Home Study Class Session 1 of 5

Thursday, July 19th marked the first day of our Adoption Home Study Classes.  There are 3 other couples in the class with us.  After a short getting to know you game we had a review of the adoption process and of the fees that are due and when they will be due (we are now accepting donation!)  We watched a video aboutadoptions then and now it talked about how adoptions were viewed by society and how they happened; birth mothers were not allowed to choose the family that would raise the child and all adoptions were closed, meaning the birth family and adoptive family had no contact.  The video also focus on the changes that have occurred in adoptions; now almost all adoption are open, the birth mother/family choose the couple/family that will raise the child and they have contact with the adoptive family through letters, pictures, videos, phone call and even face to face visits. 

We discussed some of the "homework" projects we need to completed before our home study visit takes place; writing a resume letter (a short letter telling the birth mothers/families about us, birth families will read this letter and possibly choose us as family they would like to meet and hopefully select as the family to adopt their child), creating a portfolio (a scrapbook full of pictures that tells the story our lives together), we have 2 books to read and other paperwork to complete.  The home study visit will be scheduled on the last day of class and will take place about 4 -6 weeks after our classes have ending, then within 2 weeks of the home study being approved our resume will be available for birth mothers/families to read

The session ended with another video that featured birth mothers and families telling their stories of why they chose adoption and the relationships they have with the adoptive families and the child they chose to have adopted. It was very emotional.

I will continue to keep you all posted as we continue our journey to find our "forever family".  I ask that you all say an extra prayer for us, the families that are unable to have their own children and those that are in the process of adopting and for the birth mothers/families, that they have the strength, guidance and courage to make the right decision not only for their child  but for themselves too.