensed to do foster care. It was called "Partnering for Safety and Permanence Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting: PS-MAPP."  We are also still undergoing paperwork for our certification for adoption. Fingerprints, background checks, references, home visits, our home inspection, paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, homework, financial histories, physicals, etc. etc. Originally it is a 10 week course, we did it in 6. Which means Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 we were sitting in a classroom. It was sad, fun, informative, and frustrating all at the same time. The social work industry is a mess. That is no secret. We are hopefully set up with resources/ways to find resources to help this process be manageable. Nothing works better than prayer. 

 We do like our like our agency, and definitely feel supported as we embark on this interesting endeavor