We're adopting! Why?

I have always dreamed of adopting internationally, ever since I was a child. I thought it'd be something neat to do, but never fully realized the complete need for it until a few years ago... I truly believe God has always put it on my heart to do this and it's something Michael and I talked about doing before we were even married and before we had our own children. It was sort of just a dream for awhile, but became a more active thought after the birth of our son, Aydan. We found out that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant again, and if by some crazy chance I did, I'd have too many health complications for myself and the baby, that it would be best to not even try... That broke my heart, as we've always wanted a large family, and I've always seen us with 4 or 5 children... So, through God's guidance and direction, we've decided to make that dream of adoption become a reality...


Just a warning - this may sound completely crazy and I'm sure many of you won't believe it, and believe me! I almost didn't either as time went on and began doubting it. Thankfully I wrote it all down as it happened, well knowing that Satan would put all these doubts in my head, trying to make me believe it didn't happen... On June 28, 2010, I had a dream, and in my dream I was singing praises to God. I woke up with a Chris Tomlin song in my head, at 12:09am and laid there thinking about how great it was to wake up with a great Christian song in my head, even though I was tired and it was just after midnight! As I continued laying there, wide awake, out of nowhere, I heard God speak to me, saying word for word "Great things are going to happen to you." Of course, knowing me, who is extremely impatient, didn't reply with "Wow! Really?" or something more "holy" or whatever, I replied with a simple "When??" His response was "Just wait." To which I almost had to laugh, because it was like a little joke He was trying to play on me. He knows I hate waiting, but I'm sure that was part of His plan - to teach me patience! I finally fell back asleep and woke up with part of a song stuck in my head:

"I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do."

As time went on, I thought day in and day out about what happened and what great things God could be talking about. I started feeling "God nudges", as our pastor calls them, and they started occurring almost daily. Before too long, these nudges began changing into something more like shoves... I began having all sorts of dreams and lots of "god-incidences" began happening. Eventually, I opened up to Michael about it all, and found out he'd been having the same types of nudges and "god-incidences".... About what? Nothing other than international adoption!

We began praying and actively thinking about it. I began researching and getting excited about the possibility. Lots of my research just confirmed how we definitely need to do it. Did you know that there are more than 143 MILLION orphans throughout the world? And those are only the ones accounted for! It breaks my heart to think of how many unloved and unwanted children there are out there, when I'm here, desperately wanting one and loving them, even without knowing them! Did you know that with almost every breath you take, one orphan child dies from lack of nutrition, water, and most importantly, love?

But as I began researching adoption agencies and saw just how much it would cost us (international adoption averages 25-35 thousand dollars!!), I began having doubts. How would we afford it? Michael's job certainly doesn't pay THAT well! But as we continued praying about it, we felt God telling us that if this was His plan, He was going to open all the right doors and make it happen and provide for us... So we're trusting Him completely, like it says in Philippians 4:19, God will supply all our needs for this!

Anyway, this blog was created by us so everyone, near and far, can keep up with our adoption journey! It will be a long drawn out process, and averages out to take at least 18 months from start to finish, usually even longer. We won't be able to start most of the process until April, when I turn 25, as most countries to adopt from have a minimum age of 25...


Please pray for us during this journey!
Love in Christ,
Amanda


Here's a video that really touches my heart and explains a little why we are doing this.


True Religion from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.