How did we get here?

When I was young, I remember my parents sitting down my siblings and I and telling us that they were going to pursue adoption through the foster care system. They believed that God had called them to provide a home to a child that did not have a home and to share the love of Christ with them. Fast forward to now, and from a secular perspective our adoption would be considered a “failure.” It was not all rainbows, butterflies, and lovey times and there is still a lot of trauma from wounds that were inflicted.  While attending a Christian university we often heard so many students say “I am called to adopt”, “I have a heart for the orphans”, I can’t wait to save a child” and I would think in my head- you have no idea what you are talking about and roll my eyes. Matthew and I had resolved that this “calling” was for other people. However, the Lord does not leave us to bitterness or to sin (Duet 31:6). We soon became members of a church that prioritized widow and orphan care and we were being mentored by two families that were living that out. They were supported by the church, they were provided for, and on hard day people did not blame them for the way their children acted, they were not isolated, instead they were told that God was reconstructing their family in a holy way. That God’s mercies renew with each day and that God’s plan has not faltered. God showed me that my family did NOT experience a failed adoption but a reconstruction of our family that was in a part of his sovereign design and ultimately brought him glory. As the Holy Spirit worked on our hearts we realized that James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world,” is not a spiritual gift or calling for some but a commandment for all. Wow! Are we so thankful for the Lord conviction and grace as he drew us to this truth!

So about every 6 months of our marriage, we would ask ourselves “How can we be serving and being obedient to this commandment?” Depending on the season of our lives that took many different forms. Sometimes it was taking meals to families, providing babysitting or respite, giving financially, spending time with kids who had been adopted, and walking alongside others who were adopting. However, March 2018 when we asked ourselves and prayed that question again we felt the Lord leading us to adopt and grow our family further. Through the counseling of agencies and dear friends we felt the best fit for our family was an international adoption. I am so excited to tell you we are adopting from Colombia!!! Over the summer we completed our homestudy and we are now applying to immigration. Once we get the approval from them we will be sending our Dossier to Colombia through Holt International.

When Colombia receives our information it will be translated and they will match us with an orphan boy younger than age 3 with minor medical conditions. We have said that if they find a boy that age with siblings that we would love to consider them because they do not separate them ❤ (which if we think about it too much we get a little nervous but also excited!!) If you would like to know more about orphans in Colombia their are multiple websites that describe the aftermath of the decades of guerilla warfare and how it has left the country in a devastating place and I would encourage you to read them 🙂 I think it is also important to know that our organization partners with others to help provide family preservation assistance, care for orphans aging out, and international adoption is a last option for a child after rights have been severed and they have been up for adoption for a period of time in their own country. While waiting to be adopted orphans live in group homes and are cared for by group home/dorm parents.

I can’t wait to post again when we have received confirmation from immigration!!! Thanks for following us along in our journey and praying for us. Our church is graciously supporting us as we endeavor on this journey and they have set up and account for us so that we will not have to provide any overhead costs and your total donation will go to our adoption fees. They have created a website that lists our specific prayer requests and our financial needs please click on the link if you feel led to pray or give to our family. http://www.gracewaco.com/bixleradoption/