Home Study #1

We had our first home study tonight. I didn't get myself all worked up about it either. Our house is insanely clean, primarily because the kids aren't here! :) We worked some over the weekend and this afternoon getting the house presentable. The house is at least clean now until Thursday night, when the kids come home of course!

There were a lot of papers to sign and some forms to go over. We have a ton of paperwork to fill out before the training starts. The biggest hurdle we will have to overcome is our marriage certificate, seeing as how we don't actually have one. We're not legally married. Just kidding! When we were robbed shortly after we got married, we lost everything, including a safety deposit box that had passports, birth certificates, and our marriage certificate. When I checked a few years ago into replacing it, I found out we would actually have to both be at city hall in Martinsville, IN to get a copy of our marriage certificate. It sure would be nice if things have changed and I could just order it online! But, if driving to Indiana to get our marriage license allows us to be foster parents, we will do it! DAY TRIP!

Beyond that, we need to purchase a 5 lb. fire extinguisher, have a fire escape plan, purchase outlet covers, and tighten the railing on the basement stairs and our house will completely 'pass'. It was a lot less invasive (so far) than we had anticipated. We do have to get fingerprinted for the State and for the FBI. Fill out paperwork for background checks. Standard paperwork, that neither one of us are worried about. We don't have any criminal history or anything like that. All in all the prep work I think will cost us about $50 (not counting the household safety items we need to purchase). Not bad.

More updates as they come. It feels good having the first 'big' step out of the way. Thanks for the prayers. Keep them coming!