The Philippines!!!

Many people have asked where we are going to adopt from. We were so unclear as to the direction God wanted us to go...we heard another couple tell of their adoption experience and they too could not decide so they went two different routes...

The first route, of course, was domestic adoption. We have put our names in with my OB doctor here in town as well as with everyone we know...counselors, pastors, etc who may know of someone who wants to give up their baby for private adoption. Essentially, this mother would choose us to adopt her baby and we would go through the legal process together. We would not have to go through the foster care system (which I just don't think I could handle emotionally!) and it could be finalized fairly quickly. That is one option.

The second option is international adoption. We had narrowed the countries down to three: China, South Korea, and the Philippines. All we had heard about over and over and felt drawn to them in some way. Through someone we know we found our agency, Lifelink, and met with a caseworker. All three of these countries are options through Lifelink. However, we were told China is up to a 5 year wait and we took that as our answer that China was out for us (we liked China because of the almost certainty that we would get a very young girl). South Korea was a possibility, but it seemed very certain that we would get a boy. So, the Philippines struck us as the best choice for our family. I had seen several different things on TV about orphans in the Philippines as well as other things and now know God was slowly leading us in this direction.

At this time, we are taking both routes...which ever pans out first is the way we will go. We are confident God will lead our family to the child that is perfectly meant for us whether that be here in the USA or the Philippines!