We have BIG news!
We are adopting a child!
We are beyond excited and are doing everything we can to be prepared to welcome a beautiful new life into our home. As part of our adoption process, we have started a crowdfunding campaign. It may surprise you to hear that adoption-related costs can easily total up to $35,000 or more. This is why we have set a goal of [insert amount] to help ease the financial burden that often overwhelms adoptive parents.
Here is the story that lead us to make this decision.
Our adoption story starts with our childhood. Life was great for both of us as we were raised in Christian families, involved in our church families, and enjoying a wonderful childhood. Except for Valerie who at age three was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Diamond Black Fan Syndrome. This caused my body to have blood anemia and a few genetic issues. At birth, I was born with a hole in my heart where it did not belong. At age three I had open-heart surgery to repair it. The rest of my childhood continued with blood tests and steroid medication which led me to live a very healthy young life. I continued on with my Christian education through college where I fell in love…or at least I thought I did. My ex-husband and I got married and after three years of marriage, we decided to try and get pregnant. These first three years were not easy for us, so we decided to move out of state for a new start. Once settled in our life in Vermont we decided to try and figure out why we were not pregnant yet. After a visit to my primary care doctor, an abnormal hormone test, and an appointment at the infertility specialist, I was told the news that would change my life forever, that I am not able to have biological children . After walking out of my appointment stunned and feeling like the world around me was falling apart, I slowly went into recovery mode. My lifetime dreams of becoming a mom were being ripped from me and there was nothing I could do. The next few years continued to be challenging as my Ex and I learned to cope with the news. I turned to God and dove deeper into my faith becoming a stronger woman in Christ. After three different Christian counselors, a year of me living in a lonely and loveless marriage my EX husband abanded me. My parents rescued me, moved me home, and helped me rebuild my life. God blessed me with an easy divorce and lots of family and friends who surrounded me with love and my life started to turn around.
While Val struggled to keep her head afloat and her dreams of a family alive, Ethan became a homeowner at age 18, focused on his work, and continued to pray that God would bless him with a wife and family. The journey was long and hard for both of us, but God finally brought our paths together. All it took was one short message on the Christian mingle dating app and it was love at first sight. We have been married for a year and feel very blessed to have found each other and long to have a family. This began our decision to answer God's call to adopt a child. We have chosen Bethany Christian Services as our agency and have applied for domestic infant adoption. And even though we have tightened our budget, eliminated all unnecessary expenses, and vacations we still need to raise $35,000 to make our dreams come true. Only Our Lord and Savior can move mountains….and we know he will. Therefore, we are asking our friends and families to help.
Pray, Pray and Pray…we need lots of prayers to make our dream a reality. Check our page often for updates and specific ways to pray.
Please consider donating to our cause. You can donate here on our adopt together page, and through fundraising events. Check your mailboxes and inboxes for more information.
Please Help our dreams come true…. together our God will move a mountain!
Ethan and Valerie Niemeyer…..Dad and Mom-to-be!
We hope that by inviting you into this process, you will see yourself as part of the community we hope to build around our child as he/she grows up.
