4th and Inches

Welcome to our family circus.  Come on in. There's room for one more.

It seems like just days ago that we were on the phone with our local DSS foster program representative asking general questions, and wondering if, when, and how we should pursue "the whole adoption thing." But fast forward two Saturday training sessions, two window replacements, five smoke detectors, one fire extinguisher, five doctor visits, a DHEC home inspection, a lead paint test, and the completion of eight thousand forms... and here we are: closer to our goal of adoption or foster parenting than I think either of us realize. Yesterday we completed what will probably be our last hurdle of any significance; the fire inspection. The next step is the assignment of an adoption specialist; and the final step for approval will be our home study. To the credit of DSS, it is hard to imagine any part of this process going any smoother than it has. Like many others who've thought to pursue this path, we've heard (and read) our fair share of horror stories pertaining to this process... and granted, we know that the tide can change at the drop of a child hat... but, I have to give credit where credit is due. Dealing with a government agency of any kind is usually akin to getting teeth pulled without anesthesia. However, I have to say that in this case our experience has been anything but difficult. God continues to give us a level of peace about this process (not to mention the easy road) that makes it hard to believe that it's anything but Him orchestrating our path towards expanding our family.

A perfect example of how alarmingly nonchalant this process has been is to simply look at the blog. This is easily one of the most significant things that Venesa and I have done in our entire lives... and I think this is only our second blog entry about it. In addition to the fact that the pace of our family life as it stands already gives me plenty of other fun things to write about (like ear infections, antibiotics, and deadbeat tenants); I think the lack of blog entries on the subject also speaks to how uneventful the process has been. And in the midst of raising 3 children who are determined to deplete our energy, time, and sanity... I could not be more thankful for the level of peace and clarity that we've had every step of the way during this process. Is this the calm before the storm? Maybe. I guess we'll have to wait and see. And I suspect that we won't have to wait too long.

I started by calling this entry 4th and inches. But, in hindsight, that's probably the wrong football analogy. While it does suggests how close we are to the finish line, I think it also implies a level of pressure that doesn't really exist in this situation. Instead of 4th and inches, it's probably more like 1st down. With 3 time outs left. On the opponents one-yard line. And we've got God at the quarterback position. I smell a trip to the Superbowl.