Next steps

Now that we have the home study scheduled I am focusing on our scrapbook. My strategy is to get all of the possible photos uploaded to walmart.com and then start creating the book. That in itself will be a small feat considering the amount of pictures we have, and that they are on two different computers. Fun times! Then trying to organize them in a certain way and put captions with them will be time consuming. I figured I would have a lot of time to mess with it, but they encourage us to have them done as soon as we can just in case they are needed. Sometimes the birth mother would like to see more about a family when she is trying to choose and will ask to view the scrapbook.
Some of you have asked about the money and how it is all spread out so I thought I would share how it is broken down. We have to get re-fingerprinted for some reason and that is about $48 per person. We are doing that on the 19th. The day of our home study we will give the agency a check for $1000 plus mileage and food. Once this step is completed all of our information is compiled and the board goes through an official approval process. At the time of approval, we will owe the first big chunk of money, $4500. After that it could be spread out a little further depending on how quickly we are chosen. When we are matched with a birth mother, we will owe around $5000. From there we will owe the last big chunk once the child is officially and legally placed with us (around $6000-$7000). So the last two chunks are up in the air as to how much time we have to save for it. We know God will provide so we are not worried about it. He really has given us a complete peace.

I must say that I did have a brief moment of panic the other day when I really sat down and thought about the possibility of getting a child in the next few months. It is all still so surreal! I know I need to prepare but then part of me thinks it seems stupid to be buying things so early. I normally do all things last minute, but in this case I want to be as ready as one possibly can for this moment! On that note.............I should continue searching for cribs and furniture!