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Please pray for me, friends.
Pray that my anxious heart will still and that my baby boy will come home with us on Tuesday. The adoption is not in question, but the homecoming date is.
Our caseworker is getting some mixed information and chalks it up to too many caseworkers being involved on this case (it's complicated). She is driving out Little Boy's file to us on Sunday afternoon so that we can read through it carefully and present our "intent to adopt" on Monday afternoon.
Her advice to me was to come to the meeting on Monday prepared to advocate for our son.
I don't know the weight behind that statement, but I will be prepared.
Things have gotten mighty complicated...
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
I need your help!
Okay, so this is a really crazy week in the Pinchback household! Amidst the exciting activity swirling around the new addition to our family, Ben launched an equally exciting venture, today. He and his buddy designed a strategic card game that got picked up by Gryphon Games last summer. The prototypes were mailed to test players and the reviews are good! The last step before publishing is a pre-order blitz that started, today.
You can pre-order his game, here, for $20 (including shipping):
We're $600 in pre-orders away from being completely funded (in only 9 hours!) The really exciting part is that only 10% of those sales are from people we know!
I can't tell you how proud I am of Ben for doing what others only dream of...
I'm a little jealous that he's going to be "published" before me, but he deserves the fanfare. He has been working on this project for about a year.
If you like me - and strategy - and sweet nautical art, show Ben your support. You won't be disappointed!
You can pre-order his game, here, for $20 (including shipping):
We're $600 in pre-orders away from being completely funded (in only 9 hours!) The really exciting part is that only 10% of those sales are from people we know!
I can't tell you how proud I am of Ben for doing what others only dream of...
I'm a little jealous that he's going to be "published" before me, but he deserves the fanfare. He has been working on this project for about a year.
If you like me - and strategy - and sweet nautical art, show Ben your support. You won't be disappointed!
Just in --
Okay friends, pray for me. I am so excited and overwhelmed that I can't think straight.
We get to meet AND bring home Little Boy on Tuesday morning.
That's in four days!
There's so much to do....
We get to meet AND bring home Little Boy on Tuesday morning.
That's in four days!
There's so much to do....
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
"He can share everything."
So much for keeping his name hidden.
This was too precious not to post.
It's a good glimpse into my sweet boy's heart.
"He can share my mommy and daddy..."
Melt. My. Heart.
This was too precious not to post.
It's a good glimpse into my sweet boy's heart.
"He can share my mommy and daddy..."
Melt. My. Heart.
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Good Story Continued
During one of my dark times, I was praying and very matter-of-fact like said, Lord. At least give me a good story.
My phone rang around 1pm, today. The conversation started like this, "Rebekah, it's [our adoption caseworker]. Are you ready to bring another little boy into your home?"
Pause.
I think I know what she's saying, but I've learned not to assume.
You guys were chosen. You're Little Boy's family!
The questions, tears, and excitement flew out of my mouth faster than they made sense. I was a ball of crazy energy, trying to listen, dream, and think - all at the same time. In the middle of the conversation, I happened to look down and noticed the date.
It's the 27th.
I was never a symbolic number girl, but....remember Ty's story? The 27th was an important milestone in our domestic adoption journey because it marked the first day we turned in our application (4/27), the day we were officially dropped in the waiting pool (8/27), and the nine-months-to-the-date day we got the call from Rebekah (1/27).
It's more than a number. It's the day God has chosen, thus far, to radically change our lives.
I am going to be abnormally guarded in the information I share for right now, until the adoption is final, but I have to type a few details, so that we can share in God's goodness together!
Little Boy is 2 1/2 years old (two months younger than Ty) and has lived his entire life in the foster care system. Due to no fault of his own, he has been in 6 foster homes (two of which he was removed from by CPS) and had two disrupted adoptions. His current foster family was considering adoption, but notified the court on Friday that their final answer is no.
The family that adopted two of Little Boy's siblings never responded to the court's inquiries.
I have no idea if we were the only family that submitted their assessment to the state or not, I only know that I have been praying for this kid since November and, selfishly, begging God for him once I got wind of the situation two weeks ago.
There are many things I hate about the way this Little Boy has been forced to survive, but I love the words of Chris Tomlin:
It is not a mistake that God created Ty with an inborn sensitivity for tenderness.
It is not a mistake that God used me in constructing a start-up agency early last year, where relationships were forged.
It is not a mistake that God closed the door of application to every agency in Michigan.
It is not a mistake that God granted favor via one of the above mentioned forged relationships to get special permission from her supervisor to complete a home study for us on her own time.
It is not a mistake that God led me to the state site when he did to realize that Little Boy was still in the system after I had been led to believe that a family had been found.
It is not a mistake that our license to foster was mailed by the state last week and received today.
Little Boy's placement within our family is not a mistake.
Because we have an approved assessment for adoption -
Because we have an approved license for foster care -
Because we have eager, willing hearts -
Little Boy will be coming home soon. Very, very soon.
My phone rang around 1pm, today. The conversation started like this, "Rebekah, it's [our adoption caseworker]. Are you ready to bring another little boy into your home?"
Pause.
I think I know what she's saying, but I've learned not to assume.
You guys were chosen. You're Little Boy's family!
The questions, tears, and excitement flew out of my mouth faster than they made sense. I was a ball of crazy energy, trying to listen, dream, and think - all at the same time. In the middle of the conversation, I happened to look down and noticed the date.
