Home Study Visit #2 – And a Profile Book Milestone!

What a week it has been.

On Tuesday—April Fool’s Day, of all days—we got an email that completely accelerated our home study process timeline in the best way. Our agency let us know there was availability this week for not only our second home study visit, but also our third and final one. Within the span of a day, we went from wondering when the next visit might be… to having the last two on the calendar! We’re in South Georgia, and logistically, everything just fell into place.

God wink? We think so.

This also happened to be the boys’ spring break—they’ve been in Daytona with my parents—so I had to make the “hey, you’re coming home a little early” call. I gently explained we’d be having a very special visitor come to make sure our home is safe and ready for a baby. Once I reassured them they weren’t missing out on any of their beach plans, they were so excited. I’m actually on the way to pick them up now and soak up one day of beach time before we head back for our in-person home visit this Friday.

But first—today was Home Study Visit #2, and it was such a good one.

This visit was split into individual interviews with our caseworker/ counselor. Josh and I each met with her during separate breaks in our workday, and it was such a powerful experience. Our caseworker/ counselor has adopted herself, and she brings not only professionalism and compassion to the table—but wisdom. She’s been such a calming, encouraging presence.

Each of our interviews lasted about an hour. The questions dug into things we’d shared in our pre-home study paperwork—our personal histories, our childhoods, our careers, family dynamics, trauma we’ve worked through, and of course, our relationship. And just like the first visit, I walked away feeling incredibly thankful.

There’s something really meaningful about sharing your story—how you met, how your marriage has grown, what you've overcome—with someone who doesn’t know you. I know the home study process can be stressful, but this part has honestly been such a gift.

Another big milestone this week? Our profile book is DONE and printed!

At our first home study visit, our caseworker/ counselor encouraged us to go ahead and order our books when we felt ready. The very next night, I got an email from the company we were using for printing—and they were offering 50% off. That was our sign! Link to photo book company we used.

We’d already finalized our draft, so I went ahead and placed the order. We needed eight copies for our agency to have on hand for expectant moms, and they arrived this week! The turnaround was incredibly fast, the quality is beautiful, and they ended up costing under $50 each (which, if you’ve priced profile books, you know is a win!).

While the boys were at the beach, Josh and I have also used the time to get our house ready for our final visit—securing chemicals, adding cabinet locks, checking smoke detectors, placing fire extinguishers. I’ve even got a little checklist I’ll share with some of the key baby-proofing tasks that were recommended to us. Tip: ask your caseworker/ counselor lots of questions—they’re there to help, not to judge.

I’ll admit I went a little overboard and had someone come help me steam clean the baseboards (hello, spring cleaning!), but I’m reminding myself that parenting isn’t about dust-free floors. Your home doesn’t have to be perfect to be full of love. So if you’re preparing for a home study and feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Focus on safety and readiness—and let go of the pressure to be “perfect.”

We’re just so excited for Friday’s final visit. The boys are ready to give the grand tour and show off their rooms, and we’re so thankful to be nearing this big step in the journey. I’ll update again soon after the visit!

As always, thank you for every prayer, message, and kind word. We feel it. And we’re so excited for what’s ahead.