Christmas in Arkansas, we head back home to Nashville, TN through the beautiful, snow-covered hills.

UPDATE: Agency Contacts Us With Our First "Situation" To Consider!

On 11/19/09 (one week after our official approval), our agency contacted us with a "situation" for us to review and consider.

The situation:

- birth mother expected to deliver on Dec 16

- birth father and & family supporting the birth mother's choice to choose an adoption plan

- birth mother requires direct placement (i.e. chosen adoptive parents would be welcomed at the hospital during delivery)

- ....and the BIGGEE!....

The birth mother is currently being filmed for MTV's "I'm 16 & Pregnant" reality show!

For us, we did not feel that we could say "no" to the opportunity to have our profile shown to her. We have come this far into the adoption process, and we seriously do not feel we can decline the opportunity for our profile to be shown to the birthmother as she considers her options. In the end, if she chooses us, we will trust the decision was Divine in our faith and trust that He has a plan and is directing the birthmother to choose us (even with the potential that our desire to remain private would explode into the public with this reality show being taped).

So, on Thursday afternoon, we let our agency know that we would like to have our profile shown.

During the weekend, our excitement grew with every passing minute.

To help with our waiting, we went shopping....for a CAR SEAT & STROLLER! :)

Fast forward to today, Monday - 11/23/09.

We prayed and waited and prayed and waited all weekend...trusting our profile was being delivered along with the 4-5 other family profiles to the birth mother's state. This morning, we followed up with the agency....silence. We continued to wait.

FINALLY, late afternoon today, our agency counselor let us know the birth mother had chosen a local family from her own city/state without even reviewing the "waiting family" profiles. We were not chosen. The car seat and stroller will need to remain empty in our upstairs bedroom, stored behind closed door.

Though we are disappointed, we do trust the decision made was the best choice for the birth mother and her baby.

We remain hopeful as we trust our Lord and continue to wait and listen for His perfect plan...looking forward to the day when we are chosen and we get to eagerly welcome our child into our hearts and home.

Thank you all for your continued prayers!

:) -Rod & Joni

---------------------

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

11/12/09 - APPROVED!

After months of preparations, evaluations, classes, etc, Joni & I are THRILLED to report...

WE ARE APPROVED!

The adoption agency notified us today that we have been approved to adopt. Thank you for your continued prayers as we head into the official WAITING-TO-BE-CHOSEN period.

-Rod & Joni

10/27/2009 - FINAL MEETING WITH THE AGENCY

Joni & I are very excited to report that we just completed our final pre-approval meeting with our adoption agency this evening!

After months of preparations, classes, meetings, etc, we met with our adoption worker tonight to review our service plan, which is the final piece of this amazing puzzle. From here, the social worker completes the writing of the report and then submits it to the agency director for a thorough review and approval. We expect to be approved by December 2009!

Once approved, the agency will be able to start showing our profile to interested birthmothers, who will review and make the adoption plan by choosing the adoptive parents. This process has been an amazing journey for both Joni and me.

Understanding we could have months of "waiting" ahead of us, we are still so excited to know we are so close to finally being approved. Very exciting times!

Thank you all for your continued prayer support!

More details to come....once we have them.

:) -Rodney

10/20/09: Adoption Home Inspection

10/20/09, the adoption social worker is scheduled to inspect our home. This is one of the final steps in the process before the agency writes our home study report. Right now, we are on track to be approved by December 2009.

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers!

10/19/09: We complete the adoption profile packet!

Tonight, Joni and I completed the adoption profile packet that birthmothers will review when they select their children's adoptive parents.

Social Worker Interviews COMPLETED.

This week, Joni and I completed the necessary interviews in the adoption process. The past few weeks have include a couple interview followed by each of us having solo interviews with the social worker. Now, we work on our adoption profile that the birth mothers/parents will review in their selecting potential adoptive parents.

We will deliver this profile (4 copies) to our social worker when she comes to our home on 10/20/09 for the "home inspection".

Thanks so much for your continued prayers!

Joni really enjoys this song!

Fail Us Not from Steven Potaczek on Vimeo.

Quick trip to Jackson Falls with my bride to see the waterfall after the rain.

How adorable! :)

Social Worker Interviews begin on Monday, 9/21/09

ADOPTION UPDATE: Joni & I received confirmation that our month of weekly social worker interviews begins on Monday (9/21/09).

9/3/2009 - WE SUBMIT OUR PAPERWORK!

