Our Adoption Story

In writing this blog, my heart behind it is to be as honest and transparent as I possibly can to help others prepare for their adoption journey. I almost chose not to write this specific blog post because it's not near as fun to read and honest not that fun to write either. Yet here I am, writing the raw emotion behind the season of waiting for your baby.  As I have had the joy of carrying three children of my own in my womb, I know the realities of pregnancy really well. Adoption pregnancy is totally different, but just as real in a very intimate way. There is no baby in your womb, but the baby is most certainly growing in your heart. On the surface, people love to discuss how you are not having to go through the actual pregnancy and can relate with how "easy" you have it. And yes, while I sit here in the same size pants as I wore pre-baby and no fluctuating hormones, that has all been a big plus. But there's so much more to it that adoptive moms have to go through. ...

This blog post is written to future adoptive families who will also walk through their season of waiting. I am writing this blog in the midst of our waiting season so I can remember everything I have felt and to be able to articulate it correctly to give an accurate depiction of what the waiting process entails.  As I have been pregnant three times, I was curious to see how adoption compared to a real pregnancy. On the surface, it's nice to not experience the changing body and pregnancy hormones. I feel great and sleep great, so that has been nice. But while there is no baby kicking in my belly this go around, I do feel a baby deeply touching my heart in ways I cannot even begin to describe. They say biological children are carried in the womb and adoptive children are carried in your heart. I couldn't agree more.  Adoption has a way of teaching you the depths of walking by faith and casting your cares. Walking by faith because you trust that God has a child for your family. A...

The morning of Monday June 2nd, I was enjoying a morning filled with thoughts about our upcoming adoption as we could get a call anytime saying a birth mom is in her 8th month and is ready to match. As mentioned in a previous blog, I explained how we aren't technically ready for a baby until after July 19. Our family is going to Mexico for a big milestone birthday celebration. We wished we could take a baby with us on this trip, but an adopted baby can't legally leave the country until after the six months consummation hearing.  So, we have told our agency to not match us with a birth mom with a due date earlier than mid-July.  Early afternoon, I received a text from our caseworker asking us if we had time for a call. I quickly responded and he called. He proceeded to tell me that a birth mom is specifically requesting our family even though we aren't ready to present. She saw us on the website and when given profiles of families to choose from, our profile wasn't there...

After years and years of prayers in hopes that God would bring us to this season, here we are. Expectantly waiting for God to bring us the baby He has for us. The amount of time I have spent in my life wondering if we would ever get the opportunity to be in this season is finally here. The worrying about all the steps it would take for us to get to this point and taking a big sigh of relief knowing that we did it! We are on the other side of all the logistics of adoption and now we wait...  The Million Dollar Question Do you know when you will get a baby? Yes-we know it will be in God's perfect timing...& no He has not revealed that to us just yet. But just as the first warm night of spring hits, you know summer is upon you. We can feel the season changing all around us. Our hearts are growing in every way.  Our baby is in some mother's womb right now and we can feel a deep love within us that we are getting closer and closer to finally meeting each other. We are trying to...

I will start this post by saying that a lot of excellent families are terrified of the home study part as it places your home under a fine-toothed comb to be examined on all levels. Many homeschoolers and holistic families are afraid to open up their home to the state or any agency due to an encounter with someone who sees this lifestyle as child abuse. Crazy we have to worry about these things when in reality it's the exact opposite... We were a little nervous at the thought of it all, but we knew God would direct our steps. We prayed and sought wisdom on who to contact. I think that step is key. I only used trusted sources from day one rather than a blind call. By doing this, I haven't had a single -both private and state- caseworker in my home that wasn't 100% supportive of our lifestyle. They have all been wonderful! Do not let the system make you think that all people are bad. Every caseworker that came to our home loathes the system, but they all were thrilled we were...

Let me start off by saying that adoption is so expensive. It's that way on purpose for many reasons, and that alone prevents good families from rescuing children. Remember I mentioned previously that Satan would join the fight to keep children in his camp. But as Christians, our faith must rely on God, Our Provider. He is the God of unlimited resources and adoption fees are holy ground for His mighty hand to work miracles. The majority of adoptive couples can't afford adoption at the beginning of their journey and by the end of it, they had exceedingly more than enough. It just always works out. Every adoptive couple will tell you this and also have a story about how God miraculously showed up. So, if you have the calling to adopt and are worried financially, I'm telling you-God will provide! He just needs your obedience and faith.  Leave the miracles up to Him. My dear friend shared a testimony with me when they started their adoption process. Money literally came down out...