A very good friend told me that I am a mother without a child. I believe I will be a good mother. I believe in my heart, that I already am. I believe it is the Lord's Will that I be a mother. 1 Samuel 1:27 says "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him." I am confident in our ability to be good parents. Chris and I don't take this lightly. We have covered this journey in prayer.
We are so blessed. We are grateful for your prayers and support. We are excited about what the coming months will bring.
Much love to you our dear family and friends ~Audra
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Home Study Completed
The home study is now complete and will be submitted to our DHS caseworker tomorrow (Monday). We are so excited that this part of the adoption process is complete. We were told several 'horror' stories about adoption home studies, but our caseworker was amazing. She was so compassionate about her role in our process. She wants us to get a child as much as we want one for ourselves. She is a Christian, and we are so blessed to have had her as our caseworker. The Lord has truly wrapped His arms around this entire process, and He is still very much in control of it.
Now, our profile goes to our DHS caseworker. She is amazing too. She will begin compiling our background check, fingerprints, references, scrapbook, and home study, and get them ready to put us on the "List" of adopting parents. We have been told that all of the paperwork will be complete by the time we finish the parenting classes. We will complete our parenting classes on October 16th. After that, we should be eligible for placement.
Several have asked me "when" will we receive a child... and the answer is "we don't know". We are hopeful that as of late October, our DHS caseworker can begin matching us to prospective children in the state. That in no way means we will have a child even by Christmas. What that does mean is that any time as soon as Thanksgiving, or as late as next Fall, we hope to have our child. There is so much red tape to go through even after we are told our child is ours. Please pray that this part of the process goes smoothly. I am not so naive to think there won't be some hiccups along the way, but I do know that we serve a big God who is greater than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves, and He knows what our child looks like and when we will get to bring it home. That gives me so much peace.
Good things are happening in the Sherman household these days. We are so blessed. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. Love to all, Audra and Chris
Now, our profile goes to our DHS caseworker. She is amazing too. She will begin compiling our background check, fingerprints, references, scrapbook, and home study, and get them ready to put us on the "List" of adopting parents. We have been told that all of the paperwork will be complete by the time we finish the parenting classes. We will complete our parenting classes on October 16th. After that, we should be eligible for placement.
Several have asked me "when" will we receive a child... and the answer is "we don't know". We are hopeful that as of late October, our DHS caseworker can begin matching us to prospective children in the state. That in no way means we will have a child even by Christmas. What that does mean is that any time as soon as Thanksgiving, or as late as next Fall, we hope to have our child. There is so much red tape to go through even after we are told our child is ours. Please pray that this part of the process goes smoothly. I am not so naive to think there won't be some hiccups along the way, but I do know that we serve a big God who is greater than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves, and He knows what our child looks like and when we will get to bring it home. That gives me so much peace.
Good things are happening in the Sherman household these days. We are so blessed. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. Love to all, Audra and Chris
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Home Study Means Your Life in Paragraph Form
Chris and I just finished delving through the 30 page Home Study Profile that our caseworker put together. She let us "edit" it and send it back to be finalized. It was 30 pages of our life in paragraph form including everything from how we met, dated, and married, to characteristics of our siblings and parents, to our financial status, to a listing of the cars we drive.
Oh yeah, to back up, the home study caseworker came Thursday night. She called to see how I was feeling and when I said I was feeling better, she asked if she could come by in 30 minutes. She arrived at 7:00 p.m. and did not leave until 9:45. It was ALL an interview of Chris and I. She did walk through the house, but she didn't open any doors, drawers, or look under any beds. She was very nice, and we laughed a lot. She asked some of the hardest questions we have ever had to answer about discipline vs abuse, nurturing vs neglect, etc. I can't even remember all of the questions. But after reading her "findings" today on the Home Study Profile, Chris and I feel good about how she portrayed our marriage relationship, our religious and ethical beliefs, and our home environment.
I am probably more optimistic and hopeful than I have been in a really long time. I feel like the process is going smoother than expected, of course, as a friend said, we aren't to the "waiting" part yet. But you know, we really are. We've been "waiting" for our child for a long time. I feel that we are closer now than we have ever been, and that gives me a great sense of excitement. Chris and I talked today about the fact that as soon as the home study is complete (this week), all we have left to do is the parenting classes from September 18th to October 16th. I feel that since we have bathed this process in prayer, that the Lord is working everything out for us. I'm not stressed out like I usually am about things.
