The Process

We were thinking you might like to know a little about this crazy process.  Let me make sure to start by saying that EVERY adoption process is different.  Our process began by doing LOTS and LOTS of research.  We narrowed down all of our findings to three adoption agencies in our area, then went and interviewed with each agency.  We found things that we really liked about each agency, but in the end one agency fit us like a glove (so far :) ).  We will be using AGAPE.  They are located in Nashville, but have other locations around the US.  The children they place are from a variety of areas around the country.  They work with a sister agency in Memphis, an agency in TX that specializes in Hispanic adoption, and one other agency in Colorado.  Right now, we are waiting to take the first step class- which is basically an informative class about their infant adoption process, minority adoptions, and much more.  They offer this classes usually twice a year and we JUST missed the last class by a week.  When they reach "capacity", they will have this class again.  We are just waiting on that call.  It could be in July (which is our hope), or as late as September.  After we complete the class, then our homestudy begins.  During the homestudy, we will become "paper pregnant."  This basically means, we will complete an insane amount of paperwork that proves that we are more than capable to be parents.  Our lives will be an open book during this time.  Our house will be checked to see if it meets qualifications.  Our bank accounts will be checked to see if they meet qualifications.  Our relationship will be checked to see if it meets the qualifications.  Once we get through that process, we will officially be waiting on a call from the agency saying that we were chosen by a birth Mom. I am so excited for that day to come.  Until then, I am just overwhelmed with God's blessings.  Thanks for reading.  Keep up with us...Oh also, here is a picture of a couple things that we splurged on as we are getting ready....

An amazing friend made us this boppy cover and my Mom is the purchaser of all other items.  How cute are those picture frames?  Also we purchased paint to start getting our room ready.  We are using magnetic and chalkboard paint on one of the walls.  I am SO excited.  The colors in the room are probably going to be gray and yellow.  We may bring in some pink for a girl or some teal for a boy.  :) I can't believe I am even typing this now.  It is FINALLY happening.  I am so excited. We get to paint OUR baby's room.  Wow. :)

Talk to you soon,

Kristle

Mother's Day Fundraiser

Hello all - as promised before - we are beginning to fundraise to bring Baby Chalos home.  For Mother's Day, we are going to be selling carnations, homemade chocolate, and a bundle of both.  Bundles cost 15.00 (a dozen carnations and a chocolate bundle), Carnations will be $1.00 and Chocolate bundles will be $4.00.  Feel free to contact Kristle or Chad if you are interested.  Thanks SO much for your support in advance!

Oh the joys of infertility

If you know Chad and I, you know that we LOVE to laugh - about anything and everything.  I think that is what has gotten us through the last four years. Well, that and our amazingly supportive friends and family - and most importantly -  our faith in a God who is bigger than anything we could imagine or think...
So here is a brief synopsis of what we have been through in the last four years...
      As many wide eyed innocent couples do, we went into this making a family thing with high expectations.   We knew that Chad's parents had some difficulty getting pregnant, so some sort of "infertility" was a possiblity- but we really didn't think it would be a reality for us.  We.were.wrong.  I began to experience a significant sadness each month that we would get a negative pregnancy test.  We spent an excessive amount of money on ovulation predictor kits - pregnancy tests- books etc...After two years of tracking every single thing you can track (I promise, you really don't want to know), we were referred by my fabulous OB to a fertility specialist.  We spent a year and a half with this clinic.  I don't even want to tell you the amount of money that we spent - because NOTHING was covered by either insurace.  We tried intrauterine insemination.  FAIL.  They recommended a surgery for Chad that would increase our chances.  The recovery from this surgery could be easily described as unpleasant.  After the recommended time, we went back to see if the surgery was a success.  FAIL. At this point, we had been through a LOT with our clinic, and someone recommended another specialist.  So we decided to try him.  Let me just say that we never stopped praying from our first appointment to our iui to the surgery.  We prayed that God would guide us in the right direction.  We always knew that God had prepared us to be adoptive parents.  He put that desire and love in our hearts early in our marriage.  Let's be honest, that didn't take my want to be pregnant away.  We met with the new specialist, and found out that we would have to begin all over with him- all of the test, all of the procedures, etc... We were pretty devastated at this point so we decided to take a break.  We spent the next hours, days, weeks, month in prayer.  Oh - maybe I forgot to mention - God had been working on Chad this whole time.  Chad kept reminding me about how he just felt like adoption was what we should pursue.  So, God finally began to reveal to me that being a Mom was what he wanted for me.  He was showing me that I didn't have to be pregnant to accomplish this.   I read an amazing book - Adopted for Life.  It changed me.  I realized how we are all adopted by God.  I don't even have the words to tell you about how God is preparing my heart.   I just have an amazing peace over this decision.  So - We began to interview with several agencies.  We finally decided on one - and here we are.  Can I just tell you how excited I am????? I LOVE the idea of adoption.  We will be able to give this child an amazing life.  I pray peace over our birthmom.  I can't imagine the difficulty of the decision she is going to make.  I am even more excited to add more diversity to our family.  :) And guess what? I can actually look in the baby section now and not just dream.  We are on a journey to meet our little blessing - and boy are we certain of what an amazing gift he/she will be!  We are so excited about what God has in store.
Stay Tuned...
Kristle :)

We have some news.

If you are reading this blog, chances are you 1. have played a tremendous role in our lives and are following our journey OR 2. You found our blog in your search about adoption.   Either way - we are so happy to be able to share our journey with you!

We are beginning this blog because we have exciting news about God’s amazing plan – which is truly bigger and better than any blueprint we could ever create!  Since we met and began talking about our family, we have always discussed and felt led in the area of adoption.  If you have spent much time talking with us about our future , you already know this. J However, our “plan” was to have a child first, then adopt.  We recently read this quote – “if you want to make God laugh, then tell him your plans.”  We are coming to realize how very true this is!   As we have taken many steps, endless tests, uncertain attempts, we have struggled with each decision.  (We will blog later about our history of infertility.)  In our last attempt at controlling this situation, we were given, what we believe, is a wake up call.  We decided to take a step back and pray once again for God’s will to come to fruition.  During this time, an acquaintance recommended a book for us to read on adoption titled Adopted for Life.  What a beautiful book about how we are all adopted into the family of God!  It also chronicles one family’s journey to adoption.  In the past months and weeks, God has shown us his amazing Grace. We are in awe of the peace that comes with the right decision for our lives.  We are excited to announce, that decision is ADOPTION!!! We are so excited to begin this journey.  It has the possibility to be a long, tough path – but we know with God’s guidance and prayers – that he will lead our child home.  We hope that you will join us in praying for our child.  We hope that you will be excited with us.  We pray that you will hang in there with us as we wait.  Because adoption is an expensive but amazing opportunity, we will be embarking on a fundraising campaign in the upcoming months.  We would love any ideas and help in this area.  We will kick start our campaign by having a yard sale in May.  There will be more information as we finalize plans.  Also, if you look to your left, you will see a donate button.  You can click on that button and use paypal to safely make a donation to bring Baby Chalos home. Thank you again for your amazing love and support during this time.  We can’t wait to share our journey with you!