Steen & Chantal South

Updates

• Update 6

  

  Adoption Update #6

  June 25, 2026

  Before I say anything else--we have to postpone our garage sale :( The weather all week was threatening rain on both Friday and Saturday (though I see right now that it's just Saturday), and as y'all know, it's hard to have a successful sale in the rain. We're now planning on July 10th & 11th, so if you were planning to come or inviting folks, let them know plans have somewhat shifted. 

  Anyway...I can't believe we officially started the home study process almost a full two months ago! When we started, I was determined to rush through at lightning speed to get to next part... the part where we sign on with an agency and get on the waiting list. And yet, as I think back right now, I find myself appreciating the fact that we have had this time to be slow.

  As far as updates go... we got an email on Tuesday that Steen's doctor appointment had been cancelled. When I called them yesterday, they told me his primary care physician no longer works on Fridays, so we had to change gears. I had been told by a friend who also adopted that any urgent care can do a physical exam and sign off on the papers, so I called ZoomCare to confirm, and
  made Steen an appointment for THIS Friday! So we'll have that checked off the list way quicker than I thought.

  I've been prioritizing garage sale tasks with the thought that I had two more weeks before we could turn anything in, but now that I know tomorrow is the doctor appointment, I've finished up our education documentation and I'm planning on getting the other documentation done this week!

  The photo above is a small portion of the items we've received for the sale, currently being stored in the nursery since we don't yet have another use for that room ;) Jennifer and Hannah were so kind and came over yesterday to help put price stickers on everything, so we are that much closer to being ready! I'm hoping that when I update you next week, I can say that we've turned everything in for the home study portion and are heading towards the next step! 

• Update 5

  

  Adoption Update #5

  June 17, 2026

  And now, for the update you've alllll been waiting for.... our home study interview on Sunday went FABULOUSLY! I was an absolute stress ball for the entire week leading up to it (poor Steen), and was trying and failing to have my house looking absolutely perfect before she arrived. Well, turns out it hardly mattered that I didn't have all the pictures up on the wall, and there were some dishes in the sink, and not all our laundry had been folded and put away. Steen did get the crib put up and we were able to have a little corner ready in the nursery, as you can see in the picture.

  During the interview, she asked very easy to answer questions, peeked around the house, and gave us her blessing on the interview portion! We still have some things we need to do on our end, including Steen's doctor's appointment, and all the paperwork I mentioned last week. I haven't made any paperwork progress since my last update; Jennifer (my mother-in-law) and I threw a big birthday party on Saturday and that took up most of my time outside of the typical to-dos.

  We have had so many generous people donate to our yard sale! I am relieved to have the home study over with because I think I'm officially out of nooks and crannies to hide things in! We’ve actually decided to have a two day sale because of how much we have, starting on Friday, June 26th!

  The next few weeks will be allll about getting things sorted, labelled, and ready to set out. If you have folks you know who love a good deal, don't hesitate to send them our way! I'll re-share the event on Facebook next week; feel free to repost.

  I know for an absolute FACT that your prayers have made a huge difference. Please continue praying as we finish up these last pieces of paperwork--be praying for the birth mama out there, for those we will work with in the agency, for our home study provider…and for our own hearts as we continue learning patience and trust in the LORD's timing.

  -C

• Update 4

  

  Adoption Update #4

  June 10, 2026

  This past week has been fairly eventful! And not just in the paperwork process!

  As you may remember, we didn't get the background checks started until last Thursday. After submitting the form online, we made an appointment to get our fingerprints on Sunday after church, which went off without a hitch (except for me driving to the wrong UPS store at first). By Monday morning, I had an email from our home study worker saying our background checks were already cleared! She had warned it could take a month, so that was certainly faster than expected!
  Steen's doctor appointment was scheduled for yesterday, June 9th, but his work schedule changed over the weekend, so starting this week, he is on day shift instead of swing shift. His appointment was originally scheduled for 10:40am, right in the middle of that shift, and he's working in Battle Ground. So, we had to reschedule the appointment for their next available Friday.... July 10th. I am going to call regularly to see if they get any cancellations, but for now, we're another month out. 

  As far as the paperwork goes, we still have some education to do and then write about, Steen needs to finish his autobiography, and there are a few other things, but the list has gotten pretty short! 

