The Paperwork Begins

These past few weeks have been extremely busy. I got sort of used to doing things at a leisurely pace the last several months since I had time off work. Well…that is a thing of the past! To catch everyone up, here’s what’s been going on.

February 18^th – I received a call from the China Program Director at Lifeline letting me know that my application had been accepted. I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with her, and left feeling encouraged yet overwhelmed about what was to come.

February 20^th – I received a call from my social worker for the first time. Of course, I wanted to make a good first impression. Well that’s not what happened! Remember how I said I was working in the middle of no where? Well I had cell service that’s to be expected in the middle of no where! I know she thought I was a complete crazy - I could only hear half of what she was saying! (I called her back later in the day to apologize!)

March 3^rd – I had my Orientation Interview call with my social worker. During this call we talked all about me, China adoption, and what to expect going forward. I was sent 3 manuals by email, and talked through those and what I needed to accomplish over the next couple of weeks. My mind went into full paperwork mode!

March 4^th – I completed my fingerprinting for my Alabama DHR Child Abuse and Neglect clearance. It was pretty anti-climactic - no black ink on my fingers…it’s all biometric live scan these days!

While all of this was going on, I was also interviewing an accepting a new job! I came home from my California project on February 20^th, by that next week I had 4 job offers for long term projects! This is one of the ways I have seen God’s hand in this process. I accepted a Monday thru Thursday job in Charlotte, NC. We will be bringing up 40 OB clinics on EMR and I’ll be doing training for OB nurses and physicians! So, not did God provide me a job - He made sure it was only an hour flight, I would be home on Fridays and I still get to use my OB skills! I found out on Tuesday that they wanted me to start the next Monday. So in addition to all the adoption paperwork, I have spent the rest of my week doing new job paperwork, drug tests and lab work! Busy, busy, busy! But I wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Giving up on that whole marriage thing?

 At the beginning of this process, it was really important to me that my family was 100% supportive of my decision. I decided that the best way to do this was to just talk to everyone individually. So over a couple of weeks, I made my rounds through the family and shared my heart. Just like I expected, every single one of them were totally on board.

I do have to tell a little story about my dad though! I had planned on talking to him one day while we were in the car traveling back from Augusta to Birmingham. He was in the backseat, and the whole trip he kept telling my mom and I “I can’t hear what y’all are saying!”. Not a great environment for a pretty serious conversation! Well as we got close to home, I couldn’t put it off any longer. So I started by saying “What would you think about me pursing adoption, sooner rather than later?” His reaction to that question was my favorite of all the people I talked to. Why? Because it was real, honest, and blunt. (In case you don’t know me…I tend to tell it like it is! I must get it from him!) So what was his reaction? Well….he paused and said “So you are just giving up on the whole marriage thing?” I sat there a second, and then just laughed! I quickly explained that this had nothing to do with marriage, and to that he said the sweetest thing ever. He said “I will support you, even if no one else does!”

So, why did I laugh at his initial reaction? I could have easily let his reaction discourage me or upset me. But I didn’t. Why? Because I know without a doubt that this is what the Lord has called me to. It has nothing to do about being single or married. This decision is by no means a “back-up plan”. This decision doesn’t take away the desire to have a husband. This decision wasn’t made because I feel like my “biological clock” is ticking away. This decision wasn’t made because I couldn’t find a man to have a child of my own. (Side note: A funnier blog post could be written about an anonymous person who offered up her anonymous son-in-law because he makes pretty babies!) This decision was made because the Lord placed the need of the orphan on my heart and showed me that I could make a difference in the life of a little girl half way around the world!

So, for all those people who have thought the same thing as my dad….it’s ok, it’s a normal reaction! But please put aside those thoughts of “Bless her heart….she’s worried she won’t get married and be able to have kids.” Those thoughts are the farthest thing from the truth! 

Congratulations, Dad! You are getting a grandbaby and didn’t even have to pay for a wedding!