When I was at school, the athletics PE lesson that I dreaded the most was the hurdles. I couldn't understand why you would choose to put obstacles into your path which you would have to jump over to get to the finish line. In addition to that, I was pertified of falling over the hurdles and injuring myself. So I would simply run through the hurdles, kicking down each one as I came to it. Pitiful I know, but an interesting memory as I approach the final statges of the adoption assessment process.
DH and I have been through a whirlwind assessment process which has moved swiftly and left us almost breathless. The finish line has been clearly in sight for quite a while. However, just as we've rounded the last corner and started our journey down the home straight, I've suddenly realised that there are some hurdles that have be jumped. I have been focussing so much on the finish line that I forgot about the hurdles just before the finish line.
It's about 8 weeks until we go to panel for approval as adopters. This is when our SW presents us to the panel as prospective adopters. They will have read the report written by the SW about us and question us about any points that have come up from their reading. They will then decide if we are suitable for the title "Prospective Adopter". This label will enable us to start looking at children and looking for a match. That's hurdle number 1 but there are more!
Hurdle 2 - finding a suitable child which we all agree would benefit from joining our family
Hurdle 3 - matching panel ( similar to adoption panel but this time would be looking at whether we could meet the needs of that particular child)
Hurdle 4 - introductions (meeting our child for the first time)
Hurdle 5 - placement (settling the child into your home)
Hurdle 6 - finalising the adoption legally
I know that the solution to these hurdles is not simply kicking them out the way like I did at school. However, I do feel some of the same anxiety from my school days about these particular hurdles. I am confident that we have what it takes to jump over each of them, but regardless the challenge remains a daunting one! Am I worried that I'll fall and mess the whole thing up? Maybe - just a little!
It feels so close and yet we have these imposing hurdles blocking our path. As ever I'm asking you to keep us in your prayers as we approach this crucial stage of our journey. I know that God can help us to leap over these hurdles with ease - I know He can do it! So I'm going to keep running and prepare to fly over each hurdle until we cross the finish line. The amusing point in all of this - after we've jumped the last hurdle and crossed that finish line, we then start the most challenging event of all - "The Marathon of Parenting".
Sending God's love to you all, as well as mine!
Until next time,
Cece
