Why Adoption?

So, we have collected all the needed paperwork (at least all that is required thus far), and we have begun the wait to be matched with our new child.  I cannot describe to you how much our family is anticipating seeing a picture, meeting, and then bringing home our new daughter/little sister.  We still have a long journey ahead of us, and many more months of waiting.  Even with that said, it is super exciting!

Why adoption?  Since my first time in Asia, 14 years ago, I have had an interest in adoption, however did not know what God had for my own future.  Right around the time Judson was born, Jared and I started talking about the possibility of adoption.  It was more thinking and talking, than it was actually planning on it.  Once we were in the states, a few months after Judson's birth, we continued talking about it, and decided we would return home to Asia, begin seriously praying about it and also see if it seemed physically possible to continue growing our family in the place where we live.  (We live in a large, cold city, and rely on walking, buses, and taxis to get around.)  Soon after returning to Asia, Jared and I began reading books on adoption, and also had opportunities to be around a few expat families, who have adopted internationally.  God has blessed in many ways these past five years, with a marriage that is encouraging, loving, and reliable, children that are a joy, and a stable financial situation.  As we began to look at growing our family, we didn't feel a need to bring another child into our family that looks like us physically, but rather we looked at how our overflow of blessings could possibly fill another need.  That is where adoption came in.  We had been asked, as we went through the adoption paperwork, what dream we have for our family's future and how adoption would be part of that dream.  We desire that our children love God and that they in turn teach their children about God, this dream is for all of our children, no matter where they were born, in America, Thailand, or Ethiopia, or how they became a member of our family!  I will definitely post as we receive updates throughout this process.

P.S. Have to put in a plug for the book Adopted for Life by Russell Moore.  I would recommend it for anyone who is desiring to support adoption, not just for those who are considering to adopt.