Our adoption story begins...

Once upon a time there was a little boy and a little girl...just joking. I won't be that cheesy.

When John and I were dating we had many important conversations - you know the type - the conversations that help you to both know that you are on the same path in this journey called life. One of the things that we discussed was, of course, children. It's good to know that if you want kids, the person you want to marry does too. Otherwise it will be a problem. (ya think?) We both had thought before that we would like to have children if the Lord allows, but that in addition to that, we would also like to adopt. So begins the journey.

Well, we married, finished college at Texas A&M(yes, we got married while still in school), moved to Pensacola, FL. to do youth ministry, gave birth to Justin, moved to Jackson, MS. for seminary, gave birth to Kevin, and then Jason, then left Jackson to head back to Texas to work for RUF at Texas A&M. Within a span of five years, almost to the day, we rolled back into to the town we left college from, this time with three bouncing baby boys in tow, ages almost 4, almost 2, and 5 months. Gig'em Ags.

During those years away, we had not forgotten our desire to adopt "someday", but in the midst of having babies, it was put on the back burner. It wasn't until I became pregnant with Jason and had my usual,lovely and "easy" (read dripping with sarcasm) pregnancy, that I asked John and the Lord, "After this one, can I be done?". My doctor confirmed, and it was then that the adoption option came to the forefront again. We wanted more children, but nobody wanted me to have to carry them.

Once settled in our new job and home, and our youngest with a couple of years under his belt, we begin to talk more about the logistics of adopting, ie. "can we do this?". I explored all sorts adoption possibilities. We had seen ourselves doing international adoption, but the cost was prohibitive. We looked into private domestic adoption - still too high.*

*Side note - the cost is high because of all that is involved in the process without any other organization shouldering the burden of the expense, for example the state. What we didn't know at the time was that the cost involved in international and domestic private adoptions is spread out over a period of time - several years in some cases. So when an agency says plan on spending $20,000-$30,000, that's not just one check. We didn't know this, but I believe that was God's directing us to His specific plan for our family. For that we are thankful.

With international and private domestic adoptions checked off as "not an option", that left the foster care system of Texas. Scary.

The end. I know, that was mean.

Check back later for the next installment.