Carson Family Adoption Story
With our only child preparing to graduate high school and plans for college already in the works, we were staring at an empty nest in the making. After trying unsuccessfully to have children we became interested in adoption. Dear friends of ours adopted two children, siblings age 4 and 6, and this encouraged us to explore the adoption option for ourselves.
We began researching adoption on the internet and kept hearing about home studies. We contacted a social worker and an attorney and signed up for orientation. In November 2001, we put together an autobiography, a home study, and the necessary paperwork was finished by December 15th . We had prepared ourselves that it would probably be a year or two before we would get our little baby boy or girl. However, God had other plans! To our great surprise, in April of 2002 we got a call about Savanna. Her parents were 20 and 21 and had changed their mind while sitting in an abortion clinic. They wanted a Christian family to adopt their daughter, and chose us over numerous other candidates. We felt blessed and grateful!
The birth parents requested a meeting with us, and we are so glad we accepted. It brought us closer together and when the time came for Savanna's birth they requested us to remain with them during the labor and delivery. There was a small complication with the birth that made Savanna have to stay in ICU for one week, which allowed us more time to get to know the birth parents. We had a great relationship with them, thanking them for their courage and gift of love.
When Savanna was one and a half years old we wanted a brother or sister for her to be able to play with. When we applied a second time for adoption we were told it would be harder since we now already had a baby. So once again, we prepared ourselves for a lengthy waiting period. However, six months later, in May 2004 on a Sunday morning we received a call that a baby girl was born. The social worker grabbed our home study and drove to the hospital to present it along with a few others to the birth mother. The birth mother did not choose our dossier, but another baby was born that day, a little boy. When presented with choices of dossiers this time we were chosen and Ian became Savanna and Michael's little brother.
God took us from a totally self-absorbed fast paced life style and changed our hearts. He changed what was important to us. Now it is about Christ and His glory. Jeff and I are both so different now. It is amazing how much love our family has for one another and for Christ.
We would absolutely recommend adoption to other families. There are so many children that need Godly loving homes. You will be a blessing and in returned be blessed! May God bless you and give you wisdom in this decision of a lifetime. The bumper sticker on our car reads, "Adoption -- a choice you can both live with." Might you be a means of grace that Christ uses when he said "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly."