Our Clearances Arrived!

FINALLY OUR CLEARANCES HAVE ARRIVED!  This means that our fingerprints were taken, the federal databases have been searched, and we are officially NOT felons.  We were told this wait would take up to 8 weeks, but it took 11 weeks.  The three extra weeks may seem trivial in the scheme of things, but in feels like we've been waiting and waiting and waiting for over 3.5 years, so we are so excited that our paperwork is OFFICIALLY COMPLETE!

Next up: the home study.  The home study consists of a series of 3-4 interviews, including a physical inspection of our home to make sure it passes the safety test and adheres to the list of requirements set forth by the state and by the agency.  Since our social worker is currently at capacity with scheduled visits, our first interview will likely be held in 3-4 weeks and the home study process from interview #1 to certification should (hopefully) take 3-6 weeks.  In that time we will also be constructing our family portfolio, which consists of a letter to the birthparents and a photo album/scrapbook introducing our family and giving insight into what life with us may be like.  Once we are certified we will officially be a waiting family, ready and eager for a match at any moment, or after years of waiting...only time will tell.

Please pray that God will guide our family portfolio building process, so that we can successfully create a book that genuinely reflects us and will lead us to our future child.  We also ask for prayers that our interviews go smoothly and that we continue to feel welcomed and embraced by the agency.