a different journey….

This is Papa Allen's first time being able to blog and I wished I had some new words in the process of fostering to adopt however it is time to let you all know that we have had to put the fostering to adoption plans on hold for a season.  This is a hard day for the Allen family.  Today, Papa Allen had to say goodbye to his ministry of 5 years at church due to NWCC going down a different path that they decided that Papa Allen did not have the qualities to fill the new ministry role in the model they are going towards.  He found out almost 2 weeks ago of the Elders decision and we as a family have been processing it since.  The congregation found out through a letter beginning this past Friday.  Today was Papa Allen's last day as the Student Minister there (he preached the gospel message to the teens and baptized one at the end of second service - Praise God!) and now the Allen's are on a different journey, one they did not see coming.  We ask that you keep us in your prayers right now as we transition into the next phase of our family's journey.  God is all powerful, all knowing and every where at all times!  He knows what our future is.  He knows what our future holds!  And we know who holds our future!  Even though these are going to be tough times, it will also be time of praising God (Psalm 149) because he does hold the things we do not know.  Our FAITH will be made stronger!!

Home study visit.....check!!

So, last night was our home study visit. I think it went pretty well. Ms. L talked to Papa, Mama, and Tator about day to day life and what we are looking for.  Of course Tator wants a play mate, Mama wouldn't mind a baby to snuggle, and Papa is just hoping for a boy. Really, any'thing' God blesses us with will be a welcomed addition to the fam.
I do have to go down a little bit of a ranting road for a moment....please indulge me.
We have spent the last few weeks gathering information, seeing doctors, preparing our home, and digging out old baby stuff.  Bottom line, we have been working pretty hard toward this goal.  While talking to Ms. L last night we learned that we could have a child(ren) placed with us, have them in our home for years, and when adoption time comes, they could leave us to go and live with some relative that the courts drag out of who knows where. Does the relative have to go through the checks and screening process we have been through.....nope.  All they require is matching DNA.  Isn't that a little messed up?  I do not often engage in political conversations, but I think that is just one of the ways our government is not family friendly,nor does it have the best interest of children at heart.  (Of course this is because my view if pro-foster, pro-adoption.)
Any-who.....Now we just have one more meeting and that is our training class mid-November and then.....we wait :)  Prayers for patience....here we come!!!

How do you prepare for the unknown??

Well Fridays evaluations seem to have gone well.  They didn't call the police or usher us off the property. :)  We had a nice talk with Mr. F and filled out some of his surveys, not to mention I had to leave them the paper work. :(  That made me kinda sad.  I really liked my paper work.  But they were very impressed with it, so I feel it was appreciated. :)
We have our home study on Wednesday.  I am excited and nervous.  I think we have a wonderful home and have plenty of room for more kiddos.  However, I am afraid they will not see us as 'prepared' for more kids. We have the bedrooms, but not knowing what ages/genders God has for us....I'm not sure how to prepare. I see the pins on Pinterest of the all the 'preppers' and their plans to prepare for everything from a zombie apocalypse to the end of the world. .  If they can prepare for those events, why can't I rap my mind around preparing for 'the call'?
I am constantly reminded of these words from my Heavenly Father:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...." The writer of Ecclesiastes goes on to list varying degrees of life and things we wait for, both with excitement and anticipation.  So, there is a time to wait, and a time to prepare.So, right now is my time to wait.  I was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha this Sunday at church.  I will try to be Mary and sit at the feat of Jesus and marvel at all He is doing during this process and give the honor and glory to Him.  While I would be much more comfortable as Martha and busy myself with the details, I will be still and enjoy the presence of the Lord in the amazing journey.

It is finished!!!

(Please mimic the character Belt from The Croods when saying....)  DU DU DUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!! The paperwork is completed!! Yeah!!!  What was handwritten is now neatly typed and everything is secure in the file folder thing ready for the presentation.  Before you scroll down and view the photos of the finished product, please remember that if you are reading this...you love me.  :)  I have loved this paperwork and all the details surrounding it.  I want to show how important this process is to us, so I have put together a 'paperwork presentation' of sorts. We will go Friday to our psychological interview and we will present the paperwork then.  I am afraid I might have a little separation anxiety from leaving it with them.  I have carried this around now for a couple of weeks and have spent every extra minute of the day on it.  I think I am going to miss it. :)

This is the front of the paperwork portfolio

These are the tabs!! I LOVE tabs!!

A month......

