FAQs 2

I'm addressing some very very common questions that we get asked in order to help people understand us, adoption terminology and such. This will be the second FAQ post. Before the adoptive families out there think I forgot all our education, I wanted to clarify that I'm writing the questions exactly like they are phrased to me.
3. Do you know anything about his real parents? Actually, we do know intimate detail because we are their real parents ;) You see, being real is exactly what we do everyday as a family. We play, read, go to school, do homework, take care of sick kids, pay lots of bills, pray for the children to grow up into mighty warriors for Jesus, and so forth. I know, what you really meant was do we know anything about their birthparents? We've decided that kind of info is personal and for the children to take ownership of when they are ready.
4. Why is it so expensive to adopt? This is a good one. There is so much more to adoption that just taking in a child who needs a home. You must complete very detailed background investigations, including federal and local fingerprinting, a homestudy(which is a family study really), the agencies have very detailed laws to abide by and complete large volumes of paperwork for each family. I've been to Korea twice and can certainly understand the need for funds. The children must be taken care of, and many are never adopted but need care for the rest of their lives. Dillon International's sister agency is Korea does the most amazing job of caring for so many children.
There are free and very inexpensive adoption choices too. Child Protective Services is in great need of loving, committed homes for foster chidren and many older children who are available for adoption now. There is an estimated 200,000 children in the US foster system. The state will pay all adoption expenses for most of these cases.
4. How did you afford to adopt? I'm not going to sugar coat and say it was easy. Basically, we made a decision many years ago that having family was more important than having stuff, a lare retirement account, and money. We try to be good stewards of our resources, we tithe faithfully, we drive old cars, we don't own a lot of expensive possesions. I'm not saying we have it all together, we certainly have our share of struggles with overspending and things like medical bills that we didn't predict. God has blessed us and helped provide exactly what we need. We chose to liquidate some resources, we took out personal loans and paid them back quickly. The federal tax credit for adoption expenses is 11,400. So, with our tax refunds,and scraping by with the monthly payments, we've managed to pay our loans fairly quickly. Sometimes I think how we could have a nicer home, a nicer car, far less bills to pay, and life would be much easier, but I don't want easy! I want a life that really counts.
In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says(in red, so it must be important!) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Robert Morris in his book on finances "The Blessed Life" states
"How you handle money reveals volumes about your priorities, loyalties, and affections. In fact, it directly dictates many of the blessings you will(or won't) experience in life."

Well, drat, I don't want to be a hypocrite. After my money discourse, I'd feel awfully guilty about going to Old Navy for some cute spring clothes. Think I'll just stay home and mop my dirty floor!!