First Adoption Class-April 2nd

Well, we are one class in, with two more to go! This first class we basically discussed most of the procedures for Agape. We did find out that we would be able to use our homestudy that we have due to our adoption of Bug! So that will save us and Agape time, money and paperwork. We will still have to do the fingerprinting, background checks and physicals as well as many other things...but some of the major paperwork that goes along with adoption will already be covered.

This class we covered alot about the different types of adoption and what we would be willing to consider as far as open adoption and things like that. But what really got Boy and I was how different this adoption is for our feelings towards the birth mother this go around. The number one shocker to me was the average age of the women that choose to make an adoption plan for their babies with Agape is 25-32. We would have guessed in the teens to early 20's simply because the maturity level and ability to cope with having a child...but that age seems to fantasize about the baby and have a picture of perfection about the baby. The 25-32 age realizes how hard it will be and they take a good look at where they are in their life and realize that they aren't capable of caring for their child...but choose LIFE for their child and LOVE them enough to make the decision to choose a family that will be able to give them a better opportunity than they can. What love she has for her child....so that we will be able to love OUR child.

I was thinking about what was said in the class about filling out all the paperwork and jumping through all the hoops and answering all the invasive questions, going through the physicals, the home inspections...and sometimes feeling like people that have children naturally don't have to go through all of that....but the child that we adopt had a birth mother that loved him/her so much that she chose life and chose us to be his/her parents....so we are in essence his/her second chance at brand new parents (that may sound funny, but I don't mean for it to) so that is the reason Agape goes through rigorous details to make sure we are the perfect fit for this child so that they insure that he/she gets the best chance at a fresh start....it clicked in other words for me!

With Bug's adoption...her mother's rights were terminated...because of neglect. Her mother abused drugs during pregnancy...thankfuly by the grace and mercy of God they didn't transfer to Bug. (Her seizure disorder has nothing to do with that...could happen to any child...not drug related at all.) Her mother and this next adoptive mother have nothing in common so our feelings towards them are different. I have compassion for both and love for both of them...but a different kind towards each of them. I just feel like with this adoption...the birth mother is making such a sacrifice for her child...she's loving her child more than herself...like a mother should. That is completely opposite of Bug's biological mother. So I just look at this differently....this is going to be a completely different journey...as it should be, because this is a different miracle child.

I am already in prayer for our next child's mother...because I know that in order for us to have a child her circumstances have to be difficult and that breaks my heart, that I can't change for her, but I can pray for her.

On a happier note, we are very excited, overwhelmed with anticipation and we are feeling that God has something amazing up His sleeve for us!