Trippin' Truesdales

This weekend was a busy one but we had a good time. On Saturday, we went to a "Tea and Talk" at DSS with other adoptive families to discuss what we all have been feeling and voice concerns, etc. Thank you to a fellow adoptive family for getting this set up and for setting up a Facebook group for our Region so the families can interact and get advice from each other. I love a list so I made my Top 5 of what I learned at the meeting:

(1) Frustration is HIGH
(2) Workers are not calling/responding to families
(3) Waiting for some has been years (one family has been waiting for 6 years)
(4) We are not alone
(5) DSS needs to make some major changes or they will lose amazing adoptive families

At the beginning of the meeting a worker from another Region told us about her experience with the adoption process and gave us encouragement BUT she also showed us how lacking our Region is with communication and knowledge about their own jobs. It was awful hearing that some workers in our Region contact their families they work with once a year and this is to update their file--um, no ma'am this is not acceptable!!! Others stated that when they would receive communication that the messages would be short and almost dismissive. Obviously, the Region we are a part of needs an overhaul and some workers need to reevaluate if this is the type of work they need to be in or not---this is about children and families and if your heart is not in that then you need to go. It was very discouraging to hear the negative feedback about how other families have been "treated" during this process. I mean it is already a high stress, over emotional time period when going through the adoption process so the last thing your need is for your worker to cause you MORE stress/worry. My take-away from the meeting was that each family needs to MARKET themselves and be their own ADVOCATE.

After two hours of discussion, Rob and I had to leave b/c we were heading to Myrtle Beach for a little fun to end the Summer. We jumped onto Highway 17 and and in about two hours we were at our destination. The drive was great b/c we were able to go through towns we have never been to and we are planning to go back and visit them again. Our reason for going to MB for our last Summer Fling was b/c I had a free ticket to Medieval Times and since we love going we couldn't let the ticket expire. Our Knight was the Red and Yellow Knight---we have been choosing our Knight for the past few years but I think we are going to have just let it be random draw from now on because our Knight always LOSES!!! Even though our Knight did lose we had a great meal at the show. After the show we headed to get Krispy Kreme Doughnuts--yes, we did just eat a great meal at MT so these amazing Doughnuts were saved and will be eaten this week--and then back to the hotel for the evening.

Today(Sunday) we went to Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues. If you have never been then you really need to go. It was a fabulous meal and wonderful worship. The band, Gospel, was amazing! They kept you smiling and your hands clapping--when you weren't stuffing your face with chicken and waffles or banana bread pudding--my fav!! FIVE stars to to the Gospel Brunch at HOB in Myrtle Beach--thinking this might need to be our new Sunday tradition for the Moak family vacation. A little shopping was completed at Broadway at the Beach before we headed on back to the house.

I love spending time with my husband b/c we learn more about each other and we get to have fun. Life is an adventure and every moment should be treasured. Oh, one more silly thing.....we decided to start using a hashtag for Facebook, twitter, instagram, etc. when we go on trips. Our hashtag is #trippintruesdales!

Later Gators.....