We just got back from Albuquerque, where we got to attend a training with our adoption agency (find out more about them here) and we were very impressed with the agency we chose and very glad we chose who we did to go through for this adoption. There were so many things that we enjoyed about this training about the process, the agency itself and more.

So let’s start from the beginning: We first of all got to meet the staff and 3 other families that are in various stages of the adoption process and really clicked from the start with them, had some fun ice breakers and got to learn random facts about each other. Then we moved on to being introduced to the Director and her staff and loved getting to know them and hear their connection with adoption and why they do what they do. At that agency they do great work, not just placing children with loving families, but they minister to the birth parents and continue that relationship with them, adoptees and adoptive parents for years to come. We were very impressed by that and hearing some stories of the relationships they have built over the years.

After that we got into some of the more nitty gritty stuff and talked about the actual legal process and when to expect to pay adoption fees (which to us have always made sense as adoption is a complicated legal process and there are many pieces that need to come in place for this miracle to happen). It was re-assuring to know and understand more of when to expect certain things to come, when things were due and the process and procedures that occur with an adoption.

The next morning we got to hear from both of the Case Workers that work for the agency, one works primarily with the birth parents and the other with the adoptive families and conducts their home studies. Both sessions were very informative and full of stories and anecdotes of some of the things they have seen through out the years. We took a lot from the case worker who works with birth families as far as what they process is on the other end of the spectrum.

The last part was a mix of Q&A, as well as a panel made up of a combination of birth mothers, adoptees and adoptive parents and we loved every second of it, specially the part with the birth mothers (more on that in a later post). It was awesome to learn about their stories and experiences and what the process was from them. Overall this was a great weekend and a very refreshing weekend that confirmed to us why we picked the agency we picked and look forward to work with them as we proceed with adopting.

The next step for us will take place once we officially move off the waiting list (we are #2, and we met #1 and they were great people that we hope get bumped up soon!). We are guesstimating maybe another month and a half or so where we will go back to Albuquerque and visit the agency so we can do our orientation/pre-home study paperwork and go over paper work.

Family and friends, we thank you for all your support and prayers and we are excited that we are moving on with this process. This weekend was a very refreshing, encouraging and emotional weekend for us and very good in so many ways. We loved the staff and getting to know them and can’t wait to continue to be in contact with them during the adoption process.