Reading the Home Study Profile was interesting. She wrote down everything we said, from little one-liners, to here is something funny- I got up to get a bottled water, and when she asked 'who does what around the house' Chris managed to say that we "Share the laundry, cleaning and cooking duties". LOL and that phrase made it into the report. He's funny.
Most of all, the Home Study Profile made me realize how blessed we are. She described us well, even though she only spent 2 1/2 hours with us. She also compiled a complete family history of all parents and siblings. We are very blessed to have such great parents and siblings.
I also want to thank our wonderful references. You have had to act quickly for the caseworker, and Chris and I truly appreciate it. We chose you as our references because we know that you know how earnestly we want a child and that you would help us get to that point in our lives no matter what it took.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I was so sick last week and it was the first week of school, so blogging wasn't the first thing on my mind. This week is going great. I have fantastic students and I am excited about this school year. Chris is doing great and we are so excited to be on this journey together.
Colossians 1:17 "He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together."
Oh yeah, to back up, the home study caseworker came Thursday night. She called to see how I was feeling and when I said I was feeling better, she asked if she could come by in 30 minutes. She arrived at 7:00 p.m. and did not leave until 9:45. It was ALL an interview of Chris and I. She did walk through the house, but she didn't open any doors, drawers, or look under any beds. She was very nice, and we laughed a lot. She asked some of the hardest questions we have ever had to answer about discipline vs abuse, nurturing vs neglect, etc. I can't even remember all of the questions. But after reading her "findings" today on the Home Study Profile, Chris and I feel good about how she portrayed our marriage relationship, our religious and ethical beliefs, and our home environment.
I am probably more optimistic and hopeful than I have been in a really long time. I feel like the process is going smoother than expected, of course, as a friend said, we aren't to the "waiting" part yet. But you know, we really are. We've been "waiting" for our child for a long time. I feel that we are closer now than we have ever been, and that gives me a great sense of excitement. Chris and I talked today about the fact that as soon as the home study is complete (this week), all we have left to do is the parenting classes from September 18th to October 16th. I feel that since we have bathed this process in prayer, that the Lord is working everything out for us. I'm not stressed out like I usually am about things.
Reading the Home Study Profile was interesting. She wrote down everything we said, from little one-liners, to here is something funny- I got up to get a bottled water, and when she asked 'who does what around the house' Chris managed to say that we "Share the laundry, cleaning and cooking duties". LOL and that phrase made it into the report. He's funny.
Most of all, the Home Study Profile made me realize how blessed we are. She described us well, even though she only spent 2 1/2 hours with us. She also compiled a complete family history of all parents and siblings. We are very blessed to have such great parents and siblings.
I also want to thank our wonderful references. You have had to act quickly for the caseworker, and Chris and I truly appreciate it. We chose you as our references because we know that you know how earnestly we want a child and that you would help us get to that point in our lives no matter what it took.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I was so sick last week and it was the first week of school, so blogging wasn't the first thing on my mind. This week is going great. I have fantastic students and I am excited about this school year. Chris is doing great and we are so excited to be on this journey together.
Colossians 1:17 "He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together."
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
God is still in this thing...
Well, it has been a busy few weeks. My sister had her second baby, a little girl named Kanna Leigh, who is just about the sweetest thing in the world. Kanna was born the day before I reported back to school (8-9-10). Teacher's meetings and traveling back and forth to see Miss Kanna kept me pretty busy last week. Kanna is truly a beautiful gift from God, and I love my new niece very much.
Our home study caseworker called last week and wanted to do the next home study on Sunday at 1:00. After Sunday School, though, she called and cancelled. My friend who is also adopting shared Sunday morning that Satan will start to try to attack this process because it is God's will. I didn't feel too bad about not having the home study Sunday because the caseworker rescheduled for Tuesday night. But Monday rolled around and our adoption caseworker called to inform me that the parenting classes we were to take in October had been cancelled. I was starting to get really bummed. She worked it out for us to be able to drive to Elk City for the classes beginning on September 18th for 8 hours a day every Saturday, lasting until October 16th. I was relieved.
Then Tuesday rolled around and I began a new school year excited to meet some awesome Pre-AP English kiddos. By lunchtime, I was so sick that I had to call the office and ask for a sub. I went to the doctor Tues. with 102 temp. Needless to say, I was dehydrated and had a strain of strep. So, I missed the second day of school. You teachers know how hard it is to miss when you haven't even met them yet. I called the homestudy lady Tuesday afternoon and left a voicemail telling her how sick I was and could we reschedule. So, we haven't had homestudy #2 yet. After all of this, I felt as though Satan was going on his rampage. So I prayed, and my mom prayed, and my aunt prayed, and my Granny prayer, and my friend prayed...
