So today is the day. I wanted to write now even though no one "follows" or can actually read this blog except for me. (For now that is... I absolutely cannot wait until I can change the security codes and let everyone know about our plans, but for now they are a secret until we choose an agency and get going with paperwork)
So here it is: Mark and I have decided today that we are going to answer God's call and start our family by adopting a baby from Ethiopia. Whew! Yay! I got to write that, I almost cannot believe it myself.
We will be in the process of adoption for the next 12-20 months before we get to take our new baby (very likely will be a boy) home with us. We will travel to Africa to get him a few months after we receive our "referral" (which is a photo and information regarding our new child) Most likely he will be a healthy, baby boy who is about 6-10 months old when we take him home.
A little bit about Africa for those of you who are sitting back thinking, "Why Ethiopia, why not China or Russia?" Well, In Ethiopia one in ten children die before their first birthday, One in six children die before their fifth birthday, 44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old, 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition, 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world), There are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia, and per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa. So, although I believe orphans all over the world need loving Christian homes, Ethiopia has a need for loving couples like Mark and I more so than some others. So, although we support all international adoption programs, this is the one we believe Jesus has put on our hearts and finally, after months of thinking about it, we are going to do it!!!
Over the next few months things will be crazy. We will be doing a lot of paperwork, saving lots of money to fund the process and will be relying on lots of prayers that we don't go out of our minds waiting. We ask that you please ask God to give us strength during this process as we will no doubt need it.
My heart is so full today with love for my husband for wanting to go on this journey with me. Although he is very excited, as many of you know, taking financial risks like this one is difficult for him. It means the world to me that he wants this badly enough that he is willing to step out of his comfort zone and take a risk to help a young child that will need us.
So, because I know there will be LOTS of questions people have for us, I'd like to do a little Q&A right here so that maybe I only have to answer these questions 500 times rather than 800 times.
Question #1: Can't you have biological children?
Answer:
As far as we know, yes, Mark and I can have biological children. I don't really know for sure though since we've never really "tried." For many of you that know us well, you know that we've always said that we are very interested in adoption because we believe there may be a reason that we don't have this intense NEED to have biological children. We just want to be parents and have a loving family. When I began researching programs, my heart was drawn to Ethiopia in a way I never imagined, and I knew in my heart that this was the direction for our family.
Question #2 Are you concerned about having a bi-racial family?
Answer:
I'm not concerned about it, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit worried about what other people may say about it. For now though, all I know is that Mark and I believe in what we are doing and we know that we will be a beautiful, unique, Christian family full of love. We just hope we can teach our children that love knows no colors.
Question #3 Can you afford this?
Answer:
Yes, but it's going to be a lot of money. Adoption is expensive because it is a very court-intensive process. Although it's going to be a lot of stress, we are very thankful the process is organized and regulated so these precious, orphaned children from Ethiopia are not sold illegally.
