Changes in 2013!

      I've been wanting to announce this in a cute, creative way, but with my grandfather being ill and passing away I haven't had the time or energy.  BUT - We are very excited to announce that we have begun the process of adopting from Ghana! 

      Almost exactly a year to the day that I felt God calling us to adopt, Lud felt that he was ready to begin the process of adopting. After researching the agencies who were still working in Ghana and requesting references from them, we decided to apply to Faith International Adoptions in Tacoma, Washington. We applied and got accepted into the program to adopt a child 0 - 24 months.  Over the holidays we worked on getting some paperwork filled out and have officially mailed in our contract! 

      SO - I know the big questions are 1) What happens now? and 2) How long will it take before you bring home a baby?

      Answer to #1:  Now we are filling out paperwork for what is called our "dossier."  Basically, it includes a homestudy (a report that summarizes visits and interviews with us), background checks, physicals, good citizen reports, birth certificates, our marriage license, etc. Most of which have to be notarized. It should take us about three months to collect all the documents and complete the homestudy. 

      Answer to #2:  As soon as our contract gets processed, then our agency will start the process of matching us with a child. Due to multiple circumstances, this could happen faster or slower just depending on our age parameters and the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare.  Once they find a child that matches our parameters then our agency will send us what is called a referral. The referral will have a picture and whatever information is available about the child's health. We will then accept the referral if we feel right about it. The referral could happen before or after we've completed the dossier.  If we haven't completed it by the time we get our referral, then you better believe we will finish it as soon as possible! Once we accept the referral and the dossier is processed in Ghana, then we will travel for our first trip to Ghana to meet our child and go to Ghanaian court. (I can barely stand typing this b/c I'm so excited!!) Unfortunately, after our first trip, we'll have to return to home without our baby.  We'll have to wait until the American Embassy processes the adoption. Then, we'll return to Ghana and bring home our baby forever! The entire process should take about a year. 

      While all this sounds so simple and easy in a paragraph, it is a very challenging and detailed process.  We will  need the prayers and support of our family and friends. I will use this blog to keep everyone updated, but it will also be used to help spread the word of ways you can help us bring our baby home.  From talking about this with numerous friends and family, I know everyone feels differently about whether it is okay to monetarily support families' adoptions.  While we are going to primarily pay for the adoption ourselves, adoption is different from having a baby in the hospital where the bill is mostly paid through insurance, and we may need to do fundraisers or ask for monetary gifts in lieu of traditional baby gifts. All I ask is that you prayerfully consider the way you feel comfortable about supporting us.  We love y'all and appreciate any support you give us! 

       We could have a baby home by the end of 2013! So excited about changes in 2013!