Our 3rd Home Study

We met with our Social Worker today, to complete our 3rd official Home Study assessment for our adoption process.  It's exciting to talk about the adoption, but more importantly I think Lauren and I both enjoyed looking back on the year that was.

What is a home study?  Well to become parents through adoption, the agency needs to make sure we qualify, both as people, and the proper living environment for the adopted baby.  Now don't get me wrong, over 2 years ago when we had our first home assessment it was one of the most difficult things we both had probably gone through up until that point.  You explore everything about yourself, and in your relationship.  How you are as people, how you react to problems, how you fight, how you plan to parent, etc.etc. the list is long and I'm sure you all can guess what kind of questions are asked.

But now at this point, we need to update our social worker as to how things are, how we are coping, any changes in life, and in home.

So being able to see how far we have come in our own personal, but also professional lives over the past year was rather gratifying.  Lauren and I have both grown a lot, making new positive connections with more incredible people who are helping to enrich our lives, and really creating an even more loving home that is prepared for the little one.

If there was one word that came out of the meeting in reflection, it was how "balanced" we have become.  Lauren of course is now working full-time as an artist (which is her dream), and her business is not only growing and becoming more successful, but it has helped balanced her soul and given purpose to the hard work she has put in.  For me, it is pretty similar.  I've been able to have the courage to out-grow where I was working, and move on to a new job that not only allows me to have more balance... but embraces it.  Our passions are both being fulfilled, and in some ways are grateful that when the adoption happens it really will in fact be at the right time (sounds cliche, but really is true!).

Plus, coming out of a meeting with our social worker just empowers us to be more ready, and gets us excited.  We couldn't be more happy then when she is able to tell us how both Lauren and I have changed and grown since our first assessment over two years ago.  

Many couples have given up by this point, and we know it.  But being able to reflect on the past year just gives us more resolve that we are moving down the right path.

Can't wait for the next step!  Not long now.

Jason & Lauren