I do intend to do some catching up on the blog here in the coming weeks...really! But, in the meantime thought I'd share a GREAT blog post about the cost of adoption. For those that are curious and I know we were when we first began to move past the praying-about-it stage into the serious-research stage - seven years ago this month! WOW! Can't believe it's been seven years already.
And as a side note - we also firmly believe that doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. So if you feel a tugging at your heart in the area of adoption - pray, pray and pray some more. Ask your spouse to pray with you until God gives you both the same answer. With our first, we thought about it and decided if we and others felt alright about taking out a loan for a house, a car or some home improvements...why not an adoption trip?! So, we did and were able to take our 2 boys with us to China the first time. Yeah...we paid on that for a long while and yeah...I wish we would have figured out (or perhaps waited on the Lord!) for another way. But, I am so very glad they went along and gladly make those payments. :)
For Ren's adoption God gave us gifts - large gifts anonymously in the mail. We also received gifts from family and friends and we applied for and received a LARGE grant for our adoption. Sometimes God calls us to adopt and other times He calls us to help others through the process. God provided every penny of the fees and travel for her adoption. Talk about a faith builder! With this adoption God has used our dependency upon Him to confirm His plans to grow our family in this way and remind us that not only will He supply all of our needs financially - but in regards to energy, patience, wisdom and sanity! (Phil 4:19)
We have noticed that each step we take...He provides. We have prayed and prayed and prayed about this and are thrilled to be on a new and exciting adoption journey! We have worked hard at having a huge yard sale which was a kick-off for fundraising. We've sold necklaces and continued to sell items around our house and those that others have donated. We've sold lots of curriculum - and all has gone into our adoption fund. We are working on our budget and saving where we can. And, once again, God has used friends and family to bless us with financial donations. And here we are...home study is almost complete (and paid for!) and we are about to send in our application to our placing agency. One of the HUGE benefits we have going for us (and anyone who is interested in adoption right now) is a $13,000 adoption tax refund. Used to be that we could collect - over a period of 5 years the amount of adoption fees that we had paid...all according to how much we had paid in-for taxes. But, at least for this year and next year - it isn't about how much we pay in - it is a tax refund of just over $13,000 to pay back adoption fees regardless of how much we've paid into taxes. That is HUGE! It's the one and only thing we feel that Obama has done to actually help us out!
So...don't let the cost of adoption discourage you...pray about it - research grants and adoption loans. And see what God will do! He designed adoption! (Eph 1:5) He values life. (Ps. 139:13) He longs to set the lonely in families. (Ps. 68:6)
You're right - God provides for every need when you follow His leading. He will prove Himself faithful; that's what I remind myself when I start to worry or wonder about the expenses with adoption.
The adoption tax credit is a wonderful thing! I have also read that you can claim the $1000 child tax credit for your new child after everything is finalized. We also have the benefit of (possibly) being able to get a military adoption credit which makes it nice (works out that we only pay about $4000 out of pocket) though you do have to pay first, get the reimbursement later.
Posted by: Rebekah | Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 08:02 AM