This is one of the questions we've had most lately. Our answer is pretty simple- timing.
While it may sound un-romantic, we know it really isn't! Shawn and I have known for a long time that we would adopt- and honestly we both thought it would be from China. We have both been to China (Shawn twice, me four times) and experienced the orphanages there- held those children, played with them and hoped for them. I'm sure that our visits there were where God first stirred both our hearts for the orphan.
An image from my 2009 China trip.
Since then China's regulations have changed on international adoption- and not only do you have to be 30 to even apply (just one of the many requirements), but the process can take 6+ years currently. Once we applied with AWAA and were accepted, we were interested in two programs- China and Ethiopia. Knowing the timelines for a "healthy baby" from China were quite long, we were willing to look into the Waiting Child program. However, Shawn just turned 30 last week and it would be another 6 months before I would be 29 1/2, and therefore able to apply. The intake director at the agency asked if we'd be interested in Ethiopia- we were a perfect fit for the program.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia (and Africa in general) was become a frequent subject in our lives- and we didn't even realize it. My cousin and his wife adopted a precious little girl from Uganda last year. One of our first employees at the store is Eritrean (Ethiopia's neighboring country). My parents were meeting Ethiopian exchange students in my hometown. Some of our friends adopted their sweet baby girl from Ethiopia. (I photographed them HERE.) The day after we applied I texted Shawn this image from Starbucks:
Haha, so that may just be a LITERAL sign on the wall. :)
When it came down to decision-time, one thing mattered. The timing. We didn't expect to have a year like we did last year. I thought I'd be having another baby this month or next. We just had to trust that God had us exactly where we needed to be (ready for another child, but without one)- and that IT WAS TIME. That meant that I wasn't 29 1/2 yet, so China was out of the picture. And that Ethiopia was wide open.
I have doubted the decision- worrying that we made it too simply- that we didn't have the faith or the patience to wait for China. But just days in I can't deny that God has shown us in so many ways that this is right.
The biggest way, by far, is the support of our friends and family. We have been absolutely amazed and overwhelmed by the number of people willing to buy a bracelet, share our story on Facebook, or send us a donation. You all have been the perfect picture of God's faithfulness to us, and we are so thankful.
I joke that I've cried more in the past week than I did the past year- but they are all tears of joy.
As always, I am constantly updating our Adoption Page with new things that are going on. I can't wait to see the amazing things God does in us and through us while we wait!
