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.