News From our Social Worker

Well, I  intended to post this yesterday, but fell short of time.  We heard from Elizabeth, our adoption agency social worker. She had good news!  Elizabeth’s Social Services director signed off on us adopting both boys at once.  So, now, the next thing is to wait for China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) to approve us for adopting two boys at once. 

Elizabeth also wanted us to know that her colleagues are leaving this week for Beijing First Children's Welfare Institute and wanted us to prepare questions for our “locked in” son. That is adoption terminology and it means he is being reserved for us.  That was exciting to hear.  We can get answers to questions that we have.  Elizabeth’s colleagues also plan to photograph and videotape our future son.  I can hardly wait to hear the responses to our questions, along with the photos and videotape!

What We've Been Up To

Welcome to our blog.  We would like to keep you updated on what is going on in the Mattson household.  After our sons moved out, we looked at our home and realized it’s big and it’s quiet.  After several months of evaluating our lives and working through the deaths of family members, we decided it was time to add to our family.  We started by researching adoption agencies, looked at countries we qualified to adopt from, and consulted our sons Tyler and Troy. After Tyler and Troy gave us their approval, we then needed to choose to adopt a boy or a girl, and what age. This turned out to be a large undertaking.  Thrown in the mix, was settling my parent’s estate, finishing my master’s program, and preparing to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary.

In July, we settled on an adoption agency and a home study agency.  Within a day of settling on an adoption agency, we were notified that a young boy from China was in need of a home (12 years old).  We asked for his file, had his file reviewed by a doctor, and felt led to pursue him as our son. This started the process of completing mountains of paperwork and several interviews by a social worker.  As we walked through this process, it became apparent that adopting two children is the way to go. They would be companions for each and will have security in having someone from their own culture. At this time we are committed to one child, and awaiting word on a second boy (12 years old).

We share this information with hopes that you support us in this process, and that you will pray for us, our sons, and our future sons.

In the near future we hope to post photos of our future sons.