Day 61

We had the best meeting with our case worker (Jodi) on Tuesday, but I haven't had time to write about it! I have to say, I'm so thankful that we went with a Michigan-based agency (Adoption Assoiciates, Inc). I love our agency and our case worker! Compared to other blogs and stories I read, it seems like our process has been seamless, without some of the time-consuming requirements that other agencies consider mandatory. I'm so happy with our decision!

We walked into Tuesday's meeting, nervous. Neither of us had any idea what we were going to be asked, why we were meeting, or what sort of information we should have prepared. I was immediately put at ease when we walked into Jodi's "office," a cozy little room dressed with adoption photography, with a couch, overstuffed chair and old rocker. I immediately felt at home in an unfamiliar room, with an unfamiliar person. Jodi expressed her surprise at how quickly we had completed our requirements. I smiled to myself, thinking, "What? We weren't suppose to complete everything in a a week? Doesn't everyone do that?" Knowing full well people take months to complete their profile. Jodi said most couples don't even start their profile until after they've met with her at least one time. We walked into the meeting completely done with everything! Because we're uber-efficient, our home study will be complete by the end of July and we should be on the waiting list shortly thereafter! Jodi said she would do her best to work on our home study write up as we go along, this month, so that she can make us official in a short amount of time after the final portion. How exciting! My dream of mama before Christmas could still happen!

Jodi was able to offer encouragement in some of the areas that have caused me worry. She pretty much told us that our chances of being placed with a Caucasian baby are 1 in a million. My astute, mathematical husband later corrected the statement (in the Jeep) due to agency statistics (chances could never be 1 in a million unless there were actually 1 million families). We were told that there are few families that are as open to racial selection as we are and that we should expect to be placed quickly. [How exciting!!!]

We talked about concerns we may have as a trans-racial family and issues we might face with friends and family. Jodi shared her own story with us (she has adopted two Guatemalan babies) and some of the issues she's faced. She asked us how we were prepared to share our child's adoption story with them. Beyond knowing that we want to be as open as possible from an early age, we hadn't given thought to specifics. She shared a really sweet and heartwarming story of her first son. that I couldn't wait to share with you!

Jodi and her husband took the stand that if they started talking about baby's adoption from day 1, they would get enough practice in by the time the child was old enough to ask questions (when the story really matters). She said every night she would tell baby, "Mommy and Daddy prayed a long time for you, do you know that? We loved you so much we traveled all the way to Guatemala to get you. Mama Melinda loved you so much, but wasn't able to feed you, so she let us bring you home so you could live a long healthy life." They lived next to an airport and Jodi would point to the sky and say, "Look, baby, Mommy and Daddy took an airplane just like that one to go to Guatemala." She said by the time baby was 1 he would ask "Mama plane" he wanted to hear the plane story every night before he went to bed. Jodi said his adoption story was celebrated; an every-day part of their lives, and baby was fascinated by it. One day they were at the park (baby was 2 1/2) and a nearby mom said, "You must look just like your daddy!" [why do so many people feel the need to ask this question?] Baby looked up at the mom and exclaimed, "I'm a Guatemalan baby!" Baby proceeded to tell his story, "Mama and Daddy loved me so much they went all the way to Guatemala to get me. Even when I was in Mama Melinda's belly they prayed for me..." Jodi said she about fell to the ground. She had never heard him talk about his story and at 2 1/2 didn't realize he understood so much of it. Her heart swelled at her son's secure, confident identity. This same scenario has played out multiple times through his short 5 years.

I LOVE that story. What a beautiful picture! On the ride home, I told Ben my response to the "He must look like his daddy," question is going to be, "Indeed he does. In fact, he is a spittin' image. A true reflection of his heavenly Father."