Our God is still in control. He has provided for us every step of the way. We have wonderful parents, siblings, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins praying us through this process. God is still very much in this thing and we are ready for the next step, whatever and whenever that may be.
Love, Audra
Our home study caseworker called last week and wanted to do the next home study on Sunday at 1:00. After Sunday School, though, she called and cancelled. My friend who is also adopting shared Sunday morning that Satan will start to try to attack this process because it is God's will. I didn't feel too bad about not having the home study Sunday because the caseworker rescheduled for Tuesday night. But Monday rolled around and our adoption caseworker called to inform me that the parenting classes we were to take in October had been cancelled. I was starting to get really bummed. She worked it out for us to be able to drive to Elk City for the classes beginning on September 18th for 8 hours a day every Saturday, lasting until October 16th. I was relieved.
Then Tuesday rolled around and I began a new school year excited to meet some awesome Pre-AP English kiddos. By lunchtime, I was so sick that I had to call the office and ask for a sub. I went to the doctor Tues. with 102 temp. Needless to say, I was dehydrated and had a strain of strep. So, I missed the second day of school. You teachers know how hard it is to miss when you haven't even met them yet. I called the homestudy lady Tuesday afternoon and left a voicemail telling her how sick I was and could we reschedule. So, we haven't had homestudy #2 yet. After all of this, I felt as though Satan was going on his rampage. So I prayed, and my mom prayed, and my aunt prayed, and my Granny prayer, and my friend prayed...
Our God is still in control. He has provided for us every step of the way. We have wonderful parents, siblings, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins praying us through this process. God is still very much in this thing and we are ready for the next step, whatever and whenever that may be.
Love, Audra
Sunday, July 25, 2010
God doesn't waste anything, and He doesn't make any mistakes.
I haven't had much to update lately, but today was a big day. First of all, the Lord has consistently shown Chris and I that our decision to adopt is in His plan for us. We are truly blessed. This morning in our Adult 1 Sunday School class, Aaron did a lesson on Creation. A godly woman with a sweet heart, who is new to our class, shared that lately, since becoming pregnant, she has had a hard time understanding that if we were all created in His image, why are so many children allowed to be concieved in sin. And many parents don't even want them, or see them as a burden that can easily be discarded. Not knowing our situation, she tearfully shared that she has even found herself wondering why Godly deserving couples who can't have children are not blessed with such a gift from God's most precious creation. (something I have struggled with) Aaron and his wife Laura had an answer for her burden, as did Chris and I. Because God doesn't waste anything... those are the children we want to take into our homes and raise as our own. I feel every day that our journey is meant to be our witness. That our children, our heirs, though not our blood, will be our legacy of faithfulness to the Christ who makes no mistakes, who provided that child for us to love, and care, and nurture into Godly servants of Him.
It gets better :) After Sunday School, Chris and I decided not to go on to church (we always do). Chris was very tired from working all night and he had to go back to work this afternoon. As we were driving home, I got a call from the Adoption Home Study caseworker (I would have missed that call had we gone on to church). She would be in Altus in less than an hour and would like to come by and meet us for our 1st of 3 home visits. So we blazed through the house making it spotless, not knowing if this was the home study where they open cabinets and lift cushions on the couch. Of course those of you who know me well know how much of a neat freak I am, so it wasn't too bad.
I had butterflies in my stomach because I am so excited about this process. A van pulls into our drive and a lady comes to the door with a clipboard. I open the door and say "hello, you found us!" ...It was a census lady! She started giving her bit about how many people live in our house and what's our last name. She barely spoke english and it was hard to understand her. I was so taken aback at the fact that it wasn't the home study lady (who was now 30 minutes late) that I quickly told the census lady that we've given our count to all 15 people who have come by and knocked on our door. She would not let up. She kept asking for our last name, and I wouldn't give it to her. I ended up having to shut the door in her face because she wouldn't stop pushing for personal info.
Anywhoo, our caseworker showed up and was so sweet and personable. She needed a long list of documentation from marriage certificate to pay stubs to car forms, but because our local DHS caseworker is awesome, we had all that stuff ready. The lady stayed for about 10 minutes. She said she noticed in our packet that we were Christians, and so she told us that she was too. She asked if she could share a prayer request with us and we said yes. Her father-in-law died last night and that was why she needed to travel to Altus today. She had just received our packet yesterday so she thought she could get the first visit in if we were home. Again, God makes no mistakes.
