Work Day Saturday March 26th

The Waits family will be having a work day at the house to get ready for our home study with our new social worker. This next home study session will be conducted at our home, and so we have some things we would like to have done in preparation for his visit - so we are asking for volunteer help!

Normally, we wouldn't want others coming into our house to help us work, but there's an exception to every rule. We have projects such as hanging smoke detectors, removing wallpaper, sanding, painting, fixing windows, etc. If you think you would like to help, please let us know.

Lunch will be provided. We'll begin sometime around 9 a.m., so come on out if you want to help. We can use it! Call Zehra or Michael if you want more information. Thanks!

One of Four for our Home Study

The Waits Family had a small step toward moving forward in our adoption over the weekend.  We had our first meeting with the social worker for our Home Study on Saturday.  For those of you who don't know exactly what that is, I will briefly explain.  It is a conglomeration of several things:

1.) 4 interviews with the social worker- 1 with us both (got that covered Saturday), 1 interview at our home with all 3 of us present which they check out all kinds of things, and then 1 interview with each Michael and I separately.  (Kentucky requires at least 4 interviews) 

2.)  Approximately 20 (give or take) documents of various kinds that tell about our entire lives that we submit to the social worker.
3.) A long lengthy report the social worker then write on our behalf to tell if we are an appropriate stable family to adopt children.
All of which he puts together in 1 large document called our Home Study.   

Back to my original thought:
So this first meeting was more of just an orientation meeting for our family and he asked us a few questions regarding our desires to adopt, who, what, when, why, the generals.  For something that is suppose to be laid back, I (Zehra) was less than laid back.  (No laughing for those of you who know me well.)  The meeting was informational for us as well.  We received MORE paperwork.  Let me just say that prior to deciding to adopt, paperwork has never nor will it ever be a love of mine.  All in all it went really well, Michael only made me really nervous once so I find that profound.  :) 

The next interview will be in our home, which only continues to foster my nervousness.  But I know that God is in control, and despite that I live in a really old home that has gas heaters and paint that is chipping on the outside, He has called us to adopt.  I know that because of that call, He will see us through this entire process. 

Please continue to be in prayer for our family as we seek God's will for our family in adoption.  We are so excited and blessed that He has chosen this path for us. 
Here are things that you can specifically pray for:
1.) The Home Study process
2.) Finances- we are still in need of over $35, 000 dollars, through donations, possibly grants or loans
3.) Talks of slowing adoptions in Ethiopia- which would delay the process of bringing our children home.
These are the most immediate needs. 

Thanks to all of you for your love and support!

Adoption Fellowship

This past Saturday night, we attended an adoption fellowship at Highview Baptist Church, and for the first time really connected with other adoptive families. While it seemed at first that the opportunity was coincidental in how it came about, by the time we had left we knew that God has providentially arranged our attendance.

Although we were apprehensive to attend at first, we are so glad we did! We met many couples that have traversed this road that we are on, and others who are only a few steps ahead of us. It was encouraging to share our fears and insecurities with others who have experienced them too, and relieving to find that we shared much in common with others who have gone before us.

How exciting it was to see a gymnasium full of children who had been not just adopted, but made part of a family where love and grace abounds. Our hearts melted as we watched the children play and love on their parents, and our eagerness to move forward increased as we were given opportunities to interact these precious gifts from God.

Insecure? Definitely. Frightened? Absolutely. Normal? You got it. What took place in our hearts on Saturday evening was confirmation from God that we were moving in the right direction, and affirmation to the plans that we have made. The Bible says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

How blessed we are that God has chosen us to be part of this awesome plan to adopt into our family, as he has adopted us into His.

Love,
The Waits Bunch

No fear in love

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

Did you catch that? The Bible says perfect love drives out fear. Can you imagine having all your fears driven out? Oh what it will be like on that day when we come before the Father, who is perfect in His love for us. Beyond that day there will be nothing to fear; no dread of tomorrow, no worry for the future, but a heart of peace.

In this world, today, there are millions of orphans who fear what tomorrow may bring. They live without hope because they have believed the lie that perfect love doesn't exist.

