Home Study Part 1

Preview :The nursery

This last Tuesday was part 1 of our home study with our wonderful social worker Amy. We met at Richland Hills Church of Christ for a 4 and half hour interview. It was very long, but at the same time seemed to go by surprisingly fast. She started the interview with us both in the room. We went over every detail from our paperwork regarding our future baby. She wanted to make sure that we really were ok with the things such as health issues with birth mom or birth father and things we allowed regarding the possible baby’s health issues. Nothing out of the norm, but she wanted to make sure we did not accidently say we were ok with a condition when we could not handle it. Jonathan and I are firm believers that God will give us what we can handle. I know sometimes He can give more, but we believe our baby is already chosen for us by God. So, why would we even but limits on what we can handle? Of course we had some limitations, but those limitations are private.

After we agreed to all those things she allowed some time for us to ask questions or talk through things we have been feeling. She asked us about our marriage and our families reactions to us adopting. We are also open to bi-racial children. She wanted to make sure our families were as well. Luckily for us, we both have a mixed family so it is no biggie. We have a niece, nephew, and a sister who are all bi racial and I am sure even more extended family who are mixed. In this day in age what is the big whoop anyway? Isn’t everyone a Heinz 57? If you can tell me you are 100% (insert your race here) I would probably say you are lying.

Then we split up for individual interviews. Each one lasted about one hour. Questions ranged and were exactly the questions I had posted about before. We went through our autobiographies and she asked us questions based off those. Then we talked about our marriage, our faith, discipline, strengths and weakness, and grants for adoption. The hour seemed to fly by and by the end of the day we were both exhausted. I think, for me, the hour wait while Jonathan was in his interview did me in. After the interview we both went home and were in bed asleep by 8:45. That is how exhausted we were. It was a great process don’t get me wrong, but we had been so stressed over it that we were tired.

On the plus side, Amy said that we should have NO problem adopting a baby THIS year. She says we are open to so much and it should not be much of a wait. Of course she can not be certain and can not predict this, but in her opinion we will not have to wait long. We let her know the nursery is ready for a baby. She said she could not wait to see it next Tuesday when the second part of our home study starts. She said not to go crazy cleaning and organizing because she is there to see how we live and make sure we do not have “giant holes in the floor”. Glad we do not even have small ones. ;)

Home Study dates

Its official! Part 1 and 2 of our home study has been scheduled. Part 1, which is the interview process, will take place next Tuesday 2/7/12 at 1:00 at a church in Richland Hills. I have done some research on what typically happens in these interviews and what kind of questions they ask. First they will interview us together then seperatly. A few questions I pulled off of Google that could be asked range from disciplining the child, down to what type of school they will go to: public or private. They can also ask questions about our families and our history. It is going to be very interesting. Jonathan and I have already gone over some of the questions just to make sure we are at least on the same page on important things such as discipline. We are excited and not to worried about it.

Part 2 will be scheduled on Valentines day 2/14/12. It will start bright and early at 8:45. At Home Visit the social worker is looking to make sure we have proper standards that meet the agencies expectations. example working smoke alarms, safe storage of firearms, safe water, pools covered/fenced, and adequate space for each child. Social workers are not typically inspecting your housekeeping standards. A certain level of order is necessary, but some family clutter is expected. A comfortable, child-friendly environment is what is being sought.

We are very excited to see what these next few weeks bring us. Please continue to pray for us while we take these next steps. Our love to you all.

Home Study update

Jonathan and I have *FINALLY* submitted all of our paperwork, autobiographies, home sketch, and everything in between. I feel like having a party! We are so glad to have that portion over with. The autobiographies really had us hung up for some reason. I think the home make over really helped take our minds off of it, so we could finish writing them last week.

With all that being said our home study is set to begin next Tuesday 2/7/12. Its a 2 part home study. The first part will take about 4 hours. This is the interview step. Our social worker will ask us some questions together then apart. The second part is the actual home study where she comes to our house. That will most likely be the following week. The actual home study part is nerve wrecking to me for some reason. I have never really looked around my house for things out of place while putting on my shoes in the morning. Or looked at the ceiling to see little dust bunnies that I have never seen before. What is the best scent to have in the house? What scent says "We are ready to be parents?" I am actually laughing as I am writing this, because it looks funny on "paper". In my head it sounds logical for some insane reason. In the end I know our social worker is not a "bad guy". She is here to help us find our baby. She is not looking for that dust at the top of the shower, or the frog statue in the living room that is "out of place", or even those few dust bunnies in the corner. As far as the scent of the house goes, I am sure whatever Scentsy I have burning that day will be fine because it will be normal. Normal for the Hollon household. That will be the true picture of us. Which is what she is looking for. She is there to make sure we have the necessities: running water, proper beds, toilets, and our house is ran in a safe manner.

We are very excited to see what the next few weeks bring us. I will definitely be blogging about the home study. Please keep checking back.

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
Matthew 18:5