Well we waited and waited and waited. THEN..... the envelope was sent back.... we apparently had the wrong address. TALK ABOUT DEFLATION. My heart sank like a set of 11 of 12 Patriots Footballs.....
So the good news, is we didn't back out. I had to hunt down the address again, but once again we put the envelope into the post office. Only to wait..... again,....
As I am learning the wait game will be part of our life for a while.
So during the month of December, Other big things happened.
I got a promotion! I am now working at the Torigian YMCA in Peabody as the Sr. Aquatics Director.
Its very crazy to look back into God's timing. This is the pool that I wanted to work at a few years back. But God's timing is perfect not our own. And due to God's timing, God opened doors for Dan to get a better job, me to leave the job I was unhappy at and now working at this pool with a higher position. Its odd. His timing is so odd...
Its very crazy to look back into God's timing. This is the pool that I wanted to work at a few years back. But God's timing is perfect not our own. And due to God's timing, God opened doors for Dan to get a better job, me to leave the job I was unhappy at and now working at this pool with a higher position. Its odd. His timing is so odd...
I also decided to start a part time job. I fell in love with a product and decided it would be a fun way to make some extra cash for saving up for buying a house. I am now a Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant. This is pretty much what happened and how I got hooked.
Check out my website here --> coffeytime.jamberrynails.net
Then after Christmas I met with my Dr. Again. So apparently because I am SUCH a rare find, he decided that I need to meet the extra specialist. Once I met the extra special "plumbing" Dr. he informed me that I am so special, that every stinken procedure they did to me this fall was only giving one part of the story. IN short, Feb 12th I get to have surgery again. Oh Joy. They are going in for search and discovery with about 5 different outcomes. They wont know what they are doing , until they actually take a good look around. So we shall see what actually happens.
The next big news happened on January 1st. Our Land Lord announced to us that he is selling the House and we have to move by April 1st. So over the next 3 months we start the de-cluttering, packing, throwing away 8 years worth of roommates leaving things behind and prepping for what God has in store. Do we rent? Buy? So many questions.
On January 7th we were invited to Jordan's Furniture to learn more about the application process. We were about to share this with another couple in our church who are interested in fostering. This Blog has really opened up a lot of conversations with people about adoption and our job as believers.
But then once again we heard nothing. Until today! We got a message from a case worker who wants to come and do our pre- screening ! They also want us to start our classes in February! Wow this is real.... like really real! So Now starts the game of phone tag as I attempt to be in contact with DCF .
I also then need to start deep cleaning! How clean does a house have to be for a home visit? I might need to buy stock in Pinesol....
Anyways. That is all for now. For those of you who have been asking what is ahead with us for the adoption process below I will paste in the steps before us!
Praying that God continues to make his path clear to us
~Katy
Step 1: Choose an Agency
To become an adoptive parent to a child in foster care, you can work with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or one of the agencies with whom DCF contracts. You can call MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or 1-800-882-1176 to get phone numbers for these agencies. It is recommended that prospective parents talk to more than one agency to find the one that is the best fit before making the final choice. Many of the offices and agencies will invite you to an informational meeting. An application will be sent to you and preliminary screening will occur.
To become an adoptive parent to a child in foster care, you can work with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or one of the agencies with whom DCF contracts. You can call MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or 1-800-882-1176 to get phone numbers for these agencies. It is recommended that prospective parents talk to more than one agency to find the one that is the best fit before making the final choice. Many of the offices and agencies will invite you to an informational meeting. An application will be sent to you and preliminary screening will occur.
Step 2: Enroll in Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) Training
After preliminary paperwork and screenings are performed and met with approval, prospective adoptive parents will be invited to attend a training and preparation course. MAPP training is typically held one night per week for ten weeks. Intensive weekend trainings are often offered as well. The course is designed to help families determine what child they can best parent, and also serves as a self-screening function. It is designed to help you gain the best possible understanding of, and preparation for, parenting an adopted child. This training will include discussions about the children who are waiting to be adopted and what behaviors they might exhibit as well as information about resources and support available to you as an adoptive family.
After preliminary paperwork and screenings are performed and met with approval, prospective adoptive parents will be invited to attend a training and preparation course. MAPP training is typically held one night per week for ten weeks. Intensive weekend trainings are often offered as well. The course is designed to help families determine what child they can best parent, and also serves as a self-screening function. It is designed to help you gain the best possible understanding of, and preparation for, parenting an adopted child. This training will include discussions about the children who are waiting to be adopted and what behaviors they might exhibit as well as information about resources and support available to you as an adoptive family.
Step 3: Begin the Homestudy
The homestudy is a process and a document that involves a series of interviews with an adoption social worker as well as the family’s submission of documents. The family’s social worker makes planned visits to the home to become better acquainted with the family members, the household and the community. The final result of the process is a narrative report on the prospective family and what they are seeking in a child or sibling group. This homestudy is shared with other social workers to find an appropriate match for a child and your family.
The homestudy is a process and a document that involves a series of interviews with an adoption social worker as well as the family’s submission of documents. The family’s social worker makes planned visits to the home to become better acquainted with the family members, the household and the community. The final result of the process is a narrative report on the prospective family and what they are seeking in a child or sibling group. This homestudy is shared with other social workers to find an appropriate match for a child and your family.
Step 4: Waiting for Your Child
Once your homestudy is completed and approved, your social worker will work with you to identify a child who is a good fit with your family. You can participate in this process by attending MARE adoption parties, reading the MARE Photolisting and watching for MARE media recruitment.
Once your homestudy is completed and approved, your social worker will work with you to identify a child who is a good fit with your family. You can participate in this process by attending MARE adoption parties, reading the MARE Photolisting and watching for MARE media recruitment.
Step 5: Matching and Visitation
When a potential match is identified, a family meets with their worker and the child’s social worker at a disclosure meeting to discuss the child in more detail and become familiar with his/her history and current issues. If everyone agrees this looks like a good match, an initial meeting between the family and the child is arranged. If the initial meeting goes well, further visitation is arranged, including overnights, holidays, weekends, etc. The period of visitation varies from child to child, but typically lasts several weeks to several months.
When a potential match is identified, a family meets with their worker and the child’s social worker at a disclosure meeting to discuss the child in more detail and become familiar with his/her history and current issues. If everyone agrees this looks like a good match, an initial meeting between the family and the child is arranged. If the initial meeting goes well, further visitation is arranged, including overnights, holidays, weekends, etc. The period of visitation varies from child to child, but typically lasts several weeks to several months.
Step 6: Becoming a Family
Following a successful visitation period, a child moves in with a family on a full-time basis. In Massachusetts, there is a waiting period of a minimum of six months before the adoption can be legalized. During this time the agency will conduct home visits to provide support and monitor how the placement is going. It is not unusual to wait at least a year from the time of placement until the adoption finalized in court and ratified by a judge.
Following a successful visitation period, a child moves in with a family on a full-time basis. In Massachusetts, there is a waiting period of a minimum of six months before the adoption can be legalized. During this time the agency will conduct home visits to provide support and monitor how the placement is going. It is not unusual to wait at least a year from the time of placement until the adoption finalized in court and ratified by a judge.
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