Weighed.

It went well, my meeting with Ann. It went extremely, amazingly, wonderfully well. I am so excited about how well it went. It was nothing like I feared it would be. A weight -- a heavy, awful weight -- has been lifted from my shoulders and it feels SO good. Finally, a yes.

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We went over the checklist for the apartment. We need a fire extinguisher (which my parents have so wonderfully agreed to purchase for us, thanks Mom and Dad!) We also need to child proof a few areas. There are some questions about whether a futon would do for a bed for the time being and if we need emergency escape ladders for the bedrooms. Also, we might need to install smoke detectors in the bedrooms. These things Ann will have solid answers for when we visit again next week. 

We sat down and talked about the autobiography that Jason and I filled out. She also had some more questions to ask. This is what I have learned: she wants to know every detail of our lives for the past 20 years. So we talked about how I met Jason and our wedding. How we met the first week of my sophomore year, were engaged by fall break, and married at the end of spring semester. We talked about all the moves we've made, and there have been a lot, and the seasons in our relationship. How we moved to so I could become and X-ray tech, then moved back to finish our degrees at Oak Hills. How we moved so Jason could complete his internship and moved again to pursue a graduate degree. 

We also talked about my family and their story. My grandparents, whom have all passed away, and how my parents found each other and settled in northern Minnesota. We talked about a lot. She wants me to make a genogram because my family is so confusing and complicated. It's not like I haven't done this several times before -- it has been assigned many of the classes I've taken. We call my mom's uncle "Grandpa John," who really is my brother's grandpa. My dad's dad was adopted and had children (my aunts and uncles) that I have never met, with someone after he and my grandmother divorced. These things are complicated and confusing. They require a map and this is my homework assignment.  After 19 years of schooling I am still getting homework! 

When we did sit down to talk about all the paperwork she said that she was very impressed by our backgrounds and education, our stories and the way we plan to parent. I was floored. I mean, really I was. I was so scared that something would be wrong or not quite fit...I was not expected impressed and excited. We have been evaluated, weighed...and been found to be more than enough. There are no words....I...I am speechless and truly grateful. Thank you Jesus. I cannot wait for this to get started and I cannot believe we are finally here..after so much waiting and transitions. I cannot believe we are finally at this point. The weight is lighter and I could not be more joyful. 

She also wants me to write a more detailed biography for, get this, possible future adoptions! We are being licensed for foster care with the hopes of adoption so she wants to be on the ball with it. When we are finished with this process we will be set to provide foster care and ready for adoption proceedings. I don't think we could be more excited! 

More updates to come and THANK YOU so much to everyone who prayed and kept me in your thoughts today.