10 Things I've