Catching Up: The First Meeting

So there we were, faced with this amazing calling; overwhelmed with a sense of peace we had yet to feel so far in this journey to become parents. We were ready for what God had in store for us next.

We spent a few weeks just taking it all in, doing lots of research and pinning on Pinterest. I had no clue where to begin but I felt so much encouragement and strength from our answered prayers that for the first time in over a year, I wasn't worried.

A mentor and amazing teacher from high school-turned friend had adopted shortly after I graduated and I sent her a random text one day asking for some contact information for the local agency she used. She was overjoyed (to say the least) and immediately sent over the info. Within hours we had an appointment set up for the first day of my Christmas break with an adoption case worker at a local agency.

We didn't know if this would be our first or our last stop at an agency but we knew that this was exactly where we were supposed to be and that the timing was perfect.

I picked Joe up from work and we made our way to the agencies office. We said a quick prayer together before we went in and walked hand in hand. We arrived at Julia's office just before lunch time and to say we were nervous would be an understatement.

She escorted us back to a conference room and we sat and talked. She asked us some questions but mostly she told us about the agency and what to expect. We had become pretty familiar with the adoption process through our research so it was nice to have that background knowledge prior to the meeting.

She gave us a stack; as in an expanding file folder full, of papers to fill out and read through and told us to contact her if we decide to fill them out. She said often she will meet with prospective parents and she won't hear from them for another few months.

Joe and I left there with great feelings but both had concerns over the wait time that she mentioned (up to 2 years) but we also know that God has given us the strength to wait this long and we know that He will provide in this situation as well.

We had lunch and I sent Joe back to work. In the meantime, I went home and slept. Just the thought of filling out that paperwork and waiting another two years had me all sorts of exhausted!