No Day Like Today

It makes sense to say we took a big step today. Dove right in. Took a plunge. Cliche, cliche, cliche. Truth of the matter is, the step we took today is a small one in our long journey. It's certainly not the first step, but I made a little vow to myself that the day I did this would be the day I'd take it all public.

Today...today is indeed worth remembering. We sent out our application to CHI (Christian House International) to adopt an infant from Ethiopia. Wow. I said it. I wrote it. It's out there. (At least once I click on "Publish Post" it will be.)

Here's an excerpt from our application to YWAM (Youth with a Mission), answering the question, "Why do you want to adopt a child from Ethiopia?"

Oh, how much we’ve reflected on this question, even before opening this application! We wish we could say it’s always been on both our hearts to adopt from Ethiopia specifically, and that we’ve never had any doubts. But, this just isn’t so. God wanted to teach us so much about Him and each other by not making the decision so easy!

I don’t know why God has touched my heart to want to adopt internationally, but it has always been a desire of mine. I have researched foster-to-adopt, private domestic adoption, and international adoption. I simply feel a passion for international adoption that the other options do not give me. For all practical purposes, international adoption does not make as much sense to our lives as much as domestic adoption...God is calling us to trust him for financial provision and cultural support for our child.

Many people ask us why we are adopting prior to trying in-vitro fertilization, and it has been quite a process to understand this ourselves. We have always agreed that someday we would adopt; initially, we decided it would be after having biological children together. Upon reflection and prayer, we have come to realize that our mindset was one of pride. If God had allowed us to follow our plan, we would have adopted a child with the mindset that we are their heroes; the adoption would be about bringing glory and honor to us. Recently, it has been revealed to us that our family will be complete when we adopt. We are adopting from Ethiopia to have a family and love a child, rather than giving ourselves a pat on the back.


For more information about the adoption program we chose, here is the website for YWAM Ethiopia: www.ywamethiopia.com.

We hope you keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue this journey!