A Family’s Decision to Adopt, Part 2

October 28, 2009 by admin
Filed under: Family

Guest Blogger: Jo Franklin

Why did we make the decision to adopt? It boils down to the belief I have that God is the Creator of the family. He designed our family to look the way it does and He put me and Tim together for a specific purpose. He blessed us with two wonderful boys and has a purpose for both of them. Now, we believe He is calling us to travel to the other side of the world in search of a daughter He has designed for our family. God calls believers to take care of orphans and widows in James 1:27. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” Tim and I both feel strongly that God is calling us to open our hearts and home to a child who has no family. He has given us a love for a baby whose skin will look different than ours. We know our daughter will be a blessing to our family as we hope to bless her, and we long for the day she is with us.

The Adoption Process:
For us, the process started in May when we mailed in our application to the adoption agency we chose, America World. For the next three months, we met with our social worker three times to complete our home study. We also worked on gathering all of the important documents we needed to complete our dossier, a packet of papers to be sent to the Ethiopian government. After a few more months of waiting for all of the paperwork to be complete and notarized, we sent in our dossier to our agency. Now we will wait possibly 9 to 11 months to receive a referral. The referral will include a picture of a child along with some information about the child that has been matched with our family. After accepting the referral, we will have a court date in Ethiopia; however, we do not have to be present for that court date. If we pass court, we will plan to travel about a month later to Africa to meet our daughter and bring her home.

Somewhere across the world in the country of Ethiopia, a little girl will be born or has been born, and through God’s grace and providence she will make it into our arms someday soon. I know the road ahead is long and will not be easy. But I also know God will lead us and provide everything we need to bring our daughter home.

A fundraiser is being held to help the Franklin Family with the cost of the adoption. Go to our Store page for more information on how the proceeds of your stationary purchase will help.