Thought it might be helpful to answer a few questions about what this adoption process will look like for us, since some are asking!
NOTE: This is all subject to change. I’m just giving a “projected path,” to use a bit of hurricane/meteorological language. 
Ready? Here goes:
1) Are we adopting internationally, domestically, or what? We are adopting through the state DFCS foster program–this does not mean we’ll be foster parents. The plan is to jump right into adopting. There are foster kids who are waiting to be adopted into a permanent family.
2) Are we adopting a baby? Before we ever looked into the state adoption process, Drew and I decided that we’d be open/favorable to adopting young kids–namely a sibling set. woo!! Then we found out that the majority of children in DFCS’ care are kids/siblings. And siblings are hard to place with families because there’s more than one of ‘em, but the State doesn’t want to separate them. We don’t wanna separate ‘em either. Sooo, hey, we’ll take a few!
3) Where will the kid(s) come from? It’s very likely that the child(ren) we adopt will be from somewhere within the state of Georgia, although probably not from the Glynn County area. I think we will also be accepted by other states as well.
4) How does adoption work in the state program? From what we understand, it’ll look something like this:
- go through state adoption/foster parent training (graduate tomorrow!!)
- complete our paperwork (finish today. wow.)
- home evaluations with a case worker (4 to 6 weeks from now)
- DFCS approves our application (couple weeks after evals are done)
- wait for placement.
- meet the kid(s) to see how it goes–yes, it’ll be something like having a play-date with our future child(ren)–I can’t even wrap my mind around this.
- hang out again.
- move ‘em in!!!
5) Are we raising money for this adoption? GREAT question! I have two answers for you:
- Nope. Believe it or not, your tax money has this covered, as far as the application process and any legal fees. So, what’s not reimbursed by DFCS will be covered by the nice Adoption Tax Credit thingy.
- Sorta. It’s my understanding that they literally show up with a bag of clothes (cue the tears), and the rest is up to us. So, we’ll have a few extra expenses as we prepare our home for some Tiny Thompsons to come and live and sleep and play and eat. Because of that, let’s just say we ain’t gonna turn down any “baby” showers.
6) How long will it take? 3 months to 2 years. As the DFCS case workers say: they’re not doing this to find kids for families, they’re doing this to find families for kids. Amen to that.
Feel free to ask more questions in the comments below. And if you’re wanting more on the state adoption process in general, hit up THIS LINK for their FAQ page.
Y’all are awesome. Thanks for the love and support!!
1. I don’t think we would pass the “home evaluation.”
2. Loved the power, clarity, and simplicity of this phrase: “Not finding kids for families; we’re finding families for kids.”
3. So excited for you guys.
1. I’m a little nervous about that as well.
2. I know, right? Totally loved that.
3. Thanks Josh!!
i’m so excited!!! you & drew are going to make fab.u.lous parents! i mean, really, who could ask for a cooler, more loving mother!?! ::hugs:: you know you’ve got prayers coming your way through the whole process!
hahahah!!! Thank you And thank you for your prayers! your excitement, it’s contagious!
This is a great encouragement for me. Matt (the husband) and I want to adopt eventually. We just had a baby 7 months ago, so we will be waiting a bit before adopting, but we see it in our future! I may have questions eventually, but thanks for the post b/c it really did show me that we are on the right path to adopt domestically!
Oh feel free to shoot me any questions you have, Sara.
But take your time! Get that little one up and running. Adoption can be a wild ride.
This is exciting – hot diggity dog!!
Yayyyyy!!!
I have a friend who she and her husband went this route and they have 2 children now. They did this about 7 years ago. They did it in GA as well. If you would like to talk to them I can put you in contact with them. They live in WY now … her husband is a pastor there. Just let me know if you would like their contact info. Though you prolly have lots of folks to talk to just thought I’d throw it out there.
Oh wow how cool for them! I’ll let you know, Heather. Thanks for mentioning them!
Hi sweet Mandy! Sorry I haven’t been on the blog lately! School started and I’ve been trying to catch up on my sleep.
This is such an exciting journey for you and Drew! I am so happy to be following you guys in your journey through your blog.
School is important, Tay.
But thanks for stopping by & following — I hope you have a great year. & get some sleep!
I am so excited for the two of you!
This is SO exciting! I love hearing(reading) about this friend! I’ll be praying for you ALL!
Thanks Mandie!
Oh good! These are some of the very questions I had. You are great parents. Tiny Thompsons… so sweet
)
Here’s a couple questions for y’all out of pure curiosity. Does the state require you to define your preference of children (ie. special needs, gender, race, age)? And if so would you share what you have communicated to them with us?
1) yep, although they say “please indicate which you feel best fit to parent” — I like that better than “hey, tell us what kind of kid you want us to give you”
2) 1 to 2 kids, ages 0 to 6, any race, any gender, siblings are considered “special needs” so yay to that! And then there’s the exhaustive list of specific needs which we filled out in a manner that reflected our resources and abilities.
I’m making light of this. But it wasn’t…
I don’t feel you are making light of it at all. I ask because I know each state (and country for that matter) have different regulations in reference to how much input the parents have on who they feel they are best fit to parent. The stipulations we had to provide posed the most difficult for our family. If I would be absolutely honest I would say that those specs still eat away at the ‘what if…’ torture chamber section of my brain, we we have had our daughter in our home for over a year now.
