Why adoption? Why not? People choose to adopt for a variety of reasons. For us, the decision to adopt was just a natural and simple fit with where our life as a family is at this time. From the beginning, we had always planned on having two children. Originally we had planned on having two children a couple years apart from each other, whether they were born into our family or adopted. Adoption was always something that we have been open to and it has always been on the table as a possibility, if and when the right child came along. After the birth of our biological daughter, Abigail, the time flew by like a whirlwind. Once those first two years were up, our family was busier than ever. Rhonda had gone back to school full time to become a nurse and I was often on the road travelling for work. Before we knew it, those two years turned into four, then six, then seven, etc. We still wanted to have two children but weren’t crazy about the idea of starting over with diapers, night feedings, etc. Also, we really wanted Abigail to have a sibling who was within 2-3 years of her own age so that could have a companion as well as someone to look after as a big sister. It seemed like adoption could be just the right fit for us at this point. Around 2016 we began looking at the different routes to adoption. We attended the orientation for the Texas Foster program and considered that route as a possibility. We ultimately decided that it probably wasn’t the best fit for us, although we hadn’t completely ruled it out.
Towards the end of 2017, I was browsing my Facebook feed when I came across a photo of the sweetest little boy with the caption “Not sure why this little guy hasn’t been adopted, other than his family hasn’t found him yet!” Our good friend Amy Stanley and her wonderful husband Chris had recently adopted an amazing little boy from China who had been classified as having special needs. Her family’s love and dedication to this little boy was both heartwarming and inspirational. Their joy was contagious. After adopting their son, Amy became a huge advocate for adoption in general and especially for those children with special needs. Amy regularly posted photos and links to children who were currently up for adoption, and this little guy hooked us immediately. I showed his picture to Rhonda and said, “I think I just found Abigail’s little brother.” She took one look at his photo, immediately melted, and said, “Let’s do it.”
That was in November 2017. Fifteen months and more paperwork and bureaucracy than I ever imagined humanly possible later, we are now a matter of weeks from traveling to China to pick up our son Bin, and completing our family.
Bin is a sweet, intelligent, happy six year old boy who has spent his entire life in an orphanage in the Yunnan Province of China. He was apparently abandoned at a government office when he was around a week or two old by his biological parents. According to his medical reports, he has normal physical and mental development for a boy his age. However, Bin has limb differences on his hands and feet that have landed him in the special needs category. By all accounts though, these differences have not slowed him down a bit. From the photos and videos we’ve seen, he can wield a pair of chopsticks better than I could ever hope to with a lifetime of practice.
We are beyond excited to finally arrive at the place where we are about to step on that plane and fly halfway around the world to bring this sweet little boy into our family. Over the many months of the adoption process our love and excitement has grown in the same way it did while Rhonda was pregnant with Abigail. We are so grateful that Bin has come to us, and at just the right time for our family. On adoption day, the intersection of Bin’s life with that of our family is one that will result in a monumental change in all of our lives. We are committed to that change being the most positive one for all of us.
Lastly, I would like to encourage anyone who has ever thought about or considered adoption to look into it and give it serious thought. There are thousands of children around the world who need and deserve a loving family and a forever home. If you have the space in your heart and a place in your home, I encourage you to learn more and consider this option for your own family. Our family is more than happy to answer any questions you may have, direct you to adoption resources, and support you as you consider the possibility of this journey on your own.
