Not This One

I (Angie) called DSS today to check on the status of the infant girl we learned about last week. I couldn't get in touch with the original social worker I spoke with, so I called his supervisor. According to her, at the Tuesday meeting with the birthmother, DSS officials made the decision to place the child with a family for adoption. The social worker was surprised to learn of our interest; apparently, the original social worker never passed on our information or connection to the family. I have to trust that this is simply not the child God has for us. If I choose to believe otherwise, that someone dropped the ball, I'll obsess about what could have been. The intense disappointment we feel today is a good sign: We really want this and are ready for both transracial placement and a child who has been exposed to drugs.

No News

I saw a picture today of the little girl who is in the custody of DSS. She is so very, very beautiful. There has been no word about the meeting the birthmother had today with DSS social workers, but I understand that the agency will do anything possible to keep a child with a family member. Since there is a cousin who is interested, that will be the probable route. Stan and I are hopeful that the baby will be placed soon with someone so that bonding can begin. I'll post again today if we hear anything.

A Prayer Request

A relative of one of Angie's students had a baby last Friday, and DSS has put the infant into foster care because the birthmother had to be incarcerated. The birthmother is addicted to crack cocaine, which is apparently what induced her labor at 37 weeks. The baby, a half Hispanic, half Caucasian girl, weighed just over five pounds but is healthy so far. We are praying about and for this little girl, who may be adopted by a family member. Angie called the assigned social worker today to get details and is waiting for a return call. The birthmother has had six other children, all of whom were exposed to crack during pregnancy. The oldest has schizophrenia, but the younger ones have dealt only with some development speech delays and manageable learning disabilities.

We'll just take this a step at a time.

For Coffee Snobs

Friends,
As you may know, Stan is an utter coffee snob. He buys his own raw beans from all over the world and roasts them himself. To raise money to pay for our $3100 home study, he has ordered his beans in bulk and is packaging them for sale. They are available now in a variety of holiday and generic packaging, so please let us know if you would like to purchase any for gifts. The price is $10 per bag, and if you want some shipped to you, we'll figure out shipping costs and get the coffee in the mail as soon as you order it. Call us at home if you're interested. Even if you don't want any for Christmas gifts, order some for yourself. It's DELICIOUS.

Our online profile is up!!!

How exciting! Birthparents from anywhere in the U.S. can now find us online and express interest in our little family. Here's the link:

Stan and Angie online

Online Profile

Today, we sent in text and three pictures for the online profile that will be linked to the Bethany Christian Services web site. We have agreed to adopt from any state, so a birthparent in Washington or Arizona could search online and find us. I'll put up a link when it's live. We are also working on a YouTube video to be linked to the profile. We'll walk around the house and yard; film Spencer, Rudy, and Gidget; and interview each other. Then we'll splice and dice and put up a ten-minute video to introduce ourselves to birthparents all over the U.S.

If you'd like to get an idea of what we're doing, check out this link:

Family Profile

Perspective

This morning, I was drawn to Ephesians 1, and I was struck by the language used in the New American Standard translation to describe God's perspective of my relationship with him. He "chose us in him before the foundation of the world." He "predestined us for adoption." He "lavished" his grace upon us. He set forth his purpose in Christ "as a plan for the fullness of time." I am the "Beloved." The use of adoption as an analogy is beautiful, and I'm starting to get it.