The Story of Our Adoption Part 2: Starting the process

Journey with Nikowa and her family as she shares with us her path through adoption.

Since we initially wanted to have our own baby, that’s what our hearts were set on– having an infant. We also knew that we wanted a girl, since we already have 2 boys. So we researched the internet and found a local private agency that specializes in open adoptions. This is where the entire adoption process is open to all parties involved, the birth mother and the adoptive parents. Most especially the child is made aware from the start.

We anxiously attended the agency’s free weekend seminar and was eager to begin the process. But after seeing the cost, we struggled for months with how we’d afford it. With this particular agency, they have a sliding scale fee schedule according to your annual salary. This adoption would actually cost twice what our new car did! After much prayer, we decided that this just wasn’t the path that we were supposed to take.

But we still wanted a daughter. So we then prayed about our other options.

Lord what do you want us to do? I know that it was Your Will for me to not have any more children from my own womb, are we not meant to have more than the 2 boys? Lord please show us the path that we’re supposed to be on. You know that we desire more children, but if that’s not what You have planned for us, so be it.

We continued on with life, continued praying and watched for “signs” of His answers. (We’re true believers of signs.) We soon got notice from our homeschooling group that they were holding an informational adoption seminar. “WOW“, we thought, “we’ll attend this meeting and see what happens“.

The meeting went wonderfully. There were about 4 families there with quiverfulls and ironically we were the only ones that showed up that wanted more information. It was like the class was specifically for us! What a sign! We went home very encouraged and hopeful.

Our hearts began to feel burdened for children that need a home. We started to see more of those “help the children” commercials on t.v. We’d see on the news about children being taken from their parents or abandoned.

I hear you Lord. We will feel the need that is already there in our community. We want to help.

Not long after that, we contacted our local Department of Family and Children Services to submit an inquiry. We just wanted information on the process of adopting through them. After all, Kevin was out of work at the time; surely they wouldn’t consider us in this situation at the moment! I got a call back that they were having a class in a few months and that we could attend, but because I submitted an inquiry they had to put us in the system within 30 days. We immediately started getting up all of our required paperwork for background checks, physicals and preparing our home for the home study.

We knew that we wanted our daughter to be younger than our youngest…so we decided 6 years old and younger, also so I could homeschool from the start. We purchased drawer and cabinet locks, made sure all of our pets shot records were updated, and even bought a fire extinguisher! Also, slowly we’ve been buying “a little here, a little there” on sale, at yard sales, borrowing, and taking people’s hand-me-downs. We have everything from infant formula to booster seats all read– waiting for her.

Over the summer we took our required classes (and even infant/child CPR). We were given several websites and a book to view currently waiting children that are in the system. During the class, they explained that you’ll have an epiphany moment when you see “the one”. You’ll be looking through and you’ll catch your breath when you see the child. We were so excited to start looking!

Nikowa has been homeschooling since 2007. With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, and reading. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.

Tags: adoption, adoption costs, adoption journey, christian living, homeschooling, prayer, surrendering to God's plan

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