We are Adopting & More About Our “Why” Behind the Scenes

After much care, consideration, and many conversations with family and friends who’ve gone before us, we have made the decision to pursue a private, domestic adoption. This decision does not come lightly, as we know there are many risks and layers of relational complication that come with adoption. We are blessed to be in the position to even have the option to say “yes” in this way. 

What This Means for Us 

In the coming weeks & months, we are taking all necessary steps to get ourselves and our home licensed and available to accept an adoption placement of a baby from anywhere in the USA. This will include working with an agency we have chosen that matches our values. They will work with us to license our home, get to know us & what adoption situations we would be able to take on & be open to. And eventually, they will help us create a connection with a birth mom or birth parents who choose us to raise their child.

Why Adoption? Thoughts From Meredith’s Perspective                        

                                     (Pictured: Meredith serving at the crisis pregnancy center Dec 2018) 

After many years of involvement at the local pregnancy center, the love for babies & mamas has been imprinted on my heart. Paralleled along with that is the obvious need for individuals to step in the gap where brokenness exists. There is an undeniable need for families to support moms beyond the time of birth when they choose life & choose to keep their pregnancy. I have been privileged to walk that journey with one mom who I will not name, but will honor by saying this: When she had every reason and every person around her telling her to abort, she kept her baby. We remained friends for many years after the baby was born & walked through a lot of the early challenges in parenting together. She and her family have since moved but still share with us that they have no regrets looking back & send photos of the once “baby” now thriving. 

However, we know not all stories go that way. Sometimes it is not possible for the parents to raise their children and parent them. We have sat on the sidelines and watched as many families we know have taken the steps to adopt, or foster children. Conversations we had even early on in our dating years included topics like foster care and adoption. Whether temporarily or permanently, it has always been in our plan to bring children into our home who need a safe and loving family. 

                (Photo of Meredith & Dear Friend, Nina, Serving at Pregnancy Center Together in 2019)

The reality is that there are moms who need help & there will always be a need for babies to have safe homes. As Jake, my husband, so clearly puts it, we have a home with empty bedrooms & a capacity to love children and provide them a safe, caring home. We know that we are sitting on a landmine of blessings. We take comfort in knowing we have salvation through Christ and have been adopted into His family. Just as believers are adopted into God’s family, Earthly adoption reflects the redemptive love of Christ and brings healing and new beginnings. If we had to put our “why” into something very concise, it would look something like this:

• WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD WHEN IT SAYS WE ARE ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY 

• WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD WHEN HE INSTRUCTS US TO CARE FOR ORPHANS AND WIDOWS, AND THE LEAST OF THESE 

• WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD WHEN IT SAYS THAT THOSE WHO MOURN AND GRIEVE WILL BE COMFORTED 

• WE BELIEVE THE LORD WHEN HE SAYS HE WILL INSTRUCT US, TEACH US, GUIDE US, LOVE US, AND EQUIP US FOR THE SAKE OF HIS GOSPEL

• WE BELIEVE THE LORD WILL USE US TO BRING HIS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF IF HE CHOOSES 

• WE BELIEVE GOD CAN MULTIPLY OUR “YES” 

• WE BELIEVE HE IS COMING BACK AGAIN & EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT A SEED THAT WILL POINT TO HIM MATTERS

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

We know adoption is messy and hard. We have heard one warning after another from people saying “just wait until” as a way of trying to safeguard us from the brokenness that is a part of adoption. And YET, we know God is working. God gives us clear direction in His Word for how to love, when to obey, and promises to equip us. We have seen all of this through His Word and answered prayers. When it has felt like logic got left at the doorway into this situation, our faith and answered prayers have carried us. I have shared more about those answered prayers, and how we knew the doorway to adoption was opening for us here. 

He created life. He loves all of His people…and calls them Children. Even the mamas. We pray our adoption journey will give us the opportunity to show a birth mama the love of Jesus one day soon. 

For His Glory, 

Meredith