Our last post shared the possibility of our being selected for another sibling group of three. Unlike our most recent experience with a selection staffing, we have felt at such peace this time around- I've actually been sleeping well ;). We left yesterday morning (Thursday, April 12) for the Dallas area to represent ourselves as the adoptive parents for these kiddos. We had a nice calm drive and expected to meet the other prospective parents at this selection staffing. However, when we arrived and the meeting began, we were the only couple in attendance. We sat in a small conference room, lit only by sunlight from its large windows, at a few rectangular tables pushed together. Five workers (CPS, CASA, and an attorney), along with our caseworker, surrounded us and we began our panel interview. They began by telling us all about these three children- their background in foster care, their physical and cognitive development, and their social characteristics. Questions asked to us were, "How do you see yourself as a father/ mother? How has your family responded to your decision to adopt? What made you decide to become licensed for THREE instead of one or two? Have you discussed a plan for the children as you work?..." And of course they enjoyed my scrapbook and asked questions about that ;). The meeting lasted until about 2:15 or so and ended on a great note- they kept our scrapbook and said they would get in touch with us the next day (Friday) or the following Monday. Everyone was SO nice and easy to talk with and we felt great about how the meeting had gone. And we knew that either way, things would work out. So again, we felt at peace with whatever God had planned.
Clif and I ate a late lunch and started toward Nacogdoches at about 3:30. I sent mass text messages letting everyone know that the meeting had gone well and that we would know something Friday or Monday as we were told. About 30 minutes into our drive, Clif received a phone call from one of the caseworkers at the meeting informing him that we had been selected as the adoptive family for the three children!!! He hadn't even said good-bye when I began sobbing tears of joy. And every few minutes I found myself laughing or crying, or doing both at the same time! A new kind of joyful emotional roller coaster began at that moment and has continued into today. I am sure it will carry on until we have them in our home permanently, and then an even more interesting emotional roller coaster will begin as we experience parenthood with THREE! But, it will be our new "normal".
The most asked questions have been: "When will you get them?" and "Names? Ages?" Well, first, they are Hailey- 4 (nearly 5), Bryan- 3, and Hayden- 11 months. Ironically, they favor us a bit- Clif especially. We will begin visits with them where they are now in the very near future. Soon after, they will be transitioned into our home. The adoption will become legal 6 months later.
We are overwhelmed with joy that we have been chosen, overwhelmed with the support and encouragement from everyone, and ecstatic that these children's lives have changed dramatically- and they don't even know it :). We are still praying that things all work out so that we get these children in our home soon and begin pouring into them. I suppose I still feel every now and then that something could happen to rip this amazing moment from our lives. Of course, even if that did happen, we will still know that God has plans to make us parents! We are so excited to write more about this journey as it continues!!!
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