Home Study Started!!!

I know it's taken us a while to get our initial paperwork in, but we are so ecstatic to say that on February 5 we submitted our autobiography and questionnaires needed to officially start the home study process!!! Whew! Does this mean we're almost done...ha! No. 

Here's the items we still have to accomplish for the home study - 

1. Initial training documentation

2. Physicals (his and hers)

3. Financial information release

4. Emergency disaster plan

5. Facility sketch of home and yard

6. Report suspected child abuse (his and hers)

7. Report suspected adult abuse (his and hers)

8. Compliance agreement

9. Complaints, discharge and discipline form

10. Authorization to release information

11. Grievance form

12. First aid and CPR cards

13. Marriage certificate

14. Birth certificate and/or passport

15. Copy of driver's license

16. Income verification

17. References (his and hers)

18. House insurance 

19. Auto insurance

20. Animal shot documentation (vet visit scheduled)

21. Signed contract

22. Home study fee ($2000)

What we've done - 

1. Application

2. Adoption Questionnaire 1 and 2

3. Fingerprinting (foster and adoption)

4. Employment verification

5. Attend a training

6. Autobiography (his and hers)

7. DMV printouts

8. Swimming pool agreement

9. Weapons agreement
10. Criminal record statement

Some of these are easy (copies of documentations) and some require a little more work, but we're chipping away at it. Our first home visit is scheduled for February 26 at 1PM. I believe there are 2-3 visits before Audrey comes home and follow up visits for her first six months of life. So, after a little initial panic, I made a mental list of projects to get done before our social worker, Becky, comes over. Today, we conquered the garage. It took 6 hours and was prompted by the fact that I needed a dresser (buried at the back of the garage) someone gave us to use as a changing table/storage, but nevertheless, we conquered. In the next couple weeks, I'll be painting it, adding wood to the top, changing out knobs and lining the drawers. I'll also be working on making room in our walk-in closet to store additional items from the smaller closet in our room, which we're planning on using for Audrey's clothes/stuff....and scrubbing the house from top to bottom. While this visit is people based, rather than house based, and our social worker said she'd help us with how to pass the second visit, it's still nerve-wracking. 

Once the dresser is over-hauled, I'll be able to figure out where Audrey's furniture will be going in our room and can finish re-decorating. I re-painted our room a few weeks ago and it's been a bit of a mess since (another mental project)! As the master/nursery redo starts taking shape, I'll update with photos :)

Well, I think that's it for now. I'm working on a couple fundraisers and will update when they're launching. 

We are so thankful for you all. Please keep us in prayer as we work on this somewhat overwhelming list!

Love,

Chris, Tiffany and Audrey Shoe