WE ARE CERTIFIED!!!!!!

As of 3:13pm on Tuesday July 31st we are approved, certified, and officially a "Waiting Family!"  Back in December we started the adoption process with another agency, switched to our current agency in March, and today, seven months later, we have finally made it. <cue sighs of relief> 

How do we feel?  
Elated, tired, excited and nervous about the reality that we may actually become parents this time, and mostly at peace.  The last 6 weeks themselves have been a buzz of interviews, home inspection preparation, and family portfolio constructing.  Its time to slow down and enjoy this very special time left as just the two of us.

What have the last 6 weeks been like?
First, interviews have promoted many parenting discussions that my husband and I otherwise may not have had but have proved very valuable. 

Second, home inspection readiness has involved building a first aid kid, fashioning tot locks on cabinets to secure knives, cleaners, and medications, adjusting our water temperature, purchasing a car seat, disposing of any expired food (i.e. clean out the pantry), finished unresolved projects (flooring thresholds, caulking the shower and bathrooms), covering outlets, borrowing a pack 'n play so the baby has a place to sleep if we get very little notice, and cleaning out/putting away the garage after a years' long construction project.  Mind you, while going through the home inspection list, you also see the things in your house that you ever intended to do or were just about to do, not to mention notice of each neglected nook or cluttered cranny.  I admit that much of the home inspection frenzy I brought upon myself, but I'm tired!  If only the house would stay this organized (and trust me its far from perfect...I had to stop)! 

Third, building a portfolio is time consuming and challenging!  The initial challenge is figuring out how to work together on a writing project (took some trial and error), and the primary challenge is deciding what in the world to say?!  After many iterations and lots of deleting, we are please with the greeting and introduction to our family that we've complied.  This letter is followed by another 20 or so pages full of photos and captions, meant to paint a picture of life in our family.  Its was very nostalgic to select photos and reflect over the years we lived together, the family and friends we enjoy, the hobbies and travels that attract our free time, and all with a little glimpse of our own childhoods and some humor.

Now what?
We wait.  They standard expected wait time given is two years, some families have waited only a month while others are still waiting after three years.  The most common time frame is 6-18 months, but there is really no way of knowing.  In the meantime we'll maintain our certification with some classes, reading, and other parenting training we find and we'll join in the events to meet other families waiting to adopt through our agency.

Its a wonderful day and we are truly being bless by this rocky road to parenthood!  Please be praying for our future child and birth family that will become a part of our lives.

And now...I'm going to sit on the couch in my clean house and watch the Olympics!