Wow - interesting. . .

This sounds sooo stupid, but. . . I think this adoption thing is really going to happen! We've had some actual progress with our application. Over the weekend, we took a Baby Care class at the local hospital. Tons of good info, but SIDS = SCARY!! How do parents sleep at night without worrying about all the horrible crap that could happen to your baby? I guess you just do what you can - and then let it go.

We do our formal adoption training this Saturday and next Tuesday. I'm excited to get this done for two reasons: I'm interested in the info and I want to meet some other families. We met another couple (who had just gotten a placement with a newborn) in our Baby class and I was surprised at how happy I was for them! I know that sounds kind of douche-y, but it's hard not to view other prospective adoptive parents as competition. Crappy, yes. Honest, absolutely.

But like I said, I was genuinely happy for them. What a neat thing to see others have their dream come true. Either I'm maturing, or this church-going is really starting to change me.

Speaking of church-going, I'm starting to dig this. A lot. I'm not on board with all of the concepts (sorry, I believe carbon-dating is accurate and dinosaurs did exist), but I'm really trying to get a better understanding of the Bible. I don't think I'll ever agree with the fundamentalist concept of the Bible as basis for a worldview, but I definitely think its teachings can show us a better way to live. Not the only way to live - but a better way for me. Sometimes church is difficult because I'm not always confident that I am surrounded by others who view things the way I do. But, I do feel welcome there and my bible study efforts are helping me to make better choices about things in everyday life. Nothing earth-shattering, mind you. Mostly about letting go of my selfishness and thinking more about what I can do for the world - and less about what the world can do for me.

And here's something interesting - a friend of ours called tonight and mentioned she has a friend doing cradle care for a newborn. Who needs a family. I guess the birthmom is working with an agency (not ours) who is trying to gather some families to present to her. I don't have the gut feeling that this is our baby. But it's really encouraging to know that, someday, we will get the phone call that makes us parents. Either way, I contacted our attorney to get his take on the situation. . .

I will keep you all posted.