Roller Coaster Ride.......and I don't like Roller Coasters!

Yesterday was a roller coaster! We worked on getting the house clean before the home study. I wasn’t feeling well that day and finally mustered up the ability to shower and get ready because I was running out of time. When I started to dry my hair it was 11:30 and the phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number so I didn’t answer it. They left a message and I checked it. I recognized the voice…………… it was the case worker……………my luck………………..it can’t be good. I was right. Just our luck! She was thinking she may have to cancel our home study because of the weather! I could not believe it! What weather???? I had not had the t.v. on so I turned it on. I saw all of the storms and flooding in Dallas, which is where she was. I even heard the news channel warn everyone to stay home if you don’t need to get out! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Thank you media for the over-reaction again. For a thunderstorm in Texas? Since when is that a weather emergency in Texas? Maybe I’m being insensitive here, but seriously? I tried to be understanding on the phone, but I was honestly completely and utterly disappointed. You really don’t want to upset your case worker. The one that has the capability to approve you or not. I had taken off work and anticipated this day. It’s a major last step in the process. Once the homestudy is done you are free to adopt. She agreed to wait until 12:30 to see if things cleared up and call back. I just laid on the bed, defeated. Ready to give up again. I can’t do the roller coaster and disappointments! I had time to calm down and decide when she called back we would just have to reschedule. She agreed to come in the evening or weekend to make it up so I knew she intended on cancelling. I accepted it and decided Tuesday night would work. It was 12:38 when the phone rang. It was the case worker and she said , “you know, it looks like its clearing up. I may be a little late but I will be there!”. WHAT!!! I could not believe it! All the disappointment in the house was instantly gone again! I felt bad and really didn’t want her to drive if she wasn’t comfortable. I told her that and she said it would be fine and headed our way!
She got to the house and talked to the 3 kids which lasted all of 10 minutes. She didn’t ask much, just prepared them a little. Then she talked to me for about an hour and then Mark for about 30 minutes. She took a quick tour of our house and that was it. She is a very sweet girl and we really like her. I am confident she will know how best to match our family.
Mark and I talked about our answers later. She asked us the same questions. She asked who our best friend was. We each said each other AWWWWW!!!!! No offense friends out there! I did give a 2nd place. I’m just not telling who…………………..! She asked what I thought Marks biggest weakness was and vice versa. I stressed to the case worker throughout my interview that patience is very hard for me and NOT one of my strong traits! And the funny thing, Mark told her that was one of my strengths!!! I really have people fooled . So, after all of that the case worker did have to prepare me quite a bit. She said she thought the hardest thing for me with this process was going to be the waiting. And she is right. But she did tell me to expect delays, probably many of them, and expect to be disappointed through-out because we are dealing with a state process and the state is not in it for the same wants and desires and they are not in a hurry. It’s a job for them and they do it when they can (or when they feel like it  ). She told me about a family that has been matched for 4 weeks. Just waiting on their child and the state said today TWO more weeks at least. Paperwork was not ready. SO ,expect to see some very frustrated posts from me I’m sure. I am spoiled in that way and want things NOW. I am working on that and this is definitely going to be a huge test for me. Especially dealing with ‘red tape”! I am expecting to be waiting now for about 3 months before we hear anything. Pray it moves quickly!
Next, today is bittersweet for me. My only daughter (for the moment) is a teenager. I am concentrating on making it a special day for her when at the same time I am so sad that my baby is leaving for church camp! Its going to be a tough, tough 5 days for me. Pray he has a GREAT time, grows closer to God and that I survive! Allison will be having a party this weekend so that’s a prayer for survival as well!
And lastly……………………again …………………….I want to thank all our family and friends who have been so supportive. That is a huge thing with the adoption agency that we have a large supportive network of people now and after the child is home with us. It is an adjustment for everyone. I was proud to say that we do have that and you were all mentioned in our interview! Thank you! We love you!