Since we have "come to know and to believe the love that God has for us" (1 John 4:16), we can pass this on so that others can know and believe the same.

We are not just adopting, but we are providing an opportunity for hope and a future for our future child(ren) who may not otherwise ever know perfect love through Christ.

Join us as we journey together being made perfect in love.

Love,
The Waits Bunch

It's been a long time...

First of all we would like to apologize for the lack of information that we have provided. Although we are without doubt that we have been called to adoption, it has also become very apparent that administration and organization are not our strongest gifts. While the initial process of adoption might run smoother and quicker for some adoptive families, we are certainly falling behind in this area.

Now that the fall school semester has come to an end and we have gained an increase in time by limiting our outside obligations, we are ready to move forward with our purpose.

Our first major roadblock in the adoption process is coming up with the necessary finances to get us past the first phase, the Dossier, otherwise known as "the paper chase." Our adoption process began with the need to assemble many various documents (called the dossier) including financial statements, employment/health information, background checks, and the dreaded home study (which really isn't so dreaded).

The home study is a process that involves a social worker that will have multiple meetings with our family to outline our background and details of our household. The records from this home study will go through several levels of certification before they can be used as the legal framework for our adoption process, and takes anywhere from 3-6 months to complete. Once it is finished and approved, it will be sent to our adoption agency (AWAA) for final review. Once approved, our dossier will be forwarded to Ethiopia, translated, and processed before we can move farther along.

We tell you this because it really does take a village to adopt a child and we need your support! The dossier is an expensive process that every adoptive family goes through. Because we have not completed the dossier, we have not been "state certified" or officially approved. And because we are currently funding the adoption out of pocket we can only operate as quickly as our financial support is acquired. Once we complete the dossier and become "certified" and "approved," we hope to be able to set up a non-profit account in which donors can make tax-deductible donations, and will be able to apply for grants and financial assistance from various organizations. But until the dossier is approved, we are vulnerable to waiting.

A friend recently reminded me that God is never late, He is always on time. The Bible says, "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31).

What we would like to ask of you is that you would renew your commitment to pray for us while we journey through adoption, that we would not be weary but walk forward refreshed in God's timing and trusting in His provision.

Thank you for your generous support through prayer.

With love,
The Waits Bunch

One of these days...

Well folks, we (mostly Zehra), have been so busy and have not been updating the blog.  We are determined to get cracking on posting updates.  So let me begin....

We are going slow.  Gathering papers to send for approval to become part of our dossier.  We need to begin our home study very soon however it is difficult at this point because of finances.  Because there are post adoption reports that the social worker must do, we must pay for all reports includes those after the adoption, upfront.  We are not in a place where we can pay for ALL that at once.  So, we are praying about ways to raise funds.  Most grants that we can apply for are for after the home study process.  Just be in prayer for us as we seek direction. 

Finally a new update........

Well where to begin with the Waits Family.......

In July........

Yard Sale- The Waits Bunch was SO BLESSED by the gracious giving and support during our first fundraiser toward our adoptions.  We raised over $2400.00!!!!!!!  THANK YOU all so much for your love, support and prayers!!!

The Waits Family went on vacation!!!  A much needed vacation if I do say so myself.  Michael and I took Morgan to Disney World!!  We had a wonderful time.  I will have to officially ask Morgan what her favorite part was...  But I am pretty sure Michael loved meeting Mad Hatter and I loved Mary Poppins!! 
That is the super short version.  I will attempt to put up pics later.

Adoption Update.....

On August 9th we mailed our first major payment toward our adoptions.  Along with this payment we made America World Adoption (AWAA) the agency to help guide us on our journey.  Lots of paper signing!  Yuck, my least favorite part of life, paperwork.  We have been assigned a Family Coordinator named Christina.  We are now in the process of getting our Dossier started. 

So officially we are PAPER PREGNANT!!!!!!!, I think. We are SO excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

That is the short of the long.  The goal for us is to blog at least weekly but don't hold your breath!  :)

-Zehra