We have some exciting news to share with you! After much prayer, thought, and discussion, we have decided to grow our family through the avenue of adoption!
For those who do not know our story, here is a little glimpse into our journey. Mike & I met in April 2008 at Brainerd Golf Course. We dated for many years, and were (finally!) engaged in July 2014. I soon went back to school to pursue a career in nursing. With one year of nursing school to go, in June 2016, we were married at the Old Courthouse in Knoxville, TN. It was the happiest day of my life thus far! Soon after that, we decided to begin trying to start a family.
After over a year of trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, we decided to seek medical testing and help. I took a fertility medication for the next 5 months, with no positive results. At that point, our options became more invasive and expensive medical/surgical treatments. We have chosen not to go that route; but instead, we feel called to provide ourselves as parents to a child who would not otherwise know a safe and loving home.
We are beyond excited and doing everything we can to welcome a beautiful new life into our home. Adoption is, however, an expensive endeavor. According to americanadoptions.com, the average cost of adoption in the US is $38,000-$48,000. We will do whatever we need to do to raise this money. Along with my full-time job as an RN in surgery, I will be taking extra call shifts (nights & weekends); and Mike has recently started a new job and career path that will hopefully bring an increase in his income. We also plan to host some fundraisers, as well as applying for grants and loans.
We have also started THIS crowdfunding page for friends and family to make tax-deductible donations to the non-profit organization Adopt Together, which will be designated specifically to our adoption. Any and all donations we receive would mean the world to us! If you are not able to give financially, we understand, and ask that you keep us and our future little one in your prayers as we go through this process.
Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and generosity. We are blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives!
