Why International Adoption?

Many people have asked the question "why did you chose to adopt internationally?" That question often comes as a result of people sharing their heart about the Foster care system, domestic adoption, and/or the huge cost of International adoption.
I love and welcome this question because any time it's asked, it gives me an opportunity to share God's heart in regards to the orphans and adoption!!!
First and foremost, let me start out by sharing that God's heart is for ALL the orphans!!! He sees the hurting, He sees the need and He calls on His people to action!
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and fautless is to looks after orphans and widows in their distress."
When I read this verse, and especially given the context of the book of James, I realize that this verse is truly a call to DO something. It is our faith lived out through action!
While this verse and many others call us to action, I also acknowledge that this verse doesn't mean we all need to adopt! (As a side note: we need to also ask ourselves what we can do to help the widows in their distress). There is so much we can do to support those who are adopting (not just financially). This is the very reason we have invited anyone who desires to "Join the Journey!!"
So back to the question, "Why adopt internationally?" To make it simple... We asked God to break our hearts for what He wanted for our family, and He broke our heart for China! Our daughter is in China, and we will work as hard as we can to bring her home!!
I also want to let you know that our hearts break for all the hurting and all those in the world that need a family!! There is much work to be done and so many children that need homes where the love of Christ is modeled so that they can come to know their Savior personally!! May we never settle until God's work is accomplished!
With that being said, I thought I would share some things that God has taught us so far during this process! First of all, in China, the gospel is not allowed to be shared without a great cost!! The chances of an orphan hearing the great message about the love of God is pretty slim! Second, in most countries, if a child is not adopted by the age of 16, they usually leave the orphange and are left to fend for themselves! What then ends up happening is that they turn to usually the only thing that can make fast money... drugs and prostitution... that breaks our heart!!
When God took ahold of our hearts for us to adopt, and broke our hearts for China, we asked Him to close the doors quickly if he had another place in mind that would be a better fit for our family. After starting the process, we thought the doors were going to close for us in China due to the strict regulations they place on adoptive families, but God miraculously kept them open! We also had no clue about the cost of international adoption when we started the process!!! We prayed and sought counsel and everyone we talked with shared that we shouldn't let money be the thing that stops us from adopting internationally, so we haven't! We continue to trust God to provide financially, and He has so far! We have a long way to go, but we know that we serve a faithful, loving God who is truly in control!
So, for a quick summary... Why internationally?.. God broke OUR heart for China, miraculously opened the doors (given the strict qualifications), and we are seeking to serve and follow Him in every aspect of our lives... so here we are on the journey!

Thank you to those who have "Joined the Journey!!"

What a blessing last night was to us!!! It was so neat to see so many come out to "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless!!" What an encouragement to our family!
We cannot and do not want to be in this journey on our own! Thank you to those of you who have joined our journey whether it is through prayer, financial support, offering your services, helping raise awareness, fill a "chinese food box" with coins to "change an orphan's life, bought/sold lollipops... whatever you have done and will continue to do, it is needed and so very much appreciated!
I think what I love the most is just seeing so many young kids do what they can to help!!! One boy shared that they were wanting to run a lemonade stand... a group of girls were putting together a list of things they wanted to make and sell... others wanted to help sell lollipops and bracelets! I love seeing children get the heart of Jesus!! It is no wonder that He said, "Let the little children come..."
Thank you again! We are encouraged by everyone on the journey with us!!

Can We Do This?

My heart is so heavy right now, and I am tired of the tears! This has definitely been one of the most difficult things we have ever done!!!
I find myself getting to the unrational place of, "I can't do this anymore!!!!" It is when I come to this place that the struggle truly begins...How can we not fight for our daughter? How can we not beg for help? How can we not advocate for the millions of orphans around the world that need the unconditional love of a family in order to comprehend the unconditional love of the Father!!! WE HAVE TO!!!
I knew this journey would not be easy, but in the midst of it all, it is hard to keep our eyes focused on the goal!

To my future daughter,
 I WILL continue to fight for you!!! I WILL work as hard as I can to bring you home!! You are worth it!!! You are unconditionally loved already and we pray daily for you!!! I long for the day I can hold you in my arms and pour out my love on you!!! You are precious to us and we love you so much!!!

With love,
Your mommy :-)

As my sister recently shared with me... our adoption in Christ was the most difficult thing our Heavenly Father did!! It came at a HUGE price!!! The Father sacrificed His own Son in order that we might be called Children of God!!!
Our adoption for this little girl will not be an easy road, it certainly hasn't been thus far!!! There is a huge cost...physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually... but we will continue to fight in order to bring her home!!