Who? What? Where? When? How?

Answering Your Adoption Questions

After announcing my adoption, I was flooded with questions from friends and family.  Thank you all so much for your love, concern, and interest.  Here are some of the questions I have received, and the best answers I can give right now.

Where are you in the process now?

I am in the very beginning stages of the process.  I have spoken with IBESR (Social Services in Haiti) as well as a number of hospitals and orphanages.  Before I can dive deeper into this process, there are two things I need to do.

1-Fundraise (I am in need of both one-time gifts and monthly sponsors)

2-Move.  I absolutely LOVE my current house…but it isn’t a situation that would work for a family.  I am currently looking to rent a home closer to the Kids Alive campus.

Once I have finished fundraising and moving, I will be able to continue in pursuing the adoption.

What children will you adopt?

I don’t know yet.  I won’t know for a while.

How many children will you adopt?

I am praying for two.  I know it will not be easy for a child to be adopted by an American mom in Haiti.  I think the kids would really benefit from having another person who is “in their shoes,” walking the journey with them.  Someone who understands them on a level that even I can’t.  A partner, playmate, and sister.  That’s my reasoning behind praying for two…but I’m leaving it up to God and trusting that His judgement is better than mine!

How old will these children be?

I would love to have young school-age children (two-and-a-half or older) because it would mean I could continue teaching as I am now.  However, there is a very real possibility that they could be babies.  Whatever daughters the Lord gives me, I will embrace them with arms wide open.

Is the adoption through Kids Alive?

No.  Although I am working very closely with my bosses at Kids Alive, they are supporting me through the adoption, but not orchestrating it.  The kids that live at the Kids Alive Children’s Village are not adopted out of the ministry.  Once kids come to us at Kids Alive, they are not orphans anymore.  With us, they find homes, families, mothers, fathers, and siblings.  My adoption will be separate from Kids Alive.

Do you have a timeline?  When will the kids come to you?

That is entirely dependent on how long it takes me to fundraise and move.  If I am able to raise funds quickly and settle into a new house in the near future, the process will be shorter than if those things take a long time.  Once those two things are complete, I may have a better idea of how long the rest of the process will take.

Will you continue teaching at Kids Alive?

I love teaching kindergarten and I would love to continue teaching.  Of course I will be taking some time off when the girls first come to me (forming attachment after adopting is crucial to both parents and kids).  After that “maternity leave,” I hope to continue teaching kindergarten, but only if my girls are school-age.  If God gives me babies, I will continue to work at the Kids Alive school, but my role may temporarily change to one with a more flexible schedule that would allow me to both care for my children and impact the lives of the Kids Alive kids that I love.