Wow - I have so much to update I don't know where to begin. Thursday and Friday were veryintense to say the least. I felt like a sponge just soaking up information. I feel so much better about the whole thing although still very overwhelmed!
We had 3 panels - one of birth mothers, one of adoptees and one of adoptive families. Each piece makes up what is know as the adoption triad. I won't bore you with all the details but it was fascinating and very, very emotional. I have such a good feeling that we are definitely at the right agency and the right time.
So here is what you probably want to know.......what happens next right?? Well we need to get our paperwork together - I have everything except my SS card - I can not find it. Tomorrow I am going to call and schedule our homestudy. Today, I am going to start getting pics together for our family profile book. It is basically a big scrapbook. Shell - I could definitely use your help!! I bought a book and some paper and some decorative things that I don't know what to do.
I learned that the BMs will at first just be shown questions we have answered - what is our hair color, eye color, age, parenting philosophy, any pets, favorite ice cream, restaurant, etc. If she likes that THEN she will be shown our family scrapbook! I am kinda glad they won't see pictures first - there were 3 other couples in our class and one of the couples was REALLY cute. Actually, too cute but whatever! If the BM like our answers and our profile, our agency will call us and we might actually get to talk to her on the phone. We might then set up a meeting with her prior to the birth - it all depends on the BM level of comfort! Of course, ours too but we are trying to be as open as possible. At that point we just wait for the baby.

Here is the scary part! They have had a baby boom. This tiny agency has already placed 11 children this year. At this time, there are only 2 waiting families. T - W - O!! Our adoption specialist encouraged us to get our paperwork in as early as possible because we could have a baby before we know it. They have 4 BMs expecting in June!!!! We also got a list of things to get prepared now. A diaper bag with diapers, bottles, receiving blanket, warm blanket coming home outfit and of course, a car seat. Apparently, we could have very little notice. They have had several "drop-ins" lately where they get a call from the hospital saying a baby has been born and the BM has chosen not to parent. They run to the hospital, show her some profiles and HOPE HOPE we get selected. NOW.....please keep in mind this still could take some time. Maybe lots of time. It's hard to say. All of the adoptive families, had a wait of 8 months or less. One of the families said he and his wife had decided after seminar to start buying diapers every week. With all of the money our for adoption - the more you can buy little by little the better you can be. Well, anyway, he went on to say that 2 weeks after seminar, they got a call and picked up their baby next day! So much for the best of plans!!!

Because you are all friends and family and a BIG part of our lives, we ask that you help us with prayer. Please pray for us, pray for our birth mother and all birth mothers and pray for our unborn child. J & I have been praying for so long and ask, if it is part of your life, to please remember us in yours. Not to get preachy but........I honestly felt that God spoke to us this morning in church. This was the new testament lesson for today from Romans:

We know that the whole creation has been growing in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Pretty cool, huh? Thanks for reading.