the (real) update

It has been over a year since we started the official adoption process.  Here we are on the day, last August, when we realized we were going to go for it.  For reals. Yikes, ham sandwich picture!

Naturally, as I returned from summer break, drove the cobwebs out of my classroom, and prepared for the new school year, my coworkers began asking for updates.  After all, we hadn't seen each other all summer so it was worth a check-in.

Others out there must be feeling time weighing on them, too, because we have had at least a dozen questions that fall into the "update" category in the last month or so from well-meaning people in our lives.  

So here it is, The Official Update:

Nothing, officially.  As a friend in the adoption community put it, we are just finishing our first trimester of this paper pregnancy.   That's right.  Our home study, fingerprints, and U.S Customs and Homeland Security documents will expire soon (good for one year) and we will have to refresh the lot.  Not as much work as the first time, but still effort and expense.

And then we will wait some more.  We may have to refresh them one more time before this thing is seen through.  So brace and pace yourselves, folks.  International adoption is not for the faint of heart, nor for those seeking instant gratification.  We will have a longer gestation period than an elephant.

The cost of adoption is still a concern.  Ultimately, it costs about one annual teacher take-home salary to do this. Not easy!

Now, what I call The Real Update:

We have made friends, with people that we really like, who are also in the adoption community.  They make the waiting easier.  Some will be bringing home their child a bit before us and we are looking forward to creating a supportive community with them for our families.

We have read books, lots of books.  So far, my personal favorite has been Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best.  Out of the library of books on the subject, this one struck just the right tone for me.  Honest and reasonably optimistic.  And it didn't hurt that she used the imagery of weaving throughout the book to represent the creation of family (fabric) out of many differing elements (fibers).

I am learning how to blog.  About art, life, and adoption. I am reading about other people's adoption experiences on their blogs as well.

We both have kicked our creativity into high gear and are more awake in our daily lives than ever.

Finally, as we went through the first year of this experience, we were surrounded and supported by family and friends who have offered to help us with their time, their words, and their money to push us on our way.  It has been one of the most touching experiences of our lives.

Anyway, those our our two updates.  I know that many people are very interested in the Official Update, but I, for one, am absolutely astounded by the Real Update.