Do Not Be Afraid.....Of Changes

Recently, we amended our home study for the adoption.  This means that we made some changes that required documentation for our dossier and USCIS application.   After several months of thinking and praying, we decided to increase our age parameters for the adoption. In March of 2010, when we sent in our pre-application to AGCI, we marked that we were interested in a child 0-2 and possibly up to 4 years old.  When our home study was said and done,  we were approved for 0-2 years old, so we just went with it.  However, the thought of an older child kept tugging at our hearts.   This past December, a couple of brothers were on the waiting list for our agency.  (A few months ago, these sweet boys were placed in a loving family) James and I both thought a lot about these boys and the fact that our home study parameters did not qualify us to adopt them.   The challenging question was:  "Why?"

In the world of adoption and attachment, there is often the idea that attachment issues increase as the child's age increases.   Adopting an infant does not guarantee healthy attachment but it is often thought that attachment might be easier for the younger child.   Consequently, when adopting an older child, attachment can be (doesn't mean it will be) more difficult.  These children are certainly more aware of their loss.  They carry the heavy emotions of grief without the safe environment to process those emotions. They have memories. 

As we sat on the waiting list for a 0-2 year old, the Lord, in His tender mercy, kept pressing in on our hearts to expand our age parameters.   In one of our past post, I mentioned the Lord telling me, "do not be afraid".  I had been praying specifically that He would speak into my heart regarding our adoption path.  'Do Not Be Afraid' was telling us to move forward with what was on our hearts and trust the Lord for the outcome.   Do we think there will be difficult times ahead?  Absolutely.   Do we believe difficult roads in parenting are tied only to adoption. Absolutely NOT!  Bio children have challenges too.  (did someone say, Amen!?) We do believe that our only Hope is the Lord.   That is all the confirmation James and I and our family needed.    So,  we began the paper chase of amending our home study.

As of last Friday, we are officially waiting on  "up to two children, 0-5 years, with mild to moderate special needs."   We are on the waiting list for a single child referral but our hearts desire is to adopt a sibling set.  We take great comfort in knowing that God will unite us with the child or children that He deems best for His glory and our good.

Currently, we are waiting on an amended FDL (Favorable Determination Letter) from USCIS (US Citizen and Immigration Service) which will give us approval to adopt children up to five years old.  Please pray with us that our paperwork will be processed quickly without error.   We wouldn't mind if you prayed for a referral to come quickly too!!!!!