June 30th

Hello readers! Long time no "see". What a crazy and eventful summer it has been for the Hassenzahl's. I've been around the world and back...and even lived to tell about it! But not today. Today, I want to share with you a post I've been holding onto since June 30th. As you will see, the last paragraph reveals a bit of my angst about publishing this post. And ultimately I chose not to at that time. I'm not even completely sure I want to post it now, but I feel the need to let people in. To let people pray. And to let myself have this forum again for processing my thoughts. So without further ado, here are my words from June 30th, 2011...

Today is a very special day. First and foremost, today is my beautiful mother's birthday. Happy Birthday, mom! Today is also the day that will go down in Hassenzahl history as the day we sent in our adoption application. Yep, you heard me! The first round of i's are dotted and t's are crossed. A non-refundable check has been written. We are really doing this, people. Whoa. No wonder my heart has been palpitating all day long!

There's no telling what the future will bring. But today I revel in the feeling of progress, hope and anticipation...or is it heartburn? It's all a bit surreal to be honest. Of course, we still have to be accepted into the agency's program. So please pray that the social worker(s) assigned to us will look favorably upon our application (and overlook the crazy...and yes, I'm mostly talking about Joel here. Kidding!).

I do have to say, I was torn on whether to blog about this momentous day. For many couples, including us, the period from when you submit your application to when the home study is completed, is a lot like the first trimester of a pregnancy. At one point our intention was to not utter a word about the adoption until after the home study had been completed - when we knew it was safer to do so. In the end, we need and covet the prayers of friends and family in this time. Not to mention I'm just too dang excited to keep this to myself right now! That said, Joel and I would appreciate your discretion over the next several months as we wrestle with the home study. We ask that any questions or words of encouragement be reserved for private messages (which can include comments on this blog) and/or face-to-face conversations.

Stay tuned to this blog to find out what happens next in this exciting adventure of ours. We can't wait to see what God has in store...

...for in you the fatherless find compassion.
-Hosea 14:3