Our adoption story began before we were married! Growing up, I (Carson), remember being fascinated and almost in awe of adoption at a young age. Throughout childhood, God had put adoption in front of me through a variety of ways and people. I often remember having a curious wonder and interest in the nature of adoption, and how someone that is not biologically related can truly become a part of a family. In college, adoption took on new meaning for both Grace and I, as we both came to understand adoption as an incredible picture of what God has done on behalf of His people through Christ (Ephesians 1:5).
Although our appreciation of adoption was deepening over the last decade for us both, the conversation regrading adoption began early in our engagement season. We agreed that maybe in the distant future, there would be a time for us pursue adoption together. Although the conversation died down the first two years of marriage, the thought was in and out of our minds, and two years ago, the idea of adoption began to resurface for us as an option for our family. Then, this past summer (2024), Grace and I were able to take our 7 year sabbatical giving us several weeks to reflect over the last few years of our lives, to pray, and to look forward with God toward the future. During these weeks, the conversation about adoption really began to take a turn. We read about adoption, we prayed, and we even dreamed together, and toward the end of the several weeks, we believed that we should begin taking steps in this direction. Throughout the fall, we began to meet with different organizations, speak with counsel, learn about the need for adoptive families, and pray and dream about this journey. Steadily, we became more and more excited, and eventually, we came to a place where we were convinced that this is our path forward!
This February, we were accepted into the Thailand program through the agency we had been in contact with from the summer called Holt International. Our hope is that we could be a family for one child or a sibling set of 2 children between the ages of 2-10. We are grateful to get to step into this journey and hopeful for whatever God has in store!
The estimated cost for our international adoption ranges form $35,000–$51,000 for two children. This includes foreign program fees, agency fees, travel expenses, visas, etc. Although this seems like a mountain financially to climb, we are excited to walk with God through this process. Our goal is to raise $16,000. We hope to apply for adoption grants after the homestudy process is complete. However, this fundraising goal would help us cover the first two agency fees and the costs to complete an international adoption home study.
We know that we can't walk this journey alone! We will need to lean into our family, our friends and our community for many types of support: prayer, counsel, and encouragement! Grace and I have already been so blessed by the encouragement, support and generosity of so many people throughout our lives already, and we will be grateful however people are led to come alongside us and our future child(ren) during this journey.
We ask that you would join with us in this journey by praying for Grace & I and our future family! Our confidence is in our heavenly Father who pursued us, when we were far from Him, and brought us into His own family & kingdom. And now, although our family is far apart in the world, we are trusting in His plan to bring our family together!
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." - Ephesians 1:4-6
