How loss can bring joy…
We discussed adoption even before we were married. We were going to adopt a little girl. And then, we had a biological son within days of our 1st wedding anniversary.
Life happened. After we were blessed with our incredible son, we experienced loss after loss. After our fourth miscarriage, we came to the realization that God had different plans for us. While we grieved for the idea we had, we were found joy in the hope of adoption.
We are beyond excited and have completed our approved home study! We’re so thrilled to provide a home and add to our family for the little one God has for us.
As part of our adoption process, we started a crowdfunding campaign. It may surprise you to know adoption-related costs can range from $40,000-$60,000. This is why we have set a goal of $35,000 to ease the financial burden that can overwhelm adoptive parents.
We hope by inviting you to this process, you will see yourself as part of this journey to bring home baby hunt.
Much love,
Jake & Corrine
When we entered into the idea of adoption, we had this blissful idea of it. Maybe we thought it would be beauty and sunshine and rainbows, and some of it has been. But, to be honest, it is a challenging process. For me (Corrine) it has been very faith-testing. It has challenged many of our plans and initial ideas.
This past week was a breaking point, of a sort. I shared with a friend, that I was beginning to doubt this was the plan for us. "Maybe we take this money and put it toward someone else's adoption". The seemingly insurmountable financial requirements and the challenge of our little guy struggling with this change have been heavy on my heart.
I've been so grateful for adoption mamas who have been so transparent with me and shared their stories, their hearts, and how this is a very typical part of the process. This week after sharing those thoughts above with a friend, we hit a turning point....a great turning point.
Our little guy started speaking more positively about adoption. Even discussing the names of his potential sibling! We got to have a long talk about reasons for adoption and how sometimes the biological family can't or chooses not to raise a child, but instead allows someone else to love and raise it. He, being a highly emotionally intelligent child, teared up and ran to me sharing that was the saddest thing he had ever heard. I was able to then share "but WE will be their family. WE will love them. WE will care for them." We even got to talk about new "extended" family if the biological family would like an open adoption and how someday if the baby wants to find their biological family, we would help them all along the way.
Yall, it was so life-giving me to. It just reinforces over and over and over again the adoption we receive through Jesus Christ. We are fellow heirs. We have equal standing, just as this baby has equal standing, regardless of biology, race, gender, condition, medical requirements, etc. We are all God's children with different cultures, strengths, weaknesses and giftings to be embraced.
We also received word from an Adoption Grant we submitted for. We have received a matching grant of $6,500!!! So, dollar for dollar, they will match the $6,500. THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!! And the timing is just continued confirmation for us!
We love you all and feel the love for our family. I just don't have the words.
Thank you to the prayer warriors for us! Prayer is tangibly felt at times. We KNOW you are praying for us. We can FEEL it. Please continue to pray. We have felt spiritual attack as we progress further in this. But we will continue to resist and speak the truth of the Gospel into our home, our family, in our life, and over this precious baby and its family.
Love you all,
Corrine
Here we are in a waiting pattern…
Truth be told, it’s hard. We’ve got a home, a room, a crib even…but we wait.
It takes funds to move forward and we are saving as we can, we’re blessed by so much generosity from others and we’re looking into grants. We KNOW God is faithful! He works in the impossible. We KNOW if this is His plan, nothing will get in the way. We’re so grateful for the prayers from everyone. They are powerful!
We’re looking into grants this week. Please pray for the transition for our biological child, as he is struggling a bit. Pray for Jake and I for patience as we wait for God’s timing and His best. Pray for the feelings that are involved in this.
We love you all,
Jake and Corrine
