Make sure the ringer is on!

The Adoption Staffing went well yesterday. We felt fairly comfortable...as comfortable as you can be having 8 pairs of eyes stare at you through your computer screen. (we used Skype) We were under the impression it would be 1 or 2 people....not 8! Each person that was there was a major part of monkeys life. It was so great to finally see each of these people who have been so invested in him since day 1. It also eased our minds that while we have been on this roller coaster for "S", by each of them being involved in this decision making process, they truly do have his best interest at heart.

I was soooo very proud of JD too. He did an amazing job answering questions and answering them from his heart. We started this process 2 years ago ( and 4 months ago for "S") and we have talked ALOT about our feelings and making decisions on this subject together. I have NEVER in that time heard him speak the way that he did yesterday and it just brought me to tears...happy tears of course! He is such an amazing man and I cannot WAIT for us to get this call today. We have both grown so much from this experience and we look forward to growing even more with monkey in our home. **PRAYERS!

We were supposed to find out the decision yesterday. After our staffing they were going to deliberate and then we were to know last night. Well....after our staffing his caseworker said that they were going to make their decision tonight................and then they would call us in the morning. HUH? WHAT???? I said "Sooo, you don't want us to sleep tonight, is that it?" They laughed....but I was serious. Then I said "I'm glad we did the Skype session today, because tomorrow I will have huge, ugly bags under these eyes!". Again, they laughed and again, I was serious.

Anyone who has gone through this process knows that it takes ALOT of patience....and even ALOT is not enough. There are a ton of things that have irritated me along the way and one day I may write a book. As for now, I just want people to know 2 things about some PAP's (Prospective Adoptive Parents). Of course, I cant speak for all, but this is how WE feel.

1. Do not tell a PAP "oh, you just wait until you have your little one" or anything even slightly related to this sentence. For me, it burns me to the core. Dont tell me to wait.......we have been waiting......very patiently I might add. So, hearing a mother tell me to "just wait until you have a little one and you have to do this* or that*". UGH.

2. Do NOT tell me "What will be, will be" or "It will all work out the way that it is supposed to". Believe me, we understand this and believe more than anyone knows. But NOBODY wants to hear that. I'm positive that this is because some people just don't know what to say to be supportive. But I'm telling you......That isn't it. A simple, "We are praying for you", "We are excited for you", or "We cant wait to hear more" would suffice, then just walk away. Sometimes that's all we need to hear, not entire scriptures on Gods path for us being different from our ideas of our own path.

Ok, I'm done venting and still only killed about 8 minutes. Whew, this is going to be a long day!