Our First Interview!!

Yesterday we had our very first home study interview. I was a nervous and excited wreck! For me, this made it feel all that more real that we are adopting!! I know I've talked about it for months, researched every agency in our state, talked and prayed more about adoption, applied to Bethany, then did the training in Seattle followed by tons of paperwork--but walking into the Bethany office knowing it's our first interview just made it all real.

We are so thankful to all those that prayed and thought about us yesterday--the prayers could be felt! When we made it into our social worker's office, our nerves were calmed and the interview went well (in our opinion). This was the first time meeting this social worker as our original social worker changed positions within the agency, so I think that also led to me (Kelly) being more nervous. Our social worker, C, is super nice and has a really cool personality and love for the Lord and love for adoptions. She said that this interview was about getting to know us--and it was just that. She asked us some questions such as, "what are your goals for your family?" and "what does a typical day look like your lives?" and "describe the other person/what are the other person's strengths?" and "what are your disciplining styles?" and other questions about us. We liked that some questions were easy and others made us think a little more, but were still answerable. We didn't feel "tricked" or anything like that and we both feel she really does have our best interest at heart--which is something I KNEW, but it wasn't something I FELT until yesterday.

So what's next? Well, we have our one on one interviews coming up where she will come to our house and interview us one at a time and the other one of us will have to leave the house and then switch. That's the next nervous thing for me--because I like to always know what Mark is talking about/what he's going to say...not that we have anything to hide, but there is stil that scary piece of the unlnown. Then we will have one, maybe two more interviews after that. Once C (our social worker) feels like she has asked all the questions she needs and knows us more personally than anyone else does, she will write our home study. So the process from interview one to when she writes our actual home study is about 6 weeks. After it's written, we will get the chance to read it and make sure we approve what is written, then the home study gets sent to the panel for review and either approval or denial. That could also take about 6 weeks. So in about 12 weeks (hopefully sooner!) we could be on the waiting list and waiting for a baby!! Now THAT is the most exciting and nervous statement I've made in pretty much my whole life! I cannot wait to be a mom to a little baby to hold and love forever! It's so nice to have a time line also to know when our profile books and dear birthfather and dear birthmother letters need to be written and "published" with something like mix book or snapfish.

So there you have it. Yesterday was great, next interviews in a week or two, and we have a timeline!! :)