Adoption Announcement

I've decided to post our letter that we mailed out to everyone. This way some questions can be answered and I'm not constantly repeating myself. :) 

I would love for anyone to ask questions if they have any about the process. 

But hopefully this letter will cover a lot of it!

Here it is: 

Greetings Family & Friends!

           

We are thrilled to announce that we are expanding our family through domestic adoption!!

Our journey began August 2011, when we made the decision to adopt; however, was briefly halted while Bubba deployed, but even thousands of miles separating our little family couldn’t hinder our desire to expand our family. In April, while Bubba was home on leave, we completed the application forms and were accepted through Amara, a Seattle-based non-profit adoption agency.

Throughout the deployment, we worked filling out several mandatory forms, and within two months of Bubba’s return, we had finished up all of our mandatory training and informational classes, classes such as: open adoption, transracial adoption, and CPR/first aid. We’ve also completed our interviews in Seattle with our case worker. We’ve completed our fingerprinting for our background clearances and our final major step will be our home inspection (expected to be completed in June) and of course MORE PAPERWORK. 

Those of you who are nearby will notice a lot of changes around our house as we get ready to receive our new addition. As we prepare our house for our new child, we must be flexible as the child may be as young as a relinquished infant, to a 2 year old toddler from foster care. Along with the age range, we are also welcoming to any race.

We are all very excited about this decision to adopt, especially Rowan, who has been kept in the dark until recently, when we told her she was going to be a big sister. She is a very smart girl and is very understanding of the situation. She cannot wait to be a big sister and shares our desire to expand our family. She too, is doing her own training in preparation for becoming a big sister, such as, trying to feed us with the ‘airplane’ spoon.

Jessica started a blog back in April 2012 that includes some of our journey to and through adoption. You can find it at: www.jessicaseverydaymoments.blogspot.com

We ask that you please pray for us, for patience, understanding, guidance, and a healthy child. If you feel that you are led to help us financially with our adoption we have set up an account with Just Love Coffee  where we get proceeds from every order: https://justlovecoffee.com/growingtheguerreros

We know that adoption may feel a little scary, especially if you don’t know much about it, which is why we’ve enclosed a list that explains some of the terminology that is now used. You can, of course, find a lot of information about adoption on the Internet. Please feel free to ask us any questions that you may have about how the process works.

Once our home study is completed, comes “the waiting period”. The waiting period is a lot like a pregnancy, except that we have no idea how long it will last. We could be chosen right away or it could take several years for God to find us the right child. In the meantime, your support will mean a lot to us. We’re excited about expanding our family, and hope you’ll welcome our baby with open arms when he or she finally arrives!

Thanks for your support,

            Bubba, Jessica & Rowan                        

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you” - John 14:18

FAQ & Terminology:

Birthparents: the people who made an adoption plan for their child because they are unable to care for them, not because they don’t love them

Home study: the process of paperwork, training, background checks, interviews, home inspection and fingerprinting all compiled into a big file

Home Inspection: when our caseworker inspects our house to certify it for our foster care home license.

Transracial: involving two or more races. We are open to being an expanding multicultural family, being as we, of course, are already Mexican-Americans!

Relinquished:  a child whose birthparents arranged an adoption plan.

Foster Care: a system that is put into place for children to go when their parents aren’t capable of caring for them, not because the child did anything wrong

Open adoption: this can range from a letter and pictures once a year to visits and relationships with the birth family. This is so the child has a better understanding with their life story and any questions regarding their identity and background.

Positive Adoption Language:

Positive Language:                                            Negative Language:

Parent                                                                    Adoptive Parent

Birth parent or Biological parent                              Real or natural parent

My child                                                                  My adopted child

Make an adoption plan                                               Gave up their child

Search for birth parents                                           Track down real parents

WAS adopted                                                            Is adopted

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” –Mathew 21:22