. . . because we have officially started the adoption process again!We met with our social worker a few weeks ago to update our homestudy (homestudies are only good for one year). We are doing this adoption with The Avalon Center, in Mason City, Iowa. Leah, (from the Avalon Center) did our home study for our last adoption. While working with her, we learned that her agency also does adoptions. And it is a fairly simple process.
We LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Abrazo, the agency in Texas we used the first time. And we would still highly recommend Abrazo to anyone. But we have chosen to go with Avalon this time for a few reasons:
1. Avalon is $10,000 cheaper!
2. Besides paying for our homestudy update now, the full cost of the adoption is not due until a baby is placed with us.
3. We LOVE Leah! She has been the best social worker we could ever ask for. She is very timely with paperwork, very helpful, always available and willing to help with anything we need. She already knows us well so it made the homestudy update and paperwork for this adoption easy-peasy. 'Easy' and 'adoption paperwork' rarely go together in the world of adoption, but I'm not kidding when I say it has been easy so far.
4. While we loved traveling to Texas to get Abram, going with Avalon means we'll adopt a baby from Iowa (or possibly a surrounding state). This cuts down on cost, not to mention time, as well.
5. Overall, going with Avalon is just a lot lower maintence than Abrazo. There is no orientation to attend, no traveling, no staying in Texas for two weeks after we have a baby, etc.
I have already made a new family profile photo album for Avalon and we've already given our three copies to Leah. She will start showing them to birth moms right away. Can you believe that? Like I said before, going with Avalon is low-maintence and easy!
Easy, however, is definitely not how I'm expecting the emotional journey of this adoption to go. This is adoption we are talking about. Which is why I've got my seat belt strapped on! I know there will be a roller coaster (or two or three) involved sooner or later.
Our preference is to adopt a Hispanic or minority baby, but we are not limiting ourselves (or God!) to that. We want what God wants for us. And obviously, Iowa is not quite as racially diverse as a place like San Antonio, Texas. We look forward to what God has in store for us!
16 comments:
So exciting!! We will be praying for you as you start this process (again;).
I'm so excited for your family!
That is great! I've heard great things about Avalon. Praying for you guys!
Rachael
So exciting! We'll be praying for you guys!!
Now that you also have a little one at home, low-maintenance sounds like a good idea! And good for you to have siblings so close in age! :)
Praise. Super excited and we will be praying for you.
I've got goosebumps already! Can't wait to see who our great God will bring to your family! So glad I will get to follow the journey on your blog! :)
I can't wait to have another brown (or white or dark!) baby in our midst!!!! Bring on the babies!!
sweet jen! we are in the process too! :)
Yeah for more paper chasing! We can't wait to follow you guys on this journey.
This Grammy says: Bring 'em on!! Plenty of love to go around. We need a little girl to even out the batch!
Hooray!!!!!!!!!! Remembering you.
So happy for you! Glad the Iowa agency is working well. My sister adopted 3 beautiful bi-racial babies in Iowa...one is now a new mommy and the other two are graduating high school next month(they are less than 2 mo.apart in age) They are such special blessings!
Oh my gosh, I'm so excited for you! Another little Lee on the way! I will be praying for you all from Kansas.
so fun! have been and will continue to pray for your sweet, growing family!
exciting!!! sounds like avalon will be great! thanks for sharing this journey!
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