Adoption possibilities - Round Two

One of the challenges associated with adoption is the waiting process.  Once we had completed all our paperwork with our adoption agency (and now a second agency - thanks to Texas) we just sit here and wait.  We've haven't heard one word from the agency in Mesquite/St. George and nothing from the one in Salt Lake since we returned from Texas.  It can be pretty difficult just waiting...and waiting... and waiting...

So Friday (May 10, 2013) when I got a text from Julie asking if I could talk, I wondered if it had anything to do with an adoption.  It turns out that a friend in our ward who works for LDS Family Services received a phone call from a grandfather.  He had a six year old grandson who he and his wife had been raising.  At some point his wife passed away and without the help of the uncles (who had been helping) it was too difficult for him to continue being the "father" and "mother" for this little boy. He didn't want to place him in foster care, and wondered if our friend might know an LDS family willing to adopt him.

The grandfather isn't LDS, but knows the emphasis placed on families within the LDS church.  He only had two requests- 1. That he be able to stay involved in his grandson's life - as a grandfather.  2. That his name not be changed (at least his first name).  Our friend texted Julie and asked if we were interested.  After a brief discussion, we said we were interested.

There is a second family from St. George that is interested as well.  At this point - we are waiting for our friend to talk with the Grandfather tomorrow and find out some additional information - like the boy's name.  If the grandfather is interested, then our next step will be to hire a social worker and set-up a meeting with the grandfather and his grandson.  If things work out, we'll then hire an adoption attorney to draw up the paperwork and we could have a son in the family.  Our hope would be for a slow process, allowing this little boy to adjust to our home and family, before me make such a major change in his life.

We know it is still way too early to get excited, or even get our hopes up.  We are cautiously optimistic that it will work out.  We are very much aware that this little boy is going to have a lot of challenges (self-esteem, feelings of abandonment just to name a few) - but we are confident in our ability to love him unconditionally. So no matter what lies ahead - we are saying lots of prayers - and doing our best to prepare for the future.