Why Adoption

Quick Update:
             We have completed our homestudy and are approved to adopt up to two children.  The next step is to file our dossier with Russia.  We are still praying, asking God if He has one or two children planned for us... no answer yet.  We are asking God to equip us to bring home two.  :)

Why are we adopting?

               I had never considered adoption until I met my pledge sister, Robin Rice-Campbell.  She and her little sister, Rosie, were adopted as babies.  Additionally, my cousin Steve and Dawn adopted their two precious children (shout out to Christian and Nasta!) from Russia about 10 years ago.   Needless to say, they are all ecstatic about our decision. 

               We had been considering adoption for years, but we thought we’d have a baby biologically first once we returned home to the South (Matt is former Air Force and we were stationed in Cheyenne, WY for 3+ years).

                In the meantime, I began reading books on adoption.  I was reminded that I was adopted into God’s family when I accepted Christ as my Lord!  You too are adopted once you are a Believer!

                 God was keeping adoption on the front of my mind.  By February 2011, I was convinced that God had called Matt and I to adopt… and now.  I told Matt that I wanted to meet with an adoption agency “just to get information.”  We decided to use Lifeline Children Services (http://lifelineadoption.org), a Christian adoption agency located in Birmingham, Alabama.  Ironically, this is the same agency that Robin was adopted from, 27 years ago!!  Long story short, our appointment confirmed God’s calling. 

               We are no one special.  We just want to be parents.  We want to love the child God planned for us and teach him or her about our Lord.  Normally, I’d be scared out of my mind, but God Almighty is giving us a child…  He simply asked if we will go get him or her!   We answered, yes!

When God Almighty is for you, what can stand against you?

Why International?  Why Eastern Europe?

               I did A LOT of research before our first adoption appointment.  We basically had three options: 

1.      Become a foster parent

       2.      Adopt domestically (from the US)

3.      Adopt internationally (from countries like: China, Haiti, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, etc..)

               We don’t feel called to become foster parents, so we thought we would most likely adopt domestically.  Several people have asked us why we aren’t fostering or adopting children domestically?  The need is so great here in the US, and God is answering this need too.  But, God has children, orphans, all over the globe!  The question was never really domestic versus international... The questions was:  Where is OUR baby?  Our hearts felt drawn to Eastern Europe for no reason other than the fact that our little one is in Russia. 


Ironically, the Houser’s (a family from our church), are also adopting from Eastern Europe.  They are in Ukraine!  You can follow them at:  www.followusthere.blogspot.com