Considering Adoption?

Are you considering adoption? Wonderful!
Here is some very helpful advice that we've gleaned throughout our experience that we're happy to pass on to you:

1. How to Choose an Adoption Agency or Provider
 {go here for a list of agencies that have been denied HAGUE accreditation}

2. Read "Adopted for Life" by Russell Moore

3.  Reach out to families in your church/community who have adopted 
    (Every journey is different, but a family that has been through it all before is a great resource to you- don't let their knowledge and experience go to waste!) 

4. Get to know other families who are also in the process of adopting.
     I was honestly a bit hesitant to reach out to make "new friends" with total strangers when we have so many awesome, supportive friends already. But, thankfully the Lord knew better, and lead us to connect with a couple in our city who started the adoption process right around the same time we did with the same agency. We were all new to the whole adoption world, but over the two plus years of walking through the ups & downs of the adoption process together they have become very dear friends of ours. Having another mom to talk to who understood the emotional rollercoaster I was feeling was so comforting to me. We took turns crying with one another, spurring one another on and pointing one another to truth in the midst of trials (and we have both encountered many trials). Don't feel like you need to walk the journey alone, the Christian life is one meant to be lived out in community with other believers.