Making a list...and checking it twice...or three times...or four times.

Many people have asked me "what all" must be done to move through the adoption process.  Just looking at the list makes me tired, but thankful that we have moved through it in pretty good time.  Here is an inside look at what all we have done thus far.

1.  Application for Homestudy services and submit payment.
2. NDHHS Adult and Child Protective Services Cental Registry Release Form
3. Release of information consenting to run Sexual registry check on each applicant
4. Release of information for Homestudy agency
5. Signed agreement acknowledging grievance and appeal policies and procedures
6. Homestudy agency consultant service agreement
7. Health information forms for each member of adoptive family completed with family physician
8. Criminal background check (fingerprints for Matt and I)
9. Employer reference form
10. Personal reference forms (3) (includes essay questions our references had to answer)
11. Financial Assets Statement
12. Copy of most recent tax return
13. Copy of Marriage License
14. Copies of birth certificates for applicants
15.  Copies of Social Security Cards for each member of family
16. Official log of required training hours to complete homestudy (10 required hours)
17. Application for Adoption with Bundle of Hope, and submitted application fee
18. Signed and notarized statement of faith completed by Matt and me.. (8 pages of questions)
19. Signed and notarized statement of faith completed by our pastor
20. Signed and notarized disclosure statement provided by adoption agency.
21.  Submission of names of Six additional references to be contacted by adoption agency.
22.. Six hours of homestudy interviews completed by our Homestudy agency and Ms. Barbara

This doesn't include countless hours of research and reading about adoption and asking questions of those in our homestudy agency and adoption agency, as well as the time spent with friends who have adopted.  Happy to say we have completed everything on the above list, and now wait for one more homestudy visit and Ms. Barbara to write our homestudy to submit to Bundle of Hope.  Feeling the need to celebrate coming this far!