Speed Bump!

     As we have steadily approached the finish line I was relatively at ease... until I was informed none of our references had been received and 3 of my background and registry checks results had not come in. The last couple weeks have been a flurry of phone calls, e-mails, bank runs, Facebook messages, and frantic calls to the social worker trying to sort everything out.

     References are hard to come by. Not because we aren't recommendable, but because references have to be non-familial. This became quite a task because we can't write the letters, so asking people that we consider family isn't exactly an option when they will introduce themselves and explain how they know us using terms like sister, uncle, cousin, etc. It makes the paperwork a bit more difficult, but it also helped to show us just how completely blessed we are to have such a large family, both blood and chosen through priceless friendships.

     We quickly realized that the three people who had offered to help in any way possible, once asked to provide us a reference, were either too busy and forgot or weren't that interested after all. We absolutely understand, we have been swamped around here too, but we wish they would have told us that they were too busy or didn't want their contact information filed with the social worker and the state, so we could have gotten another reference lined up in a more timely manner (they were given four months notice). When we learned our SW hadn't received anything the other week, we quickly sent urgent messages out to five other people/couples asking, if they had a few minutes to bless us with a reference on such short notice. Several were able to come through with glowing recommendations, literally overnight. They moved some serious mountains for us, and even though they'll all receive thank you notes, words don't really express how amazing it is to have them in our lives.

     Background and registry checks, however, are a nightmare! Nothing has ever sunk my heart so deep into my gut than hearing that these had not cleared by today (and that's sayin' something!). Weeks of e-mails, leaving voicemails, and searching for anyone who could answer a question without giving me the run around or passing me off to another agency or department, got the best of my nerves. It is all I can do to not scream at these people... and I've come very close with a number of state police and their office workers today. Needless to say, I've been doing a lot of praying. One year of preparation and six months of paperwork are ALL going to have to be redone- resigned, dated, and resubmitted, if the out-of-state background check and central registry check results aren't sent to our SW within the next few hours!!!  At this point, I have paid for all the checks twice and there are still no results to show for it. If our cashier's checks were not returned to our local DSS by mail, then I'll have to pay for it all again as well, and our indefinite wait will begin again. I believe we can possibly squeeze some progress in tomorrow morning, if we can find someone or someway to expedite the paperwork... maybe, just maybe.

     I'm growing hesitant to pray for miracles, because I do it so often, but what else can you possibly do at a time like this? It's time to take a knee and see what the good Lord has planned. After all, he is the one who set us on this amazing journey, so I know He has all the details covered. Sometimes, I think He just likes to test the control freak in me. Haha!

     PRAYERS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED as we cross the last hurdle partially within our control. Tomorrow everything is officially out of our hands and up to God.

Last Home Visit before Official Licensing

In our state, visits, or inspections, are required from the Fire Marshall and the county DSS social worker for licensing. We passed with flying colors on the fire inspection. The first visit with the social worker went pretty well, but we still had some work to do- mainly the garage, which was filled to the brim with unopened moving boxes, old furniture, military gear, wedding decorations and accessories leftovers, clothing and other items to be donated. There was a small path from the kitchen door out to the driveway, but by no means could we fit a car, or even a bike, in there. Two yard sales and two trash days later, we still have a large pile, but it is mostly items we could donate. We are filled with nervous excitement as we prepare for the visit from our licensing social worker in just a few short hours.

T - 6 hours, 5 minutes and counting....  7:45 am can not get here soon enough!

One Visit/Inspection Down, Three to Go

Today, we are in need of some fast and furious prayer. We had our first offical interview, an office visit, with our social worker (SW). Tomorrow morning we have our first of two home visits/inspections with our SW, and Saturday morning our home inspection with the Fire Marshall. Please pray that I/we can put the house back together in that amount of time, since I have ripped it apart, yet again, with this nesting phase I've been going through over the last couple months. Are there any other foster parents that go through this? I think I've washed all our linens, kids' clothes, toys, and carpets twice. I can't seem to stop cleaning and rearranging anything and everything in sight, and out of sight for that matter.

Final Push towards Home Study/Inspection

Last week my Madre (Mom) came to town and helped with several projects while Dear Husband was away on Annual Training with the Marine Corps. We were able to almost finish the quilt for the kids' room, set up the crib and bassinet, get all the sheets washed and on the toddler bed, and began refinishing the kitchen table. We also bought large plastic totes and sorted clothes by size, gender, and season to determine what we have and what we still need. As organized as I am, I was shocked to see how many holes we still have to fill in the next few weeks.

I was surprised to find that we still need:
- Clothes
      Girls' 9mo-18mo all, 24 mo summer, 4T- children's 4/5 all, 6/6x/7 winter
      Boys' 9mo all, 2T-4T summer, 5T-children's 6/7 all
- Books for all ages
- Toys for all ages (we already have toddler golf sets, balls of all shapes/sizes/kinds, small tricycles, and art supplies)

This week we ordered:

- Collapsable highchair for the younger children (that will not be able to support themselves in our wooden restaurant-style highchair) and a booster seat (for children between the wooden highchair and being able to reach the table from a regular chair)

- Changing Pad Covers

- Carseat Booster (We already have 2 infant carriers and 3-stage transitional seat, but we needed an extra in case we have two children that require boosters)

- Second set of crib comforter, sheets, etc.

We have a large array of bedding options to accomodate children of all ages:
- 1 Infant crib/large bassinet (good until they start wiggling, ~ 0-3 or 4 months)
- 1 Crib (the one from GDad's house, used by myself and all my siblings)
- 1 Toddler Bed
- 3 Twin Beds (2 with bunking potential)

      So, even though we have 2 possible rooms and 6 available beds, the law requires that we not have more than 5 children in our home at a time. Since Red is kid #1, that means we can be licensed for up to 4 additional little ones, but our capacity is capped at 3 because that is how many seatbelts I have in the back of my SUV. I learned to drive on a minivan, and as a teenager swore I would never drive one again, but now I find myself longing for one. Haha, what a difference 5 years makes! Likewise, the state requires we be 10 years older than any child in our home, so that means we will be licensed for children ages 0-13 years old, with a preference for children 0-6 for the first couple years. We want to learn the ropes on the little ones before we expand our age range to include preteens and teens, and Red has expressed an interest in having younger children around the house, old enough to play with but not old enough to be in competition with her in school or sports.

     DH is pulling an all nighter out at the county's Relay for Life. I'm here at home preparing a final to do list. Later today, I have 2 youths from church coming over to help us paint and complete some projects. It's all hands on deck as we make our final push towards licensing. Words can't express how excited to are.