| My wife and I have been trying to get pregnant for | | | | boy.) As I've contemplated it further, however, I |
| the past 3 years of our marriage. We actually got | | | | sincerely believe I could love an adopted child just the |
| pregnant 9 months ago, but my wife miscarried. If | | | | same. Love is more a committment of the heart |
| there's any consolation, at least we know that we're | | | | than a mystical feeling of oneness. Additionally the |
| not infertile. We are now just trying and praying to | | | | knowledge that I "rescued" this child would provide |
| God. In this process, we've contemplated adoption. | | | | some great feelings in the process. Maybe I'd even |
| As we've considered adopting a child, I've stumbled | | | | think of myself as a hero! |
| over 3 primary concerns: money, love, and process. | | | | A third issue I've dealt with while contemplating |
| I'll go into these in greater detail. Please keep in mind | | | | adoption is a fear of the drawn out process. I |
| that these are only my first thoughts on adoption as | | | | regularly hear about horror stories of the time and |
| a possible parent. I haven't yet done enough | | | | money required to adopt a child. An acquaintance |
| research. | | | | even experienced an ordeal where there was a risk |
| Financially, we are tight. We are still trying to get | | | | the birth mother could take the child back into |
| ourselves out of the financial hole due to very bad | | | | custody six months later. I'd want to be sure of the |
| spending habits during the start of our marriage. I | | | | outcome before starting the necessary steps. I also |
| was wanting to wait to have children, but my wife | | | | read of occasions of adoptive parents traveling to |
| gently reminded me that having a child while tight | | | | foreign countries to receive a child with only the |
| financially is of more value than not having a child | | | | expense being a plane ticket. Is it really so simple? |
| while having a little extra spending cash. Children beat | | | | I haven't researched adoption adequately to know |
| out money. (At least they should.) We're happy to | | | | the facts about these money, love, and process |
| make the sacrifice. Although this state of mind is just | | | | concerns. Well, I have figured out I will love |
| fine for bearing your own kids, I'll bet that an | | | | whatever child with whom God chooses to bless us. |
| adoption agency has stricter financial standards for | | | | This article is just the first step in my desire to |
| who they accept. Not to mention the adopting fees. | | | | understand these issues. I have set up a website |
| As of now, I don't think we can afford adoption. | | | | where I plan to receive the written experiences of |
| When the subject of adoption first was mentioned | | | | others considering adoption or adoptive parents. You |
| between us, I didn't give it much consideration. My | | | | are invited to submit an article too. You don't have to |
| heart has always been firm on having my own | | | | be an expert-I'm not! You don't need to be an |
| children from my own seed. I've always fancied that | | | | accomplished writer. Your experience on the topic is |
| part of the love I'd have for my child would be the | | | | highly valued. |
| knowledge that he is from me. (Yes, I'm hoping for a | | | | |