Home Visit Went Well!

Our Home Visit with Joy went really well! We were up early in order to pick her up at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Her flight was early and so were we. Chris and I made a sign with her name and she thought it was great (no one ever had a sign for her before as she usually gets a rental car for the day). It was a quick ride back home and we got to talk during the ride. After getting home, we gave her the "Tour", starting with the outside. She liked the space in the backyard! As far as the inside, she just checked for outlet covers, door & drawer latches, fire extinguisher in the kitchen and checked smoke alarms. We sat at the table and talked for about 2 and a half hours, before we had to leave to take her back to the airport. We got her there in time to check in for her flight, then went to breakfast at IHOP (which was around 2:15 by then).

We decided to pick her up and take her back instead of having her get a rental car for the day (it was less expensive and we have to pay her travel expenses for the trip). I think it was a great idea. Not only did we save on the cost of a rental car, we got to visit with her some more and relax a bit before the "Interview".

We feel that it all went well, and that we will be "Officially Approved" when we get all the other papers in. The only things that she said that she needs to talk with Buckner about are: the number of children we are able to take and the financial aspect of it all.

As far as the number of children, she is not sure that we would be approved for 4, probably 2 or 3 instead. We assured her that we are okay with the decision that they make (it is in God's hands anyway!).

Regarding the money, she doesn't think that we would be denied just because we don't have money in savings (like thousands in savings). We did talk about different ways to raise the money: applying for grants after the Home Study in approved, Chris picking up a second job (probably at Wal-Mart), various fundraisers/garage sale/bake sales that we can do.

Right now, we have an appointment next Monday with a psychologist for our "Psychological Evaluations" that Russia requires. Joy passed on the name and number of the guy that one of the other families that we know used. He charges $160 an hour/session and we are scheduled for 2 hours on Monday to meet with him. One hour is talking with him and the other is working on the 'tests'. I don't know how much it will cost for the test scoring, but he said that it usually isn't that long. We have an appointment with our family doctor to go over the 'Family's Opinion of Possible Acceptance of Child with Minor or Correctable Medical Needs' form. After that, just need to finish the other 2 books, write the reports and send it all in to Buckner; and wait.

Please pray that we have the money we need for the psychological evaluations, Joy and the Buckner staff make the right decisions, that we are patient as we wait for an answer.