Christmas Morning

Today was a big day for me and the hubs. Well, in the grand scheme of things to come, it may not be that big. But for now, it was big.

We mailed in our adoption application this morning! That was the first true step we've taken towards actually getting started with adoption. And it was exciting! I kept saying all day yesterday that I felt like it was Christmas Eve, thus the title of Christmas Morning. I can't wait for all the many more exciting Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning moments to come as we continue down this journey.

What I posted on my Facebook and Twitter pretty much sums up the day: "Just mailed my heart, hopes, and dreams (adoption application) to Enid, OK. Oh, and $500! May God be glorified in this new journey."

The hubs weighing the envelope and getting it ready to go.

Ready!

Bye, bye application! I hope you turn into a baby soon! ;)

Also, I plan on keeping track of our adoption expenses on here. One, for our benefit so it will help us when it comes time to file for the adoption tax credit. Two, for anyone out there curious about adoption and all the costs that it entails. I'll continue to add to the list whenever something new comes up.

Adoption Costs

*Puzzle for adoption fundraiser (more on this later, promise) - $19.78

*Postage for mailing application - $4.95

*Application fee - $500

Running Total - $524.73

Decisions, Decisions

I really never would have imagined how many decisions come with adoption. But we are finally getting somewhere with all of it. I know, I know...I've said that before. But it's been a stressful road to try and decide where our child is going to come from.

We have, however, settled on private adoption. The road to becoming parents for us is going to be stressful enough on its own. Right now, we're simply in the state of mind of wanting to be a Mommy and Daddy. I don't think we're ready for the emotional roller coaster and ups and downs of DHS at this time.

DHS has been put on our hearts, that's for sure, and that may come up later in life. Maybe we will adopt through DHS one day or maybe our eyes just needed to be opened a little bit more to DHS. I'm not sure where it may lead, but for now, we will not be adopting through them.

We are using a small in-state agency that works with only a few couples at a time. The total estimated cost will be about $30,000. There is a tax credit we can apply for after the adoption is completed that will help us get some money back, but there are still a lot of other fees that will need to be paid for. We are doing all we can to personally save up for this and the hubs has gotten a second job just for the adoption. We do have a few fundraisers in mind to help out with the costs as well and will post more on that later.

I know there has been a lot of back and forth on this blog about us adopting. I really can't say enough how stressful it is to decide which path of adoption to take. But I told myself I would be open and honest here through every step of the way. So that's why you've heard about every back and forth decision. But we are ready to move forward now and would appreciate it if you kept us in your prayers. This is only the beginning for us.

A Different Trip To The Same Place

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia: You’ve heard that it is a wonderful place.

You’ve read many guidebooks and feel certain that you’re ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.

So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you; you’ll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait…and wait…and wait.

Flights to Australia continue to come and go. People say silly things like “Relax, you’ll get on a flight soon.” Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, “It’s not fair!”

After a long time, the ticket agent tells you, “I’m sorry, we’re not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat.”

“By boat!” you say. “Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane.” So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place for so long and finally you decide to travel by boat.

It is a long trip; many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three more times, marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during your voyage and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.

People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, “Oh, be glad you didn’t fly...My flight was horrible...Traveling by sea is so easy.”

You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still you know that God blessed you with a special appreciation for Australia and that the beauty of Australia is not in the way you got there, but in the place itself.

By Diane Armitage printed in the April 21, 1995 "Dear Abby" column.