Dear Friends and Family,
We are thrilled to share the joyous news that we have been blessed with a baby boy!
Please welcome Weston Zion to our family. Born at 6lbs 13 oz, he is the newest addition to our lives, and we are forever grateful to God for this blessing.
We officially started the process by choosing an agency, starting paperwork and the home study phase about 18 months ago, but only entered the ‘matching’ phase where birth families can begin seeing our ‘adoption profile’ to potentially choose us to parent their child, a couple months ago now.
A little over a week ago, our agency informed us of a ‘birth profile’ on Sunday night of a baby boy that was born that day, a couple states away. In under 24 hours, they had selected us to be their child’s adopted parents and we dropped everything and drove through the night to meet both our new son and both of his birth parents. A whirlwind to say the least!
Adoption holds a special place in our hearts, as I, Justin, was adopted as an infant. Now, we're blessed to be part of a second-generation adoption story. Our journey has been a long one, filled with deep faith and patience, as we waited to be matched. Amanda, despite battling Chronic Lymes disease for over a decade, has been a pillar of strength and resilience.
We must express our profound respect and admiration for Weston's birth parents. They have shown immense love and selflessness by placing Weston in our care—an act that we hold in the highest regard. Their decision wasn't about "giving up" but rather about "making an adoption plan"—a thoughtful choice made with Weston's best interest in mind. It is a testament to their courage and love that we are privileged to share an open adoption with them, giving Weston the chance to know them as part of his extended family.
As we rejoice in the addition of Weston, we are also mindful of the complexities of adoption. It's a path that comes with financial, emotional, and legal considerations. In the United States, the average total cost for infant adoption can be significant.
Recent stats show an average of $41,532.
As we prepare to move to a more family-friendly home in Durham amidst unexpected challenges like flooding and HVAC repairs, we have been asked by many about how they can support us.
We are humbled by your care and would appreciate any help towards defraying the adoption costs. For those who wish to contribute, you can do so through this tax-deductible option here through the non-profit whose tools we are using to create this page, AdoptTogether.
We also understand that not everyone can provide financial assistance, and we want you to know that your prayers, love, and support mean the world to us. Even if no one were to donate anything, we are committed to making it work over time because every hardship and every joy on this journey has brought us closer to Weston.
In our eyes, this adoption is a reflection of how God adopts us into his family. We are all image bearers of God, and Weston's life story is a testament to that. This announcement is not just about us becoming parents but also about honoring the love and bravery of Weston's birth parents, and cherishing the divine love that has brought us all together.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to sharing more of Weston's story with you as he grows and we navigate this beautiful journey together.
With love and gratitude,
Justin and Amanda
