When people learn that we are in the adoption process, one of the first questions they often ask is, "Where from?"

The short answer is that we are adopting from somewhere in the United States (also known as domestic adoption).

But there's much more to the story.

When Bryan and I were first getting to know one another, we both expressed a strong desire to adopt someday.  I can't speak for Bryan, but I know that I always imagined adopting internationally.  I knew a number of families who had adopted children from overseas, and I thought it was so incredible to see these children taken from orphanages and placed into loving families.  After spending a summer at a baby shelter in South Africa, I could so clearly imagine myself bringing home one of those little ones someday.

But that all changed when a young mom placed her newborn son in our arms.  As you may have noticed on our Adoption Timeline, we had the unique opportunity to love on a precious baby boy for 11 days last summer.  We thought he was to be our son, but God had other plans for him.

Those 11 days opened my heart to the idea of domestic adoption.  We recognized the need for families willing to open their hearts not only to a baby, but also to a birth family.  In the past year, we have had the privilege of getting to know several women in crisis situations, and although they did not choose to place their babies with us, we are thankful for the opportunity we had to get to know them, to learn from them, and to love and serve them through a tough season.


As we were researching domestic adoption last summer, we also realized the need for adoptive parents open to babies of any race.  Did you know that only 14% of couples adopting domestically are willing to consider an African American infant?  We were stunned by this statistic and hoped that our openness to a child of any race would make a difference. 

So there you have it...Part 1 of our FAQ series!  Do you have a question you've been dying to ask?  Leave us a comment and you might be featured in an upcoming post!  :)
jean ketchum
5/14/2013 03:25:04 am

Funny I always looked for my adoption papers.
why I thought adopted child would be mistreated I don't know. I just knew a birth child would be treated better. I was not adopted after all. Just born into the wrong family. good luck with your attempt to adopt a baby. Grandma Jean

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Maria
5/14/2013 11:57:25 pm

Wow, that is a surprising statistic. Is there any research or information on why that is the case?

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Samantha
5/15/2013 03:46:47 am

I've looked into it, and it seems that most people are simply concerned about what others will think. They realize that there will be additional challenges involved in raising a child who looks very different from them. I know a lot of adoptive families are also intimidated by the care and styling of black hair.

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5/15/2013 07:49:08 am

Is one or the other more difficult?

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Samantha
5/15/2013 08:10:09 am

Do you mean domestic adoption vs. international adoption?

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