It's the 27th.
I was never a symbolic number girl, but....remember Ty's story? The 27th was an important milestone in our domestic adoption journey because it marked the first day we turned in our application (4/27), the day we were officially dropped in the waiting pool (8/27), and the nine-months-to-the-date day we got the call from Rebekah (1/27).
It's more than a number. It's the day God has chosen, thus far, to radically change our lives.
I am going to be abnormally guarded in the information I share for right now, until the adoption is final, but I have to type a few details, so that we can share in God's goodness together!
Little Boy is 2 1/2 years old (two months younger than Ty) and has lived his entire life in the foster care system. Due to no fault of his own, he has been in 6 foster homes (two of which he was removed from by CPS) and had two disrupted adoptions. His current foster family was considering adoption, but notified the court on Friday that their final answer is no.
The family that adopted two of Little Boy's siblings never responded to the court's inquiries.
I have no idea if we were the only family that submitted their assessment to the state or not, I only know that I have been praying for this kid since November and, selfishly, begging God for him once I got wind of the situation two weeks ago.
There are many things I hate about the way this Little Boy has been forced to survive, but I love the words of Chris Tomlin:
He will wipe away your tears and return the wasted yearsGod will heal the brokenness...through the perfect fitting family he's created us to be.
This is our God
A father to the orphan, a healer to the broken
This is our God
It is not a mistake that God created Ty with an inborn sensitivity for tenderness.
Little Boy needs it.
It is not a mistake that God called Ben and I to adoption through foster care. Little Boy needs us.
It is not a mistake that God used me in constructing a start-up agency early last year, where relationships were forged.
It is not a mistake that God closed the door of application to every agency in Michigan.
It is not a mistake that God granted favor via one of the above mentioned forged relationships to get special permission from her supervisor to complete a home study for us on her own time.
It is not a mistake that God led me to the state site when he did to realize that Little Boy was still in the system after I had been led to believe that a family had been found.
It is not a mistake that our license to foster was mailed by the state last week and received today.
Little Boy's placement within our family is not a mistake.
Because we have an approved assessment for adoption -
Because we have an approved license for foster care -
Because we have eager, willing hearts -
Little Boy will be coming home soon. Very, very soon.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
No News.
No news on Little Boy.
Thankfully, I am in my busy season at work, so I've had little time to think about it. I am going to connect with our case worker tomorrow. If we were being considered, it seems like we would have been contacted already in order for Little Boy's case worker to name a family by Friday...but I'm learning not to assume anything in this arena.
In the mean time, our foster care licensing worker called to let us know that DHS officially approved our foster care license. She said she'd already heard our names thrown around the office a few times, this week, and thinks we should be receiving a call in the next few days. I feel conflicted about it.
We are very sure about our adoption path and have been clear about our intentions to all of our workers. Fostering kids is not in our plan for two major reasons. The first is that I work full time and don't feel comfortable bringing foster care children into a home that I'm not in during the week. The second and primary reason is that I am afraid our adoption agenda will get in the way of our ability to be objective.
Our licensing worker understands our position, but was honest about the state of the system and couldn't promise that we wouldn't be called out of desperation. We have agreed to consider cases that are nearing termination, but I know this will hold different meaning for different case workers.
If you're wondering why we applied for a license in the first place, it is because all of the agencies that I contacted, in our state, require it. In most cases, even when parental rights have been terminated, the license allows for immediate placement in our home. It offers relief to a bloated system and quicker restoration for the child.
I'm really not sure what God is up to. I will admit that our case worker's news was a little unsettling for me. Our plans never seem to be God's plans and he keeps stretching my heart beyond what's comfortable...
I do know that God is good. And that he is going to use us in a much needed capacity. The number of children waiting for families/available for adoption is astounding.
Thankfully, surety in a written story balances out my unanswered questions.
The next few days could be interesting.
Thankfully, I am in my busy season at work, so I've had little time to think about it. I am going to connect with our case worker tomorrow. If we were being considered, it seems like we would have been contacted already in order for Little Boy's case worker to name a family by Friday...but I'm learning not to assume anything in this arena.
In the mean time, our foster care licensing worker called to let us know that DHS officially approved our foster care license. She said she'd already heard our names thrown around the office a few times, this week, and thinks we should be receiving a call in the next few days. I feel conflicted about it.
We are very sure about our adoption path and have been clear about our intentions to all of our workers. Fostering kids is not in our plan for two major reasons. The first is that I work full time and don't feel comfortable bringing foster care children into a home that I'm not in during the week. The second and primary reason is that I am afraid our adoption agenda will get in the way of our ability to be objective.
Our licensing worker understands our position, but was honest about the state of the system and couldn't promise that we wouldn't be called out of desperation. We have agreed to consider cases that are nearing termination, but I know this will hold different meaning for different case workers.
If you're wondering why we applied for a license in the first place, it is because all of the agencies that I contacted, in our state, require it. In most cases, even when parental rights have been terminated, the license allows for immediate placement in our home. It offers relief to a bloated system and quicker restoration for the child.
I'm really not sure what God is up to. I will admit that our case worker's news was a little unsettling for me. Our plans never seem to be God's plans and he keeps stretching my heart beyond what's comfortable...
I do know that God is good. And that he is going to use us in a much needed capacity. The number of children waiting for families/available for adoption is astounding.
Thankfully, surety in a written story balances out my unanswered questions.
The next few days could be interesting.
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