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
Sunday, August 29, 2010
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
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