Why adoption?

“In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4–6

“…but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” Romans 8:15–17

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Our family has been richly blessed by two wonderful children already. We would most likely be able to conceive a third child. Seemingly, it would be far easier to give birth to a child than to adopt. So, you might wonder why we are adopting. It has a lot to do with our Christian faith. We have prayed and truly feel as though God is leading us in this direction. For me (Melissa), adoption is something that has always interested me. I remember hearing about and being touched by stories of adoption when I was very young and deciding then that I wanted to adopt or help with adoption when I grew up. It was an idea that Daniel & I discussed while we were dating, getting married, and planning for children. For me, it was about God’s timing and how His plan is perfect.

Adoption is a physical act of a spiritual reality. By deliberately choosing to adopt a child that is most likely fatherless, hopeless, and helpless; we reflect our God who chose to rescue us from our hopelessness and helplessness. By recognizing and embracing that non-biological children can be part of a family as true sons and daughters reflects our God who adopted us into His family as "sons and daughters". Russell Moore puts it in his book Adopted for Life, "Adoption is part of the gospel."

Through adoption, God gives us the chance to teach our children that loving others is not only more pleasing to Him, but eventually more satisfying than pleasing self. Through adoption we are able to "lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth" and to show this principle to our children as well. It is a wonderful plan for bringing the “fatherless” and “orphans” into a loving family. A forever family where they can not only belong physically, but also where they can learn how to be adopted into our Heavenly Father’s family! We feel the best possible home for a child needing a family is in a home where God is put first and the child is raised to know Him. We feel blessed that we can adopt and that God is giving us this option and giving us to this child and we get to care for him/her. Children are a gift from God no matter where they came from!

Currently about 6,000 children in the Texas foster care system that need permanent, loving forever homes. There are over 143 million orphans in the world. While we know we are not able to help them all, we are able to at least help one find a forever home. Please pray for us as we embark on this journey!