I felt the strong urge to re-start our adoption journey. I've spent a whole bunch of time doing research on the Internet.
I know it's because another cycle is drawing to a close -- it's Peak +12 today. I just can't take any more disappointment and I need something else to focus on.
My heart is telling me that our child is waiting in South Korea or the Philippines, but both countries don't seem to be doing infant adoption.
Where do we start? Advice? Tips?
I have to surrender more control and that scares me even more.
----------------------------
Update: After my post this morning (don't worry, my class was in the library taking out books, I was by myself, I wasn't blogging while I should've been teaching) I saw the word adoption everywhere. The clincher was while I was teaching Religion. We've been discussing a family that's expecting a new baby and the dad happens to be adopted. We were reading over the things that we've learned so far and the second question was about adoption. Talk about signs!
Mr. JB said that he's ready too. He would love to adopt from Haiti. He's been saying that since the earthquake. God bless my ever-patient husband!
I would recommend starting by making a chart of all the countries that do foreign adoption and list the costs, wait times, requirements, etc. That's what I did when my husband and I were researching international adoption. Then I began searching out agencies based on what we wanted...like I wanted to use a Christian agency. I read about and talked to several. Of course, ultimately we made the decision to go with domestic adoption, but if we change our minds later I pretty much know what agency I will choose. By making the chart it helped us make a logical decision as opposed to an emotional one. I hope you share more as you do more research!
ReplyDeleteI would never have brought this up, because YOU KNOW how I feel about other people asking/pushing a couple into adoption when IT IS A CALLING, PEOPLE!!! But I can't explain it... something has been eating away at me thinking that your child is out there just waiting for you to hear the call and go through the process ;) I am ECSTATIC to read this post today :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteAs for where to start... NO IDEA!! I never ventured into international adoption, but I would say a pretty good place to start is in prayerful discernment. I'll help with the prayer part ;)
LOVE YOU!!!
I am soooooooo happy, just like TCIE reading this. Its a calling from God and He will provide. I can attest to the fact that its a path filled with fears, but also wonder, spiritual strenght and many many signs.
ReplyDeleteAnytime I need to find anything of course the one to call is St Anthony! I will pray to him for helping you find the way, the information, the right persons. Your son/ daughter is somewhere I am sure!
Friends adopted a baby boy in Cambodia. Prayers for you!
ReplyDelete! I have a link on my sidebar under "adoption" about a special Lisa Ling did on Chinese adoption. Maybe you're not called to adopt from there, but it has a good overview about what it's like for couples to go overseas to adopt a baby. So excited for you as you begin your research!
ReplyDeleteMaybe your baby is of that decent, but in Canada? Perhaps private adoption here(because you are both teachers and devout Christians domestic adoption is a strong option).
ReplyDeleteIvf.ca has a group for those interested in adoption and a whole lot of knowledge/support there.
And if your interested I can email you my neighbours email adress again, they are still on the public adoption wait list, but they also know a lot about international adoption as they have nerves adopted internationally.
That's nieces, ot nerves....
ReplyDeleteAnd I just read TCIEs comment, and I completely agree with her.
ReplyDeleteI will say a prayer for you! I know myself how difficult the adoption process can be.
ReplyDeleteI would put a call into an agency or check out their websites. They usually can give you a list of where to start and other important information as you navigate this new journey.
Thanks again for the book. Looks like a good read and whenever I meet up with someone who is dealing with IF as a Catholic..I will pass on that book. :)
Go with your heart, the Lord will lead you where He wants you. If its international infant adoption that interests you, Colombia is what stood out/ still stands out to DH and me. Best wishes as you begin this journey!
ReplyDeleteUmm, I am SO excited for you!! I am not sure what advice to give as I too would love to adopt internationally someday, but there's a lot "out there" to consider. Dh and I discussed Colombia off and on for awhile since his family is from Bogota, but it's my understanding that you often wait 3+ years for a placement there. And seriously, IF already demands so much difficult waiting, not sure if I'd recommend going an adoption route that requires so much waiting too.
ReplyDeleteAnother country I've considered (but never even come close to making a leap towards haha) is Russia (my stepmom, a social worker, helped many families successfully adopt little ones from Russia). China - my understanding is it's getting harder to adopt from there? - is another locale that caught my eye.
This is so exciting to hear! I can't wait to see where the Lord leads you.
ReplyDeleteI'M SO EXCITED!!!! Start meeting with agencies, whether in person or by phone or we even did some teleconference thing once. Just get as much real info as you can, from the agencies themselves. We looked into so many agencies, countries, etc. before we ended up with our agency and doing domestic. There's no better way to discern than by jumping in head first. Well, of course there's prayer but I'm sure you're doing that! Ask God to open doors for you to lead you to your baby. Adoption is such a unique journey with twists and turns and open and closed doors. When it's finally the right agency, country, child, things will fall into place. That being said, I started the process when I wasn't even sure I was ready yet. God worked on my heart and here we are a few years later. I'm praying for you!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I have any advice but you can bet I'm sending extra prayers your way!! Follow that heart of yours--God is calling you!
ReplyDeleteSorry no advice, but praying for you & Mr. JB
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Praying as always!
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting to hear this from you! I'm so excited for you...totally thrilled and rejoicing! I truly believe it is a calling :)
ReplyDeleteWe originally filled out our paperwork for the Philippians but had to change plans...US govt put out a travel warning at the time for Americans. There was a Muslim terrorist activities. We changed course and ended up in South Korea :)
Just so excited for your discernment and journey ahead.
ReplyDeleteWe are right here with you for whatever you need...our prayers, ideas, support, whatever.
Can't.wait.to.see.your.research.and.calling.
get on it girl!
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting! Maybe we can do pride training together ! I will send you a link to a documentary about Haitian adoption.
ReplyDeleteYou are in Canada, right? I think that domestic adoption works differently up there than in the US. We adopted domestically in the US. You are right though- most international adoption is not of infants now. I have heard that you can adopt infants from Taiwan- here is a link to the agency that does this: http://www.hishandstaiwan.org/ee/index.html
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to a blog of a couple who is currently adopting an infant from Taiwan: http://expectingablessing.blogspot.com/
We did not use this agency since we adopted domestically so I cannot personally vouch for them, but they are the only ones I've heard of doing international adoption of infants. That doesn't mean that there aren't others- that's just all I've heard of.
I am excited for you, JB! I do not have much advice on international adoption but I can share with you that being on the adoption journey with my husband has strengthened our marriage so much. The paperwork and classes and interviews can be overwhelming but we have learned to look forward to every aspect of the experience. Being open to life either through adoption or conceiving is such a wonderful feeling....God is writing the story for you right now :)
ReplyDeleteI have no advice and no suggestions - only lots of prayers!!!
ReplyDelete(And I LOVE TCIE's comment!)
I am def praying for you!!! And excited to see where this will lead!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you! We thought about South Korea - it was high on our list because we lived there for two years, they have foster care for orphans, and babies as young as 9 months can be adopted.
ReplyDeletePraying for you as you start figuring out what path is right for you!
I'm SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been praying for you and a few other ladies daily by name and hoped that God would call one of your hearts to be open to adoption ... and low and behold I read this!?!?!?! :-) I have a huge smile on my face today! A new door is opening and there is so much possibility. I have no advice on international adoption ... maybe Danya would? I'm trying to think of who else has adopted internationally that I read their blog. Anyway ... long comment ... rambling ... but just SO.EXCITED.FOR.YOU!!! :-)
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