It's Real

Today we received the official initial paperwork to fill out for our adoption. I was SUPER excited when I saw the UPS box on the porch. There was also a DVD that we had to watch that was very exciting. Both definitely inspired a deep conversation over dinner about what we are willing to do and not willing to do. For example, multiples? We checked yes! Are we crazy?? Maybe.

It took about two hours for us to discuss and fill out the paperwork. We'll then be discussing it with our adoption consultant on Friday evening. Then, we get started with the home study (officially), which consists of lots of information gathering about us and home visits. Our next task is to write our "brochure" about who we are and who we want to be as parents. Some of you will be asked to provide letters of recommendation about our potential to parent.

As we were watching the DVD and hearing stories of other adoptive parents, Phillip said "we need to prepare!". We have nothing. No diapers. No bottles. No changing table. No plan. This is SO not how we typically operate! So do you put up a nursery and wait to put the baby in it?? Or do you wait till the last minute and do a mad dash in Baby's R Us? We don't know. We'll think about it. But when they say that the majority of couples are chosen within 9 months, you do feel a certain sense of urgency.

This. Is. Real. And I am unbelievably, authentically, over the moon ecstatic. I don't care if it takes a year or two years. I can wait for my sweet Kretlow baby. We did find out that most of the time you do get to be present at the birth, and most of the time it's within 9 months. How amazing.  I can't imagine the sacrifice of a mother trusting me to mother her baby. What a special person that must be.

Secondary to this, this will not be cheap. Luckily, I have some contract work and summer teaching that will help. However, if you feel so compelled to support us in this journey, we are setting up a way for you to do that. Even five dollars helps with the fees involved in this process. Please understand, we only need your love, support, and prayers. We believe that God will provide a way. But, if you feel compelled to give financially, we will honor it in the name of our baby. We are not expecting anything but emotional and spiritual support. This is our decision and our responsibility to sustain it. But, if you want to support the cause, you can click the "donate" button below and provide some financial support for our journey to give a needy baby the right home. This is more important than any baby shower could ever be. Love to you all-you have been AMAZING in the last three days since we made our "official announcement". We will post again after Friday's second consultation. Oh, and you can expect some serious gardening posts this weekend as well. So if you're over "baby talk", we have "garden talk" to come.