She said she loved our house, and that she would be back the first week in August. At that time she needs: a complete family history on all our parents and siblings from marraige dates to arrest logs :). She also wants a scrapbook of Chris and I and our close family, that our future child will be around, to show to prospective birthmothers/fathers, etc. So, Mama is coming tomorrow and we are having scrapbook day!
All in all, huge day. Our caseworker said she would have our home study (2 more visits) completed by September. Our background check and fingerprinting from the FBI should be back mid-September. We take 32 hours of parenting classes on 4 Saturday's in October. SO- our profile, she said, should be ready to put on the placement list by November 1! Our child(ren) could come any time after that.
We are so excited! Thank you to all of our friends and family who are joining us prayerfully on this journey! Love, Audra
It gets better :) After Sunday School, Chris and I decided not to go on to church (we always do). Chris was very tired from working all night and he had to go back to work this afternoon. As we were driving home, I got a call from the Adoption Home Study caseworker (I would have missed that call had we gone on to church). She would be in Altus in less than an hour and would like to come by and meet us for our 1st of 3 home visits. So we blazed through the house making it spotless, not knowing if this was the home study where they open cabinets and lift cushions on the couch. Of course those of you who know me well know how much of a neat freak I am, so it wasn't too bad.
I had butterflies in my stomach because I am so excited about this process. A van pulls into our drive and a lady comes to the door with a clipboard. I open the door and say "hello, you found us!" ...It was a census lady! She started giving her bit about how many people live in our house and what's our last name. She barely spoke english and it was hard to understand her. I was so taken aback at the fact that it wasn't the home study lady (who was now 30 minutes late) that I quickly told the census lady that we've given our count to all 15 people who have come by and knocked on our door. She would not let up. She kept asking for our last name, and I wouldn't give it to her. I ended up having to shut the door in her face because she wouldn't stop pushing for personal info.
Anywhoo, our caseworker showed up and was so sweet and personable. She needed a long list of documentation from marriage certificate to pay stubs to car forms, but because our local DHS caseworker is awesome, we had all that stuff ready. The lady stayed for about 10 minutes. She said she noticed in our packet that we were Christians, and so she told us that she was too. She asked if she could share a prayer request with us and we said yes. Her father-in-law died last night and that was why she needed to travel to Altus today. She had just received our packet yesterday so she thought she could get the first visit in if we were home. Again, God makes no mistakes.
She said she loved our house, and that she would be back the first week in August. At that time she needs: a complete family history on all our parents and siblings from marraige dates to arrest logs :). She also wants a scrapbook of Chris and I and our close family, that our future child will be around, to show to prospective birthmothers/fathers, etc. So, Mama is coming tomorrow and we are having scrapbook day!
All in all, huge day. Our caseworker said she would have our home study (2 more visits) completed by September. Our background check and fingerprinting from the FBI should be back mid-September. We take 32 hours of parenting classes on 4 Saturday's in October. SO- our profile, she said, should be ready to put on the placement list by November 1! Our child(ren) could come any time after that.
We are so excited! Thank you to all of our friends and family who are joining us prayerfully on this journey! Love, Audra
Thursday, July 8, 2010
How We Got Started
Chris and I grew up together. We went to the same high school. We attended the same church. We never dated until after college. When we began dating, I was teaching in Oklahoma and Chris was in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. We knew very early in our relationship that we were meant for each other.
We married in June 2003 and lived in CA for two years. While in CA, we decided to start our family. I got pregnant quickly and easily, but we were devastated to find that pregnancy was ectopic (tubal) and I had to have immediate surgery. It was very hard going through that thousands of miles away from home, but we leaned on each other and we got through it.
In the summer of 2005, a teaching job opened in our hometown of Altus, OK. Chris was completing his term as a US Marine, and he wanted to move home to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a OK State Trooper. He couldn't move back to OK until October because of his commitment to the USMC, so I moved home early and began teaching at Altus High School. When I moved home in July, I was pregnant. I miscarried that baby on the first day of school in August 2005.
Chris received his honorable discharge from the USMC and moved home in October 2005. We still wanted to get pregnant and by December, we did. I miscarried that baby in early January. After this third loss, we really started wondering what was going on, so I went through many tests. I was low on progesterone (a hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy). So my doctor put me on progesterone and we were pregnant once again late February 2006. We were elated. We knew this was it. I got to 8 weeks in that pregnancy before finding that it, too, was an ectopic. I'll never forget when the doctor told us that my tube could not be saved. We were devastated. There would be no possible way for us to get pregnant naturally.
