"Phase 1"...

The holidays got me a little off track.  They were wonderful, and I enjoyed spending time with my family.  We had Thanksgiving at my sister's house, and then we had Christmas at my house.  It was a lot of fun and great to see everyone and catch up.  Now I'm trying to get the house back in order and get back on track with this journey. :)

I almost have my "Phase 1" paperwork finished.  Phase 1 was only 17 pages long.  I will be turning it in on Monday.  Yeah!  Then it looks like January will be very busy with training!  I will have STAR, SMART, CPR/First Aide, and medication training.  It will take all month, but should be able to get it done.  The agency said I can begin the training while my Phase 1 paperwork is being processed and approved.  I will call Monday to double check on that, but the lady at our orientation meeting said it would be ok. 

Once my Phase 1 paperwork is approved, it will be on to the 40 pages of Phase 2 paperwork.  In there somewhere is the home study, fire/safety inspection, and more.  :)

God's Heart for Orphans Conference...

The God's Heart for Orphans Conference was wonderful!  So many people there with a passion and heart to help orphans in any way they can.  It was very informative, and I made several great contacts and a couple of new friends too. 

Information Meeting...

The information meeting on Saturday was...well...informative.  :)  CPS and three private agencies (Buckner, Grace Manor, Bair Foundation) were there and spoke during the meeting.  So much information in such a short time, my head was full and I couldn't remember many of my questions by the time we were done.  Of course as soon as we (my sister went with me) left all the questions I had started coming back to me plus 100 more.  That's ok, I got the contact #s for all of them, and have been e-mailing and calling them with my questions. 

Next is the "God's Heart for Orphans" conference this weekend, Saturday. 

Information Meetings, Orientations, Applications, Conferences....

This is a busy time of learning for me (and I'm loving every minute of it):

Saturday 12/3 - Information Meeting on Fostering & Adoption
Thursday 12/8 - Orientation Meeting with Agency
Satuday 12/10 - "God's Heart for Orphans" Conference

Talking to foster parents and parents through adoption.  Reading blogs, books, and articles about fostering and adoption.

Completing the first application and preparing the supporting information to send it in to the agency. 

Information, advice, suggestions...

Several friends have either been foster parents or adopted.  I also have a friend who has been a child in the foster care system, and just recently got adopted at the age of 16.  He is so happy with his new family, and is spending his first holidays with them.  They have all been wonderful in giving me their thoughts, advice, and suggestions on my journey, based on the experciences they've had along their own journeys.  I am so blessed and thankful for their help and support as I begin my journey.

Thoughts

I have thought about adoption for years, but am just now at a point in my life where I am taking the first steps to move towards beginning my family. I purchased my first home earlier this year. Yes, I know that is not a requirement, but I wanted to have a place of my own, in the country, and close to family and friends before I started this journey. I know going on this journey as a single parent will not be easy, and I wanted to make sure I had a good support system around me. I also have a great job, and get to work from my home office, and am able to have some flexibility with hours (even though I still put in long and sometimes odd hours). Having been in this industry for a long time now, I also have the skills to feel confident (ok, well, somewhat given the economy) that I could find employment again if something was to happen to my job. I am also more careful about having an emergency fund, and plan for the unexpected, etc. My nieces are old enough now, and live close enough, to play with a cousin and grow up with them, and maybe even help babysit if needed. My youngest niece said she wants to go with me to pick my child out (not sure if she thinks it is like going to the pound to pick out a puppy or what), because she wants to make sure I pick out one that isn't a brat and that likes doing the things she likes doing. Ha! My sister, brother-in-law, mother, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all live pretty close by also. Since moving I have found a new church home and am getting more involved and still keep in touch with my old/previous church family also. I have been praying about this, and trying to follow His will and His timing in this journey. I am going to my first orientation meeting for Foster Care / Adoption on December 3rd.