As we’re ramping up for the Christmas season and just coming off of Thanksgiving, I’ve seen a trend on social media that I’ve been LOVING. Amidst a year of trials, struggles, and frustrations some people have been sharing the good that 2020 has brought. For us, 2020 will be memorable for many reasons (as I’m sure it will be for you), but we will always be able to look back on 2020 as the year we began the journey to fulfill our dream of becoming parents through adoption! So, in the spirit of counting our blessings this season, we wanted to share a few ways the Lord has already shown His kindness to us in our journey of pursuing adoption:
- I (Mackenzie) spent several months researching adoption law, ethical agencies, and “what to expect” when pursuing domestic infant adoption before we “officially” began this process. Throughout that time, there was one agency that stuck in my mind as the one I wanted most to work with. I knew they were highly sought after which could create a challenge when it came to applying and being accepted as a hopeful adoptive family. However, much to our surprise, our application was quickly processed, and less than 2 weeks from our initial inquiry, we were approved to contract with our top choice agency! They’ve been SO helpful and informative and we’re incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work with them.
- Right around the time we “decided” we’d pursue adoption as the first means to grow our family, a potential “second job” was presented to me. I knew we’d need to be intentional in our saving as we prepared for the costs of domestic infant adoption, so I looked into the opportunity. The Lord “opened the door,” and now I have the great privilege of cleaning for a sweet “senior saint” every Tuesday night. Not only does this allow us to save extra money for our adoption, but it also gave me a new, 90-year-old friend and a Tuesday night filled with hearing his incredible life stories.
- We were given a free pack-n-play with a bassinet attachment from a friend who recently moved. This was SUCH a relief because now, if we are presented with a “Stork Drop” situation (when a baby is already born and an agency is looking to immediately place the child with a family), we’d have something to use as a make-shift crib if our nursery is not yet complete at the time our baby comes home.
- Back in September we were able to take an impromptu trip to visit our dear friends in New York who have served as mentors to us in this process! They adopted their first child and have walked this road before us which makes them amazing encouragers as we face the long road to adoption.
- One day, as Josiah and I were standing in Hobby Lobby purchasing supplies for our Ornament Fundraiser, I received a call from a random number. Normally, I don’t pick up calls from numbers I don’t know, but for some reason, I did this time. It was a woman who ran an event called “Gifts that Give Back” which allows people to support local businesses while also supporting charities, ministries, and an adoptive family. Someone passed our story along to her and we were chosen as the adoptive family to be supported this year! Unfortunately, COVID “cancelled” the event, but this kind woman has still continued to find ways to support us.
- Last, but certainly not least…YOU! If you’re reading this post, YOU are an incredible blessing to Josiah and I. We have been showered with more support, kind words, and generosity than we ever anticipated. This has only confirmed that we have the most incredible people in our lives and baby Smith will have the very best community around them.
These are just a few of the many blessings we could count as we have been planning and preparing for our baby these past several months. We’re so excited to one day share these blessings with our little one as we teach them about God’s faithfulness and provision. Even before they’ve made their arrival on this earth, God is blessing them (and us) abundantly. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Adopting First 