There are a lot of decisions in adoption.
It starts with the decision to adopt.
Then we had to decide if we would be adopting internationally or domestically.
As I told Nathan emphatically one day "I want a BABY"
So, for us, we went with domestic.
Then you have to decide if you want to go with a private adoption agency, or the state foster system.
We went with an agency (though in other exciting news, Nathan's cousin is adopting too, through the state system...so we are taking the same journey through different paths).
Then we had to pick an agency.
This was a lot more in depth than we thought. There's philosophical differences to consider like, the agency's view of helping the birth mom with living expenses, how to negotiate open or semi-open adoption, and the best way to handle the inbetween phase once the birth mom leaves the hospital.
Well, after weighing all the options, we went with our initial reaction and general comfort level. As Nathan put it...I can't put my finger on it...I just keep coming back to (the certain) agency. After over 6 years of marriage, I am so thankful that we both have similar internal processes for making decisions.
So now we begin the paperwork. And praying that the Lord will provide financially. He's done it in the past and we're trusting that He will see us through this too. But I have to tell you, it's shocking how much adoption can cost.
And as we are making these choices, I know that somewhere out there our birth mother will be making some choices of her own...the choice to make an adoption plan, the choice of which adoption agency to go with, and finally choosing us.
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