Uh how much?

Last night we met with our first adoption agency, Bethany Christian Services.  It was a little hectic because J was working at the academy and was trying to make it home in time. I was rushing to pick up Wrigley in enough time to get home and feed the dogs.  Thankfully the counselor from BCS was very easy going and didn't mind our crazy night at the house. 

Last night was very informative.  The counselor walked us through all the steps in the process. She gave estimated timelines and of course delved into costs. It is crazy how much adoption costs.  I think both J & I had a bit of "sticker shock" when she started to go over the costs.  We both know it's not cheap but at the same time we are thinking, "How in the world do people pay for this?"  BCS did say they were one of the highest priced agencies in our area and they explained why.  They do a lot of counseling for the birth mother and that cost rolls into our fees.  

I felt really good after the meeting.  The internet is a crazy place and all the information out there was extremely overwhelming.  It was nice to talk with someone face to face and be able to ask questions.  J & I have a lot to think about.  We need to sit down and talk about what risk factors we are willing to accept.  Is it okay if the birth mother has drank some during the pregnancy? What about drug use?  What level of comfort do we have with these?  This definitely isn't a process that you just jump into.

I am waiting for another agency to get back to me so we can meet with them.  I'm sure they will have a similar process as BCS, just different fees.  The counselor with BCS was really nice and told us we need to go with an agency we feel comfortable with.  This agency is going to be a major part of our lives and I agree with her.  I think the hardest part is picking the agency.