Look How Far We've Come

It has been a busy few weeks as we continue to work through the home study process.  We have submitted lots of paperwork, had a physical to ensure that we are in good health to parent these children, and just last night, we started the Adoption Training Program.  This is a collection of videos that we must watch, while completing a workbook with discussion questions and then at the end we will take a quiz.  Last night's video was just the intro video, but I found that it was mostly geared toward couples who have dealt with infertility, becoming parents for the first time through adoption.  Not much of it pertained to us.  Most of the questions felt like no brainers:  will we love these boys as if they were our biological kids?  If we had any doubt of that we never would have started this process.  Will we openly discuss adoption with our adoptive children?  We would always want our kids to feel free to talk to us about anything and we will always try to be honest.  I used to have doubts and fears about adoption, which is probably why it took us 13 years to get to this place.  I used to doubt I could love an adopted child as my own.  I used to be afraid the birth parents would want contact with my child and I didn't think I could be okay with that.  I worried about older children who would come to us damaged and who might damage my biological children or my family.  It is amazing to reflect back on how far we have come to get to this point.  Even 5 years ago these "no brainer" questions in our training video would have led to tough conversations.  It is amazing how much God has changed and molded us to prepare us for adding to our family in this way.  Our adoption announcement has been mostly met with excitement, encouragement and support but there have been a few who think we are crazy and have suggested as much.  My feelings are this: it may appear to some that we are not equipped for this job, or that it is crazy to take these children in when we don't have the funds to get them here and don't even have a house large enough for everyone to have their own bedroom.  But I see how much we have changed to get to this point spiritually and emotionally, where we are ready to open our home and our hearts to these boys.  And I am surprised that I feel in many ways like they are already mine.  If we have come this far already without even trying, I have no doubt God will equip us with everything we will need now and in the future to get them here and to be the best parents we can for them when they get here.  And I already know in my heart that they will be an even bigger blessing to us than we will be to them.

Fundraising Update:
We are so thankful for all those who have participated in our puzzle fundraiser.  So far we have raised about $600!
We are currently planning a fundraiser at Chick-fil-a, as well as a Christmas tea fundraiser and look for a Jamberry nails fundraiser coming up at the end of the month! Our short term fundraising goal is to raise about $2,000 in order to submit our I800 form in the next few weeks.  Please pray with us as we work toward this goal!!

Thank you for reading and for joining us on our journey toward bringing our boys home!

Ready, Set...Here We Go!

Last month, we submitted our application to our adoption agency and it was accepted.  Since then I feel like we have been flying toward this adoption at 100 mph!  With the way things are moving, it is hard to believe that it could take more than two years until the boys are actually home with us.  This part of the process has not been fun.  We are filling out so much paperwork our eyes are crossing, and sending off checks for thousands of dollars for each piece of paperwork we submit.  At this rate the money we have saved for the adoption will probably be gone in a matter of months.

We are already needing to rely on our faith that the money will be there when we need it.  So many of you responded so positively to our announcement about the adoption and to our first fundraiser.  We feel so encouraged to know that we are supported by an entire community of people who don't think we are crazy for doing this!  We are also so appreciative for the money that has come in so far.  The puzzle piece fundraiser has raised about $300 so far, and that money will probably be spent on the many background checks that are required for this adoption.  Many, many have said that they would like to give but have not given yet.  I ask you to prayerfully consider giving soon if you feel led to give so that we have the funds necessary to get all of our paperwork submitted to Haiti in the very near future.

We are also looking at some more options for fundraising so keep an eye on this blog as we look for some fundraiser ideas that might work as great ways for people to support us and get some Christmas shopping done at the same time!

As we go through these difficult steps of paperwork, fees, home study interviews and inspections, we try to keep the future of these boys at the forefront of our minds.  While some of this feels like an invasion of privacy and a lack of trust in us as decent human beings, I know all too well through my job that there are many children out there in homes who do not have decent human beings taking care of them.  I understand that, when it comes to the safety of a child, one can never be too careful.  And I am thankful that we are working with agencies that want the best possible outcome for these boys and that work so hard to make sure they will always be safe in our home.  Thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness you have shown us this past week, and thank you for following our story.

                                                            Love,
                                                  The Joseph Family