The time to hesitate is through. No time to wallow in the mire.

Short but hopeful post.

Our social worker wasn't laid off. So I decided to pull myself out of my terrible attitude and ask her about a few more kids on the waiting list.

Yesterday she emailed me and said one of the little girl's social workers liked our home study and wants to meet with us. THIS IS HUGE!!!!!

Mike's trying to not get too excited b/c at this stage there is still no promise or guarantee. Yet I can't help but feel like finally something is happening.

Since Mike is right, since this interview is no indication of actually adopting this girl, I am going to wait to post details about her just yet.

Here's the order of operations:
7/21 - Meet with potential daughter's (PD) social worker, if we pass that interview and also like what we've learned about PD we move onto step 2

Step 2 - Big hurdle crossed b/c no other families are in the running now. We conduct collateral interviews with all the adults who are influential in PD's life, her foster family, teachers, mentors, etc. If we pass those, and we like what we've learned about PD, we move onto step 3

Step 3 - Review PD's complete case file (which we've seen some of already). We will decide if based on the expanded information we still want to be considered as her parents and wait for PD's social worker to decide if we'd be ideal parents for her.

Step 4 - Create a picture book of us, our home, or pets, and immediate family for PD--because of course PD's social worker will love us. At this point I'll provide more more information about PD here and in person to our friends and family.

Step 5 - Be asked by PD's social worker to be PD's permanent parents, and we say yes. This is the last chance we really have to say no. If we say no, we go back to pre stage 1--me emailing our social worker with inquiries.

Step 6 - PD's social worker brings our book to her and lets her know we're her parents. This is the first time PD will even be aware that we were inquiring about her.

Step 7 - Within 24 hours of Step 6, we meet PD -- oh how nervous we'll be!!!

Step 8 - With PD and social workers, determine the transition plan. Some children will move in the same day you meet them. Some kids need more time.

That's the potential road. After each stage, I'll update the blog.