Go Time

It's official.

After months of talking and thinking and praying, multiplied by a very high number, we've finally reached a decision. We've decided to adopt! 

Before I go any further, please understand me. This is not by any means at all a last resort for us. While that may be true for some people starting or continuing their families, Derek and I truly feel that this is more of a calling than anything else. Adoption has always been in our plans, always, whether we had biological children or not. (Notice, I said biological and not our own--they will all be our own!)

Now that we're both on the same page and (gasp!)even at the same time, it's full speed ahead!

Well, full speed ahead as soon as we know what we're doing. 

Here is what we know so far about the adoption process:

1. It's pricey.
2. *crickets* 

Ok, we may know a little more than that, but right now we're still trying to separate fact from fiction from myth from opinion.

After some extensive Googling, of which I still do not feel I am an expert, it appears that our next steps include: 

1. Deciding domestic v. international
2. If international, what countries do we qualify for?
3. Picking an agency

That sounds pretty simple, but you try Googling it and see what you come up with! Different costs, wait times, requirements for certain states, etc. 

The shortest lists are often the hardest. I personally like lists that have 29 things on them, and every item on it is a one step process. Unfortunately...we don't know any of the one step processes for this, so we'll have to wing it!

I don't do well with winging it.

Regardless, this is what we feel led to do and what we feel is right, so it's still full speed ahead!

Just...blindfolded.