After several years of saving, we tried IVF (in-vetro fertilization) in the summer of 2009. It was the hardest, most emotional thing thusfar. We thought that IVF would be our answer. I was healthy and our embryos looked fantastic to the specialist. We had two embryos implanted and we found out in August 2009 that neither embryo survived the implantation process. We were again, devastated. We had three frozen embryos left from the IVF process. In March of 2010, we had those three babies implanted. We lost them on March 15, 2010.
The bottom line is, after losing so many babies, Chris and I never lost hope. We had a rough time emotionally. We never faltered in our faith that God has a child for us. As of March 2010, we were both insistent on trying IVF over, and over, and over again whether or not it completely broke us emotionally and financially. I have to say, that only by the grace of God, are we at this point we are at now. We want to adopt...
I have a dear friend going through the same thing. In fact, I am certain the Lord put her in my life for this purpose-to help me through this journey. I told her that I could not pray and ask God to take the desire to have my own child away as she did for herself. I just couldn't do it. So, she prayed that for me. On Wednesday, April 7th, I went to school like I do every day. But this day, I had this overwhelming peace come over me about never carrying my own baby. I came home that day and through tear-filled eyes, I talked to Chris about it. God had told him-that day- that we were not supposed to do IVF anymore. The only option left for us was adoption.
We let it sink in a few days and God continued to bless our decision to adopt. We have started the adoption process as of early June. We are now waiting on three home studies, and in October, we have to take parenting classes every Saturday for eight hours. After all of the paperwork, home studies, and classes are completed, our names should go on "the list" by mid-November. We are so excited. We know that this is what God wants us to do. I will be good to add to this. I've never written a blog before, but as I'm learning, there's a first time for everything. Love, Audra
We married in June 2003 and lived in CA for two years. While in CA, we decided to start our family. I got pregnant quickly and easily, but we were devastated to find that pregnancy was ectopic (tubal) and I had to have immediate surgery. It was very hard going through that thousands of miles away from home, but we leaned on each other and we got through it.
In the summer of 2005, a teaching job opened in our hometown of Altus, OK. Chris was completing his term as a US Marine, and he wanted to move home to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a OK State Trooper. He couldn't move back to OK until October because of his commitment to the USMC, so I moved home early and began teaching at Altus High School. When I moved home in July, I was pregnant. I miscarried that baby on the first day of school in August 2005.
Chris received his honorable discharge from the USMC and moved home in October 2005. We still wanted to get pregnant and by December, we did. I miscarried that baby in early January. After this third loss, we really started wondering what was going on, so I went through many tests. I was low on progesterone (a hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy). So my doctor put me on progesterone and we were pregnant once again late February 2006. We were elated. We knew this was it. I got to 8 weeks in that pregnancy before finding that it, too, was an ectopic. I'll never forget when the doctor told us that my tube could not be saved. We were devastated. There would be no possible way for us to get pregnant naturally.
After several years of saving, we tried IVF (in-vetro fertilization) in the summer of 2009. It was the hardest, most emotional thing thusfar. We thought that IVF would be our answer. I was healthy and our embryos looked fantastic to the specialist. We had two embryos implanted and we found out in August 2009 that neither embryo survived the implantation process. We were again, devastated. We had three frozen embryos left from the IVF process. In March of 2010, we had those three babies implanted. We lost them on March 15, 2010.
The bottom line is, after losing so many babies, Chris and I never lost hope. We had a rough time emotionally. We never faltered in our faith that God has a child for us. As of March 2010, we were both insistent on trying IVF over, and over, and over again whether or not it completely broke us emotionally and financially. I have to say, that only by the grace of God, are we at this point we are at now. We want to adopt...
I have a dear friend going through the same thing. In fact, I am certain the Lord put her in my life for this purpose-to help me through this journey. I told her that I could not pray and ask God to take the desire to have my own child away as she did for herself. I just couldn't do it. So, she prayed that for me. On Wednesday, April 7th, I went to school like I do every day. But this day, I had this overwhelming peace come over me about never carrying my own baby. I came home that day and through tear-filled eyes, I talked to Chris about it. God had told him-that day- that we were not supposed to do IVF anymore. The only option left for us was adoption.
We let it sink in a few days and God continued to bless our decision to adopt. We have started the adoption process as of early June. We are now waiting on three home studies, and in October, we have to take parenting classes every Saturday for eight hours. After all of the paperwork, home studies, and classes are completed, our names should go on "the list" by mid-November. We are so excited. We know that this is what God wants us to do. I will be good to add to this. I've never written a blog before, but as I'm learning, there's a first time for everything. Love, Audra
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)