Time is what you make of it.  Whether you have an hour, a day, a minute, or a week...time is measured by what you choose to do with it.  This week, some people I know have experienced great loss.  Two have lost children and one a beloved pet.  I am sure a month a go, none of them were thinking this would be happening to them.
So, I in turn look at our journey time line.  This weekend I took the dogs to get their shots, Monday Jason has his physical, and Wednesday I have mine.  Friday we meet with the psychologist and take the FBI/GBI tests that need to be taken.  Next Wednesday we have our home study, and November 15-16 we have our training class. After that, THE CALL could come any time.  So, in a month, we could have a placement.  To me, that seems so close, as I am sure any of the above mentioned people would LOVE to have the last month with their loved ones back.  A month....it will really go by so fast.
And enough of the deep thought for tonight :)  Papa Allen and I have been debating what that first placement may be.  I have decided I think it is going to be a two year old boy and his newborn sibling.  Papa Allen is certain it is going to be 3 year old triplets who are already potty trained.  :)  Fostering is kinda like a box of chocolates.....you never know what you're gonna get.

2 hours!!???

Nothing super exciting going on, other than the fact that I am only three sections away from finishing my 'parent questionnaire'/autobiography!! Since it is already 10 pages long...it's a cool feeling to almost be done.
Also, yesterday I called and made our appointment for our 2 hour....yes 2 hour.....psychological evaluation.  Papa Allen and I will each have our individual 2 hour session and while the other is being psychologically evaluated, the other goes through GBI/FBI check and finger printing.  Good times!! This visit is crucial because they will either find out that I am in fact insane....or that Papa is in fact a wanted criminal. :)  Hopefully we will pass both with flying colors.  We know we aren't perfect, and definitely scruffy around the edges (and no I am not talking about Papa's face), however we believe this path is being forged by God.
When I called to make the above mentioned appointment, the lady that answered sighed and told me that he didn't have a lot available this month.  I told her the date I was hoping for because I have a half day and wouldn't have to take any time off work (I am trying to save that for when we actually get a placement).  There was a pause.  She came back to say that the date I mentioned was completely open, what time did I want.  Praise the Lord! Some may look at that and say I got lucky. Not me.  I look at that and say "Thank you God for going before me and ordering my steps so that Your will can be done in my life."
So......back to the paperwork!!!

Well two exciting things have happened.......(Well, let's be honest, probably not exciting in the GRAND scheme of things....but pretty exciting to us!)
#1 Our official application packet came via email Wednesday evening with all of it's 27 attachments. :)  I kept hearing Rosie O'Donnel's voice as the little gorilla in Tarzan saying "The fuuuuuuuun has arrived!!" Luckily I love filling out forms. I'm not even joking!! Something about the little lines and filling in the information makes me giddy.
#2 (There it is again Papa Allen) I received an email from 'L' letting me know that some references that were sent via email had arrived and she had started a file for us!! Just think....our name is on a little file folder waiting to be connected with another little file folder that holds information on some youngins that need us. :) So, I mark today as 'file started' day on our journey.
I know there are so many other steps that have to be completed before we get that call, but like I said, we tend to be glass have full kinda people. So, I think this is a pretty awesome start!! Instead of focusing on all the other steps to come, I am going to rejoice in the completion of these two little steps.  Every form I sign, every smoke detector I count is one step closer :)
Have a great weekend everyone!!

It's HUMP DAY!!! :)  Well, after our meeting on Monday, the ladies told us that 'L' would be in touch with us this week and get us the application packet.  As of this morning there was still no call (patience may be something God is teaching me during this....patience and trust in people and Him).  The paperwork we were given said to call 'L' to request the application packet.  So, I decided to call.  I was told 'L' was out of the office, but everyone had heard about us and 'L' would be calling me tomorrow.  Everyone knows about us?? Is that good or bad?? I figure it could go one of two ways: 1. Those crazy people can't handle the kid they have...there is no way we are giving them more!! or 2. They are awesome and will save the world through fostering!! :)  I am hoping it is #2 (yes Papa Allen....I said #2...just for you!) We have a preliminary packet and things we can start pulling together without the official packet.  So, that is what I will do until 'L' calls tomorrow and I  find out if we are crazy or awesome :)

Let's start at the very beginning....

Hello Blog World :)  I have been wanting to start a blog for a while, but was afraid it would turn into a global place for me to rant my vents....so I decided it was best not to.  However, now there is some things changing at the Allen ranch, and I thought a blog might be a good way to keep our family and friends informed.
Papa Allen, Momma Allen, and Tator Tot Allen have decided it is time to expand our family.  And while there are no problems in the Allen kitchen (if you know what I mean) we have decided to go the foster/adoption route.
We desire to adopt locally because of personal conviction (just as those that adopt from overseas do so from a personal conviction). After some research and prayer, we have decided to foster first, and adopt if that opportunity arises.  And, like this post is entitled, we are starting at the very beginning.
We have chosen an agency and had our initial meeting.  We are getting ready to embark on lots of paper work and meetings.
The purpose of this blog is to keep you updated on our highs and lows through this process. :) Knowing us, I am guessing there will be a lot of highs....we tend to be glass half full kinda people.
More to come.........this is just the beginning.