One of the primary reasons for this blog is to document and share with friends and family our adoption journey. Adoption has been something that we have discussed and dreamed about since we were first married (over 5 years ago already!). I researched international adoption just enough to discover that most likely one or both of us would need to be at least 25 before we could apply. At that time we had several years yet before the 25 mark (yes, we married young!), so we did not pursue it, but it often surfaced in our conversations. In the fall of 2009 we began discussing adoption a little more in depth (Dave conveniently turned 25 that October), and I, being the internet research junkie that I am, began a research frenzy of adoption agencies. Feeling drawn to Africa, and finding that Ethiopia was one of the easier countries to adopt from (many other countries required us to be older, married for 10 years, travel for over a month, etc.) we decided to pursue adopting from Ethiopia. We applied to America World in April of 2010, and were accepted, made announcements to our family, and started our homestudy in May. We completed all paper work and our dossier was sent to Ethiopia in December, and we are now *patiently* waiting for a referral call. We are not requesting a gender, and at this time our age request is 0-18 months. Our agency's expected wait time from dossier submission to referral is 5-8 months for a boy, and 7-11 months for a girl.
Many people wonder how we felt called to adopt, why we chose international adoption, and why we are pursing adoption before pursing a pregnancy. I don't have simple answers to any of those questions, other than God laid something so strongly on our hearts that could not dismiss it. We felt inclined towards international adoption this time for a variety of reasons, although we are very aware that in the future God may have plans for us in domestic adoption/foster care. We desire for God to build our family, and we want to welcome any child He brings to us, whether through adoption, fostering, or pregnancy.
I would be happy to discuss adoption, agencies, etc. in more detail by email. Feel free to message me if you would like.
While the Word of God has much to say about orphans and God's desire that they be cared for, I'll conclude with a scripture that first pricked my heart for adoption.
"'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" Mat. 26:7
"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." -Mother Teresa
