After much prayer, our family has trusted the Lord in pursuing adoption through a local adoption agency, Hope Adoption, in Cookeville! We both believe that it is a beautiful example of our adoption into Christ's family.
We are not guaranteed a "yes" but we know that through this journey, the Lord will be working in and growing us to trust and depend more on Him every day. Our hope is that He will be glorified through it all! Our hearts are open and our home is ready! Our girls are excited to welcome another precious sibling into this home, Lord willing!
We are asking for two things! The first is prayer! Please be praying for our family as we embark on this journey into the unknown and please also be praying for the momma and daddy of the baby that we pray the Lord has set aside for us. I know that the road will not be easy and the decision to grow life and then entrust it to someone else is one of the hardest decisions to make.
The second is… money! I'm sure that isn't a shock. Adoption is not cheap. It should be much more affordable. I have wrestled with asking this because it's hard to ask others for things. Pride. Now enter humility. I have been humbled and I know that I need to trust the Lord in this. I know that right now, things are tight for everyone, including our family.
We don't expect money but we humbly ask that if the Lord has placed it on your heart to help us, we will be eternally grateful. We are saving up for our pre-placement fee ($3000) just to get started with the agency. We were gifted $1500 which covered our homestudy fee and intial application, praise the Lord! Thankfully, the agency we are using allows for a reduced placement fee schedule that is contingent upon our family's gross income. So, while most adoptions are at least $40,000, ours should be around $16,000. Still significant but not impossible!
I just want to leave y'all with this: thank you! Whether it be for your prayers or your funds, we are thankful that we can ask this! Your prayers mean so much to our family!! We hope to be able to open our home and be the safe space that so many children deserve but do not have unfortunately. I also want to say again that we are humbled. We are not a perfect family but we serve a perfect God. He makes things happen just by saying a word and we know that He can do this if HE wants. We are submitted to His sovereign hand. Trusting Him at all times, Michael & Chelsey
