Why Adopt?

People often wonder why Michael and I would choose to adopt when we have so many biological children. There are so many children in this world who are going without the love of a mother and father and the security of a stable home environment. We feel it is our calling to provide for at least one of those children through adoption.

Adoption is a natural choice for us since I was a birth mother as a teenager. I placed my infant son with a family through a semi-open adoption. I am excited to be on the other end of the situation and be able to now help a mother in need.

Our Progress in the Adoption Process

As of June 19, 2010, we have the written homestudy report in our hands and are researching adoption grants to help finance the adoption. We are preparing our documents for the Ethiopian government, but can't proceed much further without the first half of the Ethiopian program fee (roughly $6,000).


Timeframe from now until we bring our daughter home: Our personal goal is to bring our daughter home by the Fall of 2013.

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4/2/10

Uncertain Future

Mike and I were sad to learn yesterday that they did indeed pass new laws concerning adoptions from Ethiopia. They now require both parents to travel to Ethiopia two times to complete the adoption. In some circumstances (which they have not yet outlined), an escort with power of attorney may be able to take the place of one of the parents.

Even with the escort, one of us would have to go to Africa and we would be paying for two tickets, two times. A quick look at Delta on random dates shows the price to be $1,956 per ticket. Times that by four and you can easily see the new financial burden placed on my family.

We are undecided about what steps to take next. Other programs offer lighter travel requirements, but with four children already in the home it is hard for our family to qualify for those programs.

I just received an message that international adoption is not for sissies. Isn't that the truth! I wouldn't wish this emotional turmoil on my worst enemy.

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