Called to Adopt...what's next?

After knowing we were called to adopt, we asked ourselves the logical next question...where do we adopt from?

If you are new to the adoption world, there are three main types to consider.

Foster care adoption
International adoption
Domestic adoption

We were advised by some wiser than ourselves to consider why we wanted to adopt and what it might look like for our family.

Do we want a newborn baby? Toddler? Older child?
Is it important to us that the child have the same skin color?
How much can we afford and are we willing to borrow/fundraise?
Do we want to adopt a sibling group or special medical needs child?
How long are we willing to wait?

At first, we tried to find the "right" answer.  Which type of adoption carried the "greatest" need?  Which type of adoption was "most important"?

Over a period of a few weeks, Cody and I discussed each type of adoption in detail and on any given day, would have given you a different answer as to which adoption we would choose.  I would love to go into the beautiful aspects of each type, but I'm afraid I would do them a disservice.  Maybe on a day when I'm not thinking about bedtime we will revisit each one in more detail.  Or better yet, I could connect you with friends who share a passion for each one.

For now, let me share truths we all know.  Truths that shifted us from trying to find the "right" answer...

Every child is important to God.
Every child is made in His image.
And every child deserves a loving home.

After weeks of praying, thinking and discussing, Cody and I both agreed we had a peace about domestic infant adoption. We felt this was right for us.

I have had the privilege of visiting with other adoptive mommies who have adopted in all three different ways.  It is so exciting to hear of their passion and their why.  It is truly a BEAUTIFUL thing.

Our passion and our why is because without families wanting to adopt newborn babies, there would be women with crisis, possibly unplanned pregnancies who would only have two options-abortion or raising a child when they didn't feel they could.  Instead, we can stand beside these brave and selfless women, and present our family as an option for those moms who choose life.  We get to not just say, but show that their baby is valuable and wanted. 

It's not that our decision of infant domestic adoption is the "right choice", but the right choice is being obedient to God's gentle nudge of our hearts.