"Please, mommy and daddy....Can we adopt (Sean)? Can we commit TODAY?"
As we're starting this blog in the middle of our adoption process, I wanted to share a little of the process we went through, for anyone interested. So here are some of the steps we went through...
#1 Our growing interest and motivation to adopt a child, specifically for us a special needs child...
as was explained in earlier posts
#2 Prayer...
for God to show us His will and if we should do this
#3 Reading reading reading...
library books about adoption and disabilities like Down Syndrome and websites like http://www.reecesrainbow.com/ , which gives info. about the complicated adoption process, about special needs, fundraising, links to learn about other families journeys--both in process and those who are home already, and shows specific children needing homes
#4 Talking ALOT as a family about what adoption would entail for everyone in our family.
Here are a few I recall:
Blessings: giving a child the gift of love and a family-- which will not only bless him but us as well, the growth of character and family unity that this will entail, sharing our blessings with others, being an encouragemen to others to support orphans or adopt them as well, and pleasing the Lord as we obey the admonition that "religion our Father accepts is this: to care for widows and orphans in their distress" James 1:27, we know many families with children with special needs who bring great joy, using our training/skills to make a true difference, giving a child the opportunity to therapy, education, and understanding of their value to God.
Challenges : the great financial cost of adopting overseas ($22-24,000), the requirement that both parents travel for 2 1/2 weeks and one return for 5 dats-2 weeks on a 2nd trip (this was a huge obstacle for me as a mom, who is never away from my children), the time and energy of the adoption process, the adjustment of adding a child to our family, the extra help/attention a child with special needs will need, the possible difficult behaviors that come from living in an orphanage, the possible negative reactions of others, and that needs the child would have even as an adult....it is a life-long commitment.
#5 Looking into all the options:
We looked into other websites for international adoption, as well as domestic adoption, including http://www.chask.org/ We went to an information session about adoption through Bethany Christian Services, which we've heard great things about. A great benefit of domestic special needs adoption is that there is financial assistance available, there is support afterwards, and a younger child can be adopted. Some drawbacks in our eyes were that the mother can change their mind before it is finalized, its a bit more complicated with other family members involved, and the child may have been in multiple homes. For us, we were motivated to help a disabled child overseas because they had no hope of domestic adoption, therapy or education and was at risk for life-long institutionalism. We also had a love for a specific boy on Reeces Rainbow, which determined which agency we went with.
#6 Reflection on what we'd learned and how God was leading us...
All our 5 children were begging us to commit to "Sean". Early on our son had a special interest in him, for he really wanted a brother. At first we thought he wasn't an option, as it said he had a disease that would have been potentially detrimental to our other children, but when we asked, it turned out he did not have that afterall due to a mix-up with someone else. (Never hurts to ask!) That was one of the first doors God opened. We also noticed his grant money had increased and another christian mom, who had heard our story, contacted us that God put it on her heart to plan a fundraiser...for "Sean" and she'd already gotten a reception hall and caterer to donate their services! Since this the great financial cost of adoption was a major obstacle to us adopting, these 2 things were an encouragement to our family and reminder that God will provide the finances that we would need to adopt this little boy.
So, after months of prayer, talking, and research, and more talking and prayer, we finally felt peace about what God would have us do, and that what He would enable us to do it, so by faith we could answer our chidren,
As we're starting this blog in the middle of our adoption process, I wanted to share a little of the process we went through, for anyone interested. So here are some of the steps we went through...
#1 Our growing interest and motivation to adopt a child, specifically for us a special needs child...
as was explained in earlier posts
#2 Prayer...
for God to show us His will and if we should do this
#3 Reading reading reading...
library books about adoption and disabilities like Down Syndrome and websites like http://www.reecesrainbow.com/ , which gives info. about the complicated adoption process, about special needs, fundraising, links to learn about other families journeys--both in process and those who are home already, and shows specific children needing homes
#4 Talking ALOT as a family about what adoption would entail for everyone in our family.
Here are a few I recall:
Blessings: giving a child the gift of love and a family-- which will not only bless him but us as well, the growth of character and family unity that this will entail, sharing our blessings with others, being an encouragemen to others to support orphans or adopt them as well, and pleasing the Lord as we obey the admonition that "religion our Father accepts is this: to care for widows and orphans in their distress" James 1:27, we know many families with children with special needs who bring great joy, using our training/skills to make a true difference, giving a child the opportunity to therapy, education, and understanding of their value to God.
Challenges : the great financial cost of adopting overseas ($22-24,000), the requirement that both parents travel for 2 1/2 weeks and one return for 5 dats-2 weeks on a 2nd trip (this was a huge obstacle for me as a mom, who is never away from my children), the time and energy of the adoption process, the adjustment of adding a child to our family, the extra help/attention a child with special needs will need, the possible difficult behaviors that come from living in an orphanage, the possible negative reactions of others, and that needs the child would have even as an adult....it is a life-long commitment.
#5 Looking into all the options:
We looked into other websites for international adoption, as well as domestic adoption, including http://www.chask.org/ We went to an information session about adoption through Bethany Christian Services, which we've heard great things about. A great benefit of domestic special needs adoption is that there is financial assistance available, there is support afterwards, and a younger child can be adopted. Some drawbacks in our eyes were that the mother can change their mind before it is finalized, its a bit more complicated with other family members involved, and the child may have been in multiple homes. For us, we were motivated to help a disabled child overseas because they had no hope of domestic adoption, therapy or education and was at risk for life-long institutionalism. We also had a love for a specific boy on Reeces Rainbow, which determined which agency we went with.
#6 Reflection on what we'd learned and how God was leading us...
All our 5 children were begging us to commit to "Sean". Early on our son had a special interest in him, for he really wanted a brother. At first we thought he wasn't an option, as it said he had a disease that would have been potentially detrimental to our other children, but when we asked, it turned out he did not have that afterall due to a mix-up with someone else. (Never hurts to ask!) That was one of the first doors God opened. We also noticed his grant money had increased and another christian mom, who had heard our story, contacted us that God put it on her heart to plan a fundraiser...for "Sean" and she'd already gotten a reception hall and caterer to donate their services! Since this the great financial cost of adoption was a major obstacle to us adopting, these 2 things were an encouragement to our family and reminder that God will provide the finances that we would need to adopt this little boy.
So, after months of prayer, talking, and research, and more talking and prayer, we finally felt peace about what God would have us do, and that what He would enable us to do it, so by faith we could answer our chidren,
"Yes, we are going to adopt Sean!" (They were so excited)
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