I think we found her!

This is just an update on our recent progress as I have learned that everything happens in its own time. This child is already teaching me that I have control over very little in this life. So on to the good stuff...

We received a call a week before Christmas about a 22 month old named Angelique. After seeing her beautiful pictures and reviewing her history, Dayn & I were sold. We met her the day after New Year's at our home. It turns out that she is an artist and she LOVED the toddler etcha sketch we gave her. She also LOVED the special green room upstairs (her future bedroom).

Should things work out, of course I'll elaborate on all things Angelique. But for now I can tell you she loves people, animals and dolls. She's perfectly healthy and absolutely CUTE! She's brown and loud like me. She adores girly girl clothes. She's a GREAT snuggler.

Dayn & I went to the Team Decision meeting yesterday at Denver Human Services to put together a transition plan. Chaotic is probably the nicest thing I can say about that meeting. Well no, foster mom is an absolutely amazing mother and I am so grateful that Angelique has had her for a little over a year. She's definitely had a healing impact on her.

So, the plan we came up with includes many visits in the next few weeks and a final move in with us on January 25th!

We have to wait for final approval with the legal system, but if everything goes well, the 25th it is. Angelique will technically be our foster child for 6 months before we can make the adoption final. Her birth parents rights are terminated, so thank goodness that is one less hurdle we'll have to jump.

Once I have personal pictures of the angel I will post them on facebook--so if you're following this blog (lifedance7.blogspot.com) please "friend" me if you want to follow our story.

Thank you all for so much love and support. Dayn & I have needed it and we are so grateful to have you in our lives. Life is absolutely overwhelming right now, so please don't take it personal if I don't get right back to you. But please keep the communication coming as it is so encouraging for us.

With all my love,

Michelle

Mama Bear roars!

You see this sweet face? No...not the one gazing lovingly at his mommy. The other one. That's my sister. Yes, she is very sweet too, until you mess with someone she loves.

She cut me off before I could finish telling her my story of woe. She instructed me to put down the phone with her, call social services and open up a can of you-know-what. Forget about all of this spiritual, patience, nicey nice stuff.

I didn't realize that I needed this kick in the pants until I followed her instructions. I've had not only 1, but 2 conversations with 2 different social workers in the last 30 minutes. They are very clear that Mama Fox is ready for a cub. I've been assured that our case is the next to process on the list.

Thanks sis!

changed my mind

I thought I could hold out from writing on this blog until little Foxie arrives. I just have a little something on my mind. This waiting period is challenging to manage.

I've noticed on a few other blogs about adoption that there is a lot of journaling about the decision to adopt and then about the process ~ but then there are these long chunks of time missing before you see beautiful stories of child placements. I get it now. It's a very vulnerable place to be in to know that you have very little control of this time period.

Our social worker cancelled our final acceptance meeting this week due to a new boss' inefficiency. On one hand I want to scream and ask him if he realizes how many families he's effecting?? On the other hand I have no doubt that it's just not our time right now. I have complete faith that our child will show up when he/she is meant to. It's just a little tough in this American culture of instant gratification. I have this sense of expecting my child sooner than later because she/he will be "store-bought" compared to the relatively known expectations of the 9 month process of "home-baked." I love that one--I borrowed that concept from a pediatric nurse who has one of each.

Ok, I'm feeling better by the moment. Feel free to shower me with reminders to have a sense of humor and of course the sense of surrender.

time flies!

Wowsa! It's been more than a month since writing on this blog. Since the last time I wrote, we've had our home inspection (we're totally baby-proofed now), and 2 home studies. We have our final case worker meeting on August 18th and then we'll officially be on the wait list. This is a seriously watered down account of our experiences this month, but I'm gonna keep it that way for a while. I keep getting caught up in other people's anxiety to rush this process, but when I talk to Dayn, my anchor, I'm consistently reminded that the right child will show up in God's timing. So, provided that something major doesn't happen before we're placed, the next post should have a picture of Little Fox. Thanks so much for ALL of your love and support!!

Sigh of relief!

I've been enjoying a little pity party all morning, well afternoon too--I ate a cheeseburger, fries, coke, and carrot cake for lunch (all gluten-free of course :) What, you ask, could possibly send Michelle over the edge? Well, thanks for asking.

I have a friend who just had a baby (CONGRATULATIONS D) and I noticed on her blog that a lot of the people who commented have adopted or are in the process of adoption. So naturally I had to "research" (another way to say nosey) their experiences. Everyone I read about this morning is blissfully parenting or on their way to parenthood. We haven't heard anything from DHS for over a month now--besides my pestering calls that haven't been too productive. Dayn is a great anchor in that he continues to remind me that our child is going to appear in perfect timing. I agree, but I allowed my Monday morning pity party anyhow.

Well...I just got off the phone with a lovely woman from DHS who called for more information from us AND to schedule our first home study. Yippppppeeeeeeeee! They haven't forgotten about us. She apologized for the long wait and explained that her department has been in transition for about a month now. She's planning to meet at our house on next Monday. I'll keep you posted! No more cheeseburgers--for now. :0

My new nephew!

As you can see, we've been a little busy this week welcoming Layton Cade Roberson to the family. He is so beautiful and perfect! Enjoy the show...

Make a Smilebox postcard

Dayn wins!

I've been looking for ways to create more space in my life so mothering won't be as overwhelming. I've been so focused on our schedules that I've sort of overlooked a physical space for the child. I've been holding on tight to my art studio which is located next to our guest room. Dayn's had his eyes on it all along. Spaces for my creativity have been revealing themselves all around our house in this past week (the garden, the kitchen, my computer work space, the guest room, etc.). Yes, cousin M, I will gladly keep your guest room open and create a nursery in the studio.

I'm open to ideas for decoration. I'm still in the daydreaming phase as we don't know whether to make a big girl room or a baby boy nursery or anything in between.