International Adoption VS. Adoption from the Foster System

I’ve had a lot of people ask me lately about our foster adoption of Kaden Vs. our international adoptions of Aleigha and Mya from Guatemala. I am not sure if this is what you are looking for- but it is truly what I believe.

I have to be honest and say that we feel that both experiences were equally amazing... because they both resulted in our children coming home.

I think sometimes people get an idea in their head or a stereo type of one program verses the other. It’s almost as if some feel one is better or worse than the other. The truth is- they both rock. A child needing a family is a child needing a family- whether they are in your home town or across the world.

I could go on and on about the similarities and the differences between adopting out of the foster system and adopting international. But honestly, what matters most is that you follow where God leads you personally. Period.

He will call some of us to Africa and some of us to China. He will call some of us to the US foster system, some of us to older children and some of us to special needs. He will call some of us to boys and some of us to sibling groups. They are all His children- and they all matter to him- a lot.

Sometimes you will just be a better fit for one program or another. God already knows that- it’s a part of His plan. If he called us all to Guatemala then who would take the kids from Russia? If he called us all to adopt older children- then who would take the babies? Sometimes we just have to learn to hear and trust His plans.

Every persons individual journey will be different- and I can almost promise you that none of them will always be smooth. We have had to pick our hearts up off the floor more than once. We endured long waits (2 years +). We’ve lost referrals and felt like our hearts had been ripped out. We have had children come into our home whom we believed were forever- and it was not to be. Beside them we’ve faced disease and we’ve faced past abuse.

Trust me, there was pain involved- and a lot of it.

We’ve faced tragedy and triumph, we’ve lost money and we've wasted some time- and we have grown through it all.

Was it easy?

NO WAY.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

It was worth every single heart ache, every single tear and every single minute.

You and I both know there are no guarantees in life. None of us make it through without scars. We have no guarantees with biological children- and none with adopted children.

Life in general is a risk- because when we step out of our comfort zones- there is a chance we could fail. If we fail or if we fall, there will be pain.

And sometimes the fear of that pain keeps us stranded- afraid to move.

Yet without taking that risk- are we really living?

As I look back over my life and all of the risks we have taken- some ended up working out and some ended us up in a place we never wanted to be…

Yet through it all God was there by our side, holding us- knowing that we knew He was always worth the risk.

Each one of these precious childrens lives- whether they come from Guatemala, Africa, China, or the United States are our future.

They are our greatest gifts- our greatest treasures- so we must invest into them our time, our strength, our energy- our lives. They are worth the risk.

So if God has given you a heart for adoption, pick up the phone and find your way.

Take a chance.

Invest yourself in the life of someone else. Ask God to lead you to your child. Don’t be afraid to really live- because through you, a child to will have a chance really live also.

You won’t be sorry, I promise.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves... speak up and judge fairly. Proverbs 31:8-9

P.S I apologize for the crazy font on this post- no clue why it's doing this.