Changes and Home Study Visit #1

We had our first home study interview yesterday! Before I stepped into the world of international adoption, I assumed the home study was a super intense home inspection where a pinch-faced woman in cat-eye glasses walked around our house searching for unlocked medicine cabinets and soap scum on the shower doors. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong! Our home study will consist of 4 main meetings, a joint interview (yesterday), 2 individual interviews, and a home visit during which our social worker will meet our kids and make sure we actually have walls and a roof. 

Yesterday, we were interviewed together and it really wasn't all that scary. She asked some pretty personal questions, but nothing uncomfortable (for us) and nothing that didn't make total sense. We are blessed to have a very knowledgeable and kind social worker, so it was pretty comfortable overall. 

During the second half of our time together, she walked us through our home study packet. Oh man. We have a LOT to do. Physical, marriage certificates, birth certificates, 1040s, employer letter, health insurance letter, 3 major questionnaires (and by the way, those definitely have some seriously personal questions), about 20 hours of training, fingerprinting, etc. She estimated 3 months to complete it all. Brandon joked that she'd find our completed packet on her doorstep by this morning. He was definitely exaggerating, but I have zero intentions of this taking 3 months. Maybe a few weeks. Max. :-)

The big news is that we are fairly certain we are switching country programs. At this point we will most likely be adopting a little girl 0-7 from South Africa. What prompted our switch, you ask? Well, that is a story for another day. I hope to share soon the miracles God is working as He leads in this direction. I will say however, that we believe that God is directing our steps, and this switch was not something we could have ever planned. We are excited and hopeful about it and we covet your prayers as these leaps of faith are starting to become bigger and bigger.

Speaking of prayer, if you're so inclined, here are the specific areas in which we need prayer right now:

- That we would discern clearly God's intent as we finalize switching countries

- That the remaining home study visits would go smoothly (and that our boys would behave during our final one!)

- That we would be able to get our physicals sooner than our doctors are telling us (appointments are in Nov. and Jan. right now, I'd like them MUCH sooner)

- That all the waiting children on our agency's list would find their forever families, and that our hearts would remain committed to that hope, even if it means disappointment for us right now

- That we would continue to see God's provision as we have many fees due very soon, and that we would wait on Him so we can see His miracles in this area

Thank you all. We are so excited, and so completely amazed that God is allowing us to walk down this road. We are so blessed.