We have BIG news!
We are adopting a child! We have just embarked on this journey! However, it is a journey that has been thought about for many years. A journey that has been discussed. We know that we need others to help us this journey. We are thankful for those who have already been venturing on this journey with us. The four of us are excited for the child that awaits us at the end of this adoption journey.
We are beyond excited and are doing everything we can to be prepared to welcome a beautiful new life into our home. As part of our adoption process, we have started a crowdfunding campaign. It may surprise you to hear that adoption related costs can easily total up to $10,000 or more. This is why we have set a goal of $10,000 to help ease the financial burden that often overwhelms adoptive parents.
We hope that by inviting you into this process, you will see yourself as part of the community we hope to build around our child as he/she grows up.
So I know you all were waiting to hear about how our first virtual visit with "J" went... Was anyone waiting to hear about this visit?? It was so good! His CASA worker called us on FaceTime from the backyard of the group home that he is living in. She's an awesome CASA worker.
We were able to learn more about him. He told us some of the things he likes to do like basketball, Beyblades, Pokemon, and more! The CASA worker helped him share some things with us, and helped him to ask us some questions. There was a whole lot of smiling happening and lots of joy!
Our favorite moment of the call... The CASA worker tried to prepare him for the call. It's a lot for an almost 9 year old. Truthfully, many of us can relate. As she was talking to him about the call, she asked him his favorite book. When we met with her, his caseworker, and a supervisor from DYFS, they shared that he really wanted to read the Wings of Fire book series. So, she figured that's what he was going to say. He said, "The Van Ostens." He was talking about the book that we (really Tina) created for "J" introducing him to our family. He loved the book. Maybe one day, we'll be able to share it with you. He remembered so much from what we shared in it. So adorable!!
Now we wait... Waiting on what the next steps are. Waiting to see if we can get a phone number to call him, an address to mail him things, and dates to meet him in person. There is talk about him visiting this month! That would be so rad!
It has been awhile since I posted an update about our adoption journey. We keep learning more and more about patience through this journey. I am not sure that I will ever have patience. There is a lot of waiting to be done on this journey. It has felt like forever. As I stated before, we have inquired about over 100 kids. I think we really inquired about closer to 150 kids.
We believe that the waiting is finally leading us somewhere. Over a month ago, we found out that we were chosen to move forward with a boy from Texas. They sent us a little more information to make sure that we would still be interested, and we said we would love to learn more. The next step was to send us the disclosure paperwork. Since they mail it, we had to wait for it to arrive. When it finally arrived, it was a CD. However, the CD was completely blank. When our social worker reached out to let them know,they said they would send us a new copy and would meet with us before we received the CD.
We meet 3 weeks ago with his case worker, her boss, and his CASA worker. They had so much information to share with us about the boy. It was a great meeting. So many stories about him. The CASA worker said that she had read through 29 profiles and we were the only family that she really liked. By the end of the meeting, Tina and I knew that we wanted to move forward. We could see this boy as a part of our family. Our social worker let them know a couple of days later.
Late last week, they shared the book Tina created on our family with the boy. She did an amazing job. He told his case worker that he is very excited to meet us. Therefore, they are ready to schedule a virtual visitation with us this weekend. We gave them times that we were available this weekend and now we are just waiting for them to respond. Of course, we will let you know how it goes.
Thank you for your prayers, your support, your love, and your financial support. It is much appreciated.