Thanks for sharing, Mandy!
Yep. I feel ya. Totally. Truth is, those were the most “impossible” decisions I’ve ever had to make. It was painfully difficult.
Oh Mandy, how exciting!!! I am teary with excitement and admiration for you reading this. The adoption path was something we discussed and debated in depth as to what ‘route’ we would take because after 12 years of marriage I had pretty much given up but we were blessed in the 13th year! Your child or children will be very fortunate once you find each other!!
Knowing the “Grownup” Thompsons (oh wait…, does that actually apply to Drew?), I cannot wait to meet the “Tiny Thompsons”!
I really admire the open way you guys have approached this. Feels like you are saying, “God, we are ready meet our children now”! Boggles the mind to try and think of where they are now, and where they are going. I hope God has given them a glimpse of how wonderful their life is going to be very soon. Oh yeah, and I also hope they have blazing red hair, jutys to make your family just that mouch more interesting. Lol.
hahaha! I’ll take ‘em with or without hair, Dennis.
Thanks for your encouragement in this!
Thanks for sharing the info–was very interesting and learned quite abit. Best to you and Drew on this ig step in your lives.
John
This is awesome. Congrats!
Thanks Mr. GTD!!
I am SO seeing a Ladies Week: Mandy Revisited day on the blog
. Praying for ya friend!
woohooo!
Yes & thanks T!
Hooray for Tiny Thompsons! So excited for you & Drew. May it all progress smoothly, in time that is comfortable for everyone.
Really excited that this means there’s a couple of kids who are going to experience God’s immense love lived out in a wonderful family.
“in time that is comfortable for everyone”—that is an interesting choice of words, David. I think all the meeting and hanging out and sleepover stuff will help the kids, and us as well. Still trying to wrap my mind around it. But it’ll be a gradual “adoption” process, which I think will work well for everybody.
Wow. How special! Wow. What a gift to you and what a gift you will be. Once you have a clearer picture of the needs for your shower, PLEASE share. I am at the age where showers – even through the mail – are FUN FUN FUN and I LOVE to SHOP SHOP SHOP…..
haha! Ok I will.
I’m sure we’re going to make a LOT of noise when the time comes, Maggie!!!
I’m so happy for you and Drew. This will change your life, get ready. Also very happy that you want to adopt a family, it is so hard to find some families to do that. I can only see the best for both of you. But I want you to realize that all children come with some baggage, whether it is physical or
emotional or mental. These children have had a hard life and need lots of TLC, and support from your families and friends. It will not be easy, remember I’ve been there. But so worth it in the end. I don’t want to scare you more then you are already, but I have faith in you both, and know you will make good parents. May God Bless you. any time you want to talk, call or write me. All my love, Roberta
Very cool. Goosebumps.
I love that you are sharing your ongoing journey with me. I love that you are so excited about having siblings! I know that the perfect little ones are out there for you and Drew. And I would love to be one of the ones that give you a “baby, child, sibling” shower. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to do this for you and Drew. You are such a special, Godly woman and you are going to be the best mom!
SO excited for you!
Thanks Katy!!
Um, 1. You will totally ace the home examination.
2. You will have all the “showering” your little heart desires.
When you find who/ sizes/likes/dislikes you can totally register for all the things you could use for them.. It will be so fun because the shower goers can buy a variety of things from baby gear to big kid toys, art supplies, baby clothes, bikes, room decor, kid clothes throw a wii game in there and your all set- Target registry- here you come:))))
oh register. That is a GREAT idea Cyle! Thank you for that. I’ve had too many other things whirling around in my head to even think through that yet.
And art supplies = YES!
can i get a woot woot?
woot woot!
I have a woot woot for ya!!!
WOOT WOOT, back at you
So EXCITED for you! This is awesome. Thanks for letting us follow along. Let us know if there is anything else we can do. You are gonna be a great mom. Love thinking that your kids are out there somewhere possibly praying for a mom and dad that will love them unconditionally.
You hit it, Lindsey. Most people don’t connect the dots far enough to actually grasp that “our” kids are out there. Yeah. They most likely are. And they’ve just been through hell and are now having to accept the fact that they won’t be reunited with their birth parents. And they’re wondering if their foster parents are going to keep them. That’s probably what’s going on behind the scenes right about now. It aches to think about.
this makes my heart so happy for you… and so prayerful. because i know it affects your heart and life in ways i can’t even comprehend.
i’m here. and i love you.
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Mandy, I just accidentally found your blog via a Google search for “I adopted through DFCS”! I was thrilled to realize that we are in Georgia (just on opposite sides) pursuing adoption through the state. I’ve enjoyed going back and reading your posts regarding your wait and anticipation for the child(ren) God might bring to your family. My husband and I just finished our IMPACT training and are also Adoptive Parents (not fostering since we already have three little ones in the house). We are finishing up our paperwork next week (waiting on drug screens and TB test results) and then will wait for our next step. I’ve subscribed to your blog so I’ll stay updated on your progress. Praise be to God!
-Mrs. Jawan McGinnis
Congratulations to y’all!! I’m excited to see where this will take all of us.