So Grant and I are trying really hard to be diligent and prepare ourselves for the home visit but time seemed to have gotten away from us and our home visit is only two days away. Now you'd think we would be basically ready for this but we have nothing baby proofed, chemicals everywhere (this is what I get for marrying a scientist), and to top it all off, we have no railing on our stairs! The lady that lived in this house before us removed railing from one side of our stairs. Luckily, I have an amazingly handy husband. In just two evenings he took out our old railing and built beautiful wooden railing on both sides of our stairs! I forgot to take a "before" picture so all I have is a picture of our stairs with no railing at all, but you get the idea.
The finished product! Isn't it so nice?! He did such a great job. Now all I have to do is paint it. Luckily, looks is not what the social worker is looking for, only functionality.
Okay, so next on our list is cleaning up the house and making it look more presentable. Our social worker is really nice and pretty relaxed. She said we didn't need to baby proof everything (like plugging up outlets and locking cabinets) but we only need to provide the evidence that we are prepared to do so when our baby arrives. I think I can handle that. We did have to purchase a car seat. I have a baby car seat sitting in the nursery. That feels so weird to say...so unreal.
Anyway, after we meet with her for our home visit, our social worker will write up the official "homestudy." She said it will take her about a week. SO, this means we need to make our profile book and be ready and done by the end of the month. HOPEFULLY this means the homestudy will be completed by then! After that the waiting will begin. It seems to have taken so long and now that we are in the home stretch I feel like it is all happening so quickly. I am excited, nervous, happy, and anxious all at the same time.
With all that being said there are a few things I really need your help with. Please continue to pray for us. This adventure is only just beginning. We would love your prayers for our future birthmother. I have no idea what situation she is in but I know her choice is not an easy one. Pray for our future baby that God already has picked out for us. And lastly pray for us. While meeting with the social worker we are required to fill out a "child desired form." Please pray for clarity when making decisions on whether we would take a child who has been exposed to various drugs/alcohol in utero. We are also still working on fundraising ideas and getting all of our finances figured out. Our baby bottle fundraiser is still going so if you need a bottle or know someone you can give one to that would be great. Thank you to everyone who continues to provide us with the support we so need! We are so so appreciative!
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:15-17