  And, the biggest news... we have our home study interview this Sunday after church! Our home study provider emailed me last week, wanting to do it this weekend! Obviously Saturday didn't work (we're having Steen & Troy's birthday party). We're very excited. Based on what I've researched, it's mostly about interviewing Steen and I about our lives, our marriage, our relationships, our ideal parenting style... all sorts of things. Please be praying that we represent ourselves well, not only as prospective parents, but also as ambassadors of Christ. 

  I will be excited to update you next week with how the interview went! And! Our yard sale is only just over two weeks away! Y'all have been so generous with your donations--my heart and my house is full :) 

• Update 3

  

  Adoption Update #3

  June 2, 2026

  Hello and welcome to update #3! We are inching along in our paperwork, but progress has been made! The photo above is not one I personally took, but it feels like a good representation of what my own office desk currently looks like!

  Last week, I was able to email in more documents, including my own autobiography. I was told to try to keep it to two pages...well, it was four. TECHNICALLY, it is two pages.... if you print it front and back.

  We've been reading more books about adoption to be able to fill out the education portion of the homestudy, and it's been both encouraging and sobering. It's sad to read about the types of situations little babies are born into, but it also reminds us why we believe in adoption. It's also sad to read about the judgement and disdain many birth mothers face when they choose adoption. These are incredibly brave women who have chosen life for their baby, and love the baby enough to find them a safe & loving environment to grow up in. I personally cannot fathom the courage involved in such a decision, and I am glad the agency we chose has a history of caring for the birth mothers well.

  Oh! One other update. It turns out that I forgot to send the actual application document when I submitted the first large batch of documents in early May, and so our background checks, which supposedly take a month, aren't even initiated yet. It's frustrating that I made a mistake like that, but I've also been reminded that everything is in God's hands and His timing is perfect (thanks Mom). I am just absolutely itching to be live with the agency, but I know I need to keep in mind that the homestudy is just the first step. After signing on with the agency, there will almost certainly be additional steps to take before "going live."

  It also never hurts to have more time to save & fundraise. By the way, being over $10,000 funded through just a donation link....wow. We are gobsmacked, grateful, and a little dizzy from how generous and kind our community has been in just the first month of us announcing our plan.

  Still planning our yard sale for June 28th! After everyone's donations, sounds like we'll have lots of goodies, so tell your bargain-seeking friends! ;)

  As this process continues, please continue to pray that God's will be done. Pray for the birth mama out there, whether she's pregnant yet or not... that she can be bold and courageous, and that she can find support. And pray that Steen and I can find time to enjoy this season of just the two of us--life has become understandably busier since all of this began, but we are trying our best to soak in whatever's left of this season of our lives. Steen turns THIRTY on Thursday, and I told him who knows, it could be his last birthday without the title of "dad" :)

• Update 2

  

  Adoption Update #2

  May 26, 2026

  As promised, this update will be a lot shorter! 

  We are deep into paperwork territory, with a little bit of whimsy and fun thrown in. Both Steen & I finished our marriage Q&A form, and are now working on our autobiographies. We need 10 hours of specific adoption education, but it unfortunately isn't a specific list of classes to check off. Instead, we have some parameters, and then a few websites to look through to see if they're offering those classes. We also have the option to read books/listen to podcasts/watch documentaries as long as they are applicable, which is the path we're currently going down. 

  I'm trying to have the bare bones of a nursery put together so the birth mamas looking at our profile can see where their little girl or boy would be starting life out, so we found a crib on FB Marketplace for a great deal, and have had some folks give me things for free. My mother-in-law went shopping with me so I could get an idea of a theme for the nursery, and then gifted us with some super cute items. My mama bought us some adoption-specific children's books, and they have only made me cry every time I've read them (one of them was pictured in the last update). This baby has some very generous grandmas!

  Overall, I am thriving in this stage of the process where everything is laid out in (mostly) linear steps, and things can be completed in our time. There will be stages of this process (and then the rest of life as a parent, lol) where control completely falls off. But if the last five years have taught me anything, it's that the LORD is ALWAYS in control, and His timing is perfect. 

  We are still planning on our yard sale for June 27th! If you can come, I have a FB event page that I'll update as we get closer. 

  It has been so incredibly humbling to be buried under the AVALANCHE of support y'all have offered, be it by reaching out, praying for us, giving to the fund... words will never do our gratitude justice, so I'll say a simple thank you from the heart. 

  Thank you <3

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