9/3/09 - After over two months filled with doctors appointments, psych reviews, 8-weeks of adoption classes, and time spent to complete the necessary forms, we FINALLY delivered the home study packet to the agency this evening.

WHAT A GREAT FEELING!

Though we still have a few more months of process ahead of us, our completing the home study portion lifts a huge weight off of our to-do list. Next step, we schedule the various social worker interviews/sessions and home inspection visit.

8/31/09 - WE JUST COMPLETED THE ADOPTION PAPERWORK!

After MONTHS of various doctors, governmental, & adoption agency meetings, Joni & I just completed our final document in our home-study adoption packet!  We are planning to deliver the packet to our adoption agency on Thursday (9/3/09) along with an installment to the hefty fee that will be due at placement.  

We are so excited as we CONTINUE this incredible journey together!

From here, we will proceed with numerous meetings/interviews with our assigned social worker(s) in addition to a home inspection/interview and development of our adoption profile over the next 4-6 weeks.  

At this rate, Lord willing, we expect to be APPROVED by the agency by December 2009.  

Then, we wait. 

Wait for a birth mother to review our profile and select us. 

Thank you so much for your continued prayer support for us.  We are so eager to meet the child/children, whom our Lord has chosen for us to parent.  Exciting times in the Bowen household!

More details to come......as we have them. :)

-Rod & Joni

Joni and I are deep in the middle of the home-study portion of the adoption process.  After many visits to physicians, psychologist, government offices (background check, fingerprinting), etc, we are slowly making our way through the mounds of paperwork, training classes & required book readings.  

The journey continues to be a GREAT time for us, seriously!

Thank you so much for your continued prayer support as we are eager to complete the process and hopefully be approved by September.  From there, we wait.  :)

We hope to have additional updates posted soon with the various details of the process. 

Stay turned. 

July 4, 2009

Though we were able to visit with all of our immediate family members while in town for the weekend, we sadly only remembered to grab our camera as we were leaving that afternoon.

AND, as Joni has quickly learned, every trip home is filled with many hilarious antics from dear-ole Dad.

We will ALWAYS REMEMBER the cowbell episode, Dad.
Love you!

2009 Rodeo Of The Ozarks Festivities (Springdale, AR)

During the 4th of July weekend, we were excited to take the opportunity to visit family in Arkansas and attend the Rodeo of the Ozarks.

July 3, 2009 - Visiting the Family Garden (AR)

As I type, Rodney's parents are in the midst of "canning season" - the time of year when they harvest the beans, squash, beets, etc. from their garden and preserve them in Mason jars for meals during the coming winter months. We really enjoy sharing in this tradition as we shuttle the veggie-filled jars back to our home in Nashville for a future home-cooked meal. Great comfort food! :)

DVD Movie on Foster Care & Adoption

3rd Wedding Anniversary Trip to Jackson Falls

Working to save money for the adoption account, Joni & I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary by taking an inexpensive day trip down the Natchez Trace to Jackson Falls. Named after Andrew Jackson, Jackson Falls is a historic rest stop on Natchez Trace near Shady Grove featuring large springs and waterfalls.

Happy 3rd Wedding Anniversary!

June 3, 2006

Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Bowen

Birthday Month Continues!

Close friends, Jordan and Jessica Norris join Joni's birthday month festivities with a Nashville Sounds baseball game followed by trips down the Trace and to the historic Carnton Plantation of Franklin, TN (Civil War Battle)




Historic Carnton Plantation

Exploring Nachez Trace with family

After a hearty breakfast from Loveless Cafe, we took the opportunity to explore a small portion of the Nachez Trace parkway.

Memorial Day Weekend

We are excited to welcome family from Alabama into our home for the Memorial Day Weekend!

Joni's parents (Joey & Pam Pettis) and younger brother (Scotty) join us for an evening of grilled chili dogs, softball toss & a hilarious game of Dominoes.

Formal Adoption Application Submitted!

Earlier tonight, Joni & I completed and submitted our formal adoption application to Bethany Christian Services along with the initial installment of fees.

Next steps include:

6/12/09 Full Day of Orientation

6/16/09 Adoption Group meeting

6/23/09 Family Training Session

6/30/09 Family Training Session

7/7/09 Family Training Session

7/14/09 Family Training Session

7/21/09 Adoption Group meeting

7/28/09 Family Training Session

8/4/09 Family Training Session

8/18/09 Adoption Group meeting

Happy 30th Birthday Lunch, Joni!

Birthday lunch with Uncle Bob, Aunt Linda, and Grandma