At first, I have to admit, adoption felt like a backup plan. We struggled with miscarriage and infertility and 8 years passed. We didn’t want to enter into the conversation of adoption witth a heart that this was just simply something we were doing because our ‘real’ dreams weren’t fulfilled – so our family prayed for direction and sought the counsel of friends. We began researching different agencies and continued to pray, God truly changed our hearts until we saw adoption as a natural way for us to have a family.
We were referred to Antioch Adoptions by a friend; it was a relief to know that money didn’t have to be a barrier to adopting. With other “agencies”, we would have had to wait much longer as we saved money to pay for the cost of adoption. We were also comforted by the fact that with Antioch Adoptions, God would be at the center of the whole process.
We got ‘THE’ phone call one day – a very special phone call. A 2 year old girl and a 3 year old boy were in a foster care placement that the social workers had hoped would become the kids’ permanent home, but it wasn’t working out. Their birth parents had struggled with homelessness and various addictions but the kids, who had been raised and protected by their amazing step-grandmother, were completely healthy.
We had said all along that we wanted a baby. We were open to considering a baby and an older sibling but never really thought adopting two kids would be a reality. So, after hearing about the kids on a Friday afternoon, we were given a few days to pray and talk about it before meeting with the social workers the next Tuesday. Waiting in those few days was an emotional roller coaster. We weren’t ready for two kids by any logical definition of ready. All of our preparations had been for a baby. But, God kept saying ‘Trust me.’ And, so we did.
Meeting them was so exciting. We told them all about their new house and dogs. The little boy asked if there were toys and if he could take his special bed. As soon as we said yes to those questions, negotiations were over and he said, “Can we go now?”
Two days later they moved in! God fulfilled our deepest desires. In the course of one week we got two amazing toddlers who made us realize our dreams were too small. These precious children were meant to be our family and they were so worth the wait. God’s plan for our family is more perfect than anything we could ever construct ourselves!
Antioch Adoptions helps families adopt without charging them a fee. Visit antiochadoptions.org to learn more about the organization and give today! Remember, it’s double impact month and your donation will be doubled up to $50,000!
