First Homestudy Interview

Well, today we had our initial interview with Kentucky Adoption Services, which is the first of two interviews required for completing our homestudy process. It was a very educational interview, going through a large manual and covering many topics with the caseworker from bonding and attachment issues to the importance of celebrating the cultural heritage of your adopted child. The time we spent with Amy our caseworker was very informative and helpful today. We are realizing just how important preparing our hearts and minds is in welcoming a new member of our family into our home.

Amy also made some excellent points about using appropriate adoption language when speaking to others. For example, instead of calling the child's birth parents her "real" parents, we are to realize that we will indeed be her "real" parents. We will be caring for her, raising her, loving her, and that qualifies us as her "real" parents. Also, they had some humorous definitions for terms such as, "What is a natural child?" The answer: "Any child who isn't artificial." I thought that was pithy!

We are learning so much these days, not only about the adoption process, but also about ourselves. At moments, I find myself overwhelmed with the thought of whether or not I can really do this. It is easy to let my mind wander into the dreaded "Land of The What If's". Yet, I simply refuse to dwell in that unfruitful land. I choose to believe that He who is more than able can give me His sufficient grace to fulfill all of His will for our lives. I choose to believe that His Word is true when it says that I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus, and that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Sometimes, we must stir up our most holy faith, my friends. We must encourage ourselves in the Lord and know that it is by His Spirit we can obey, we can trust and we can walk in His will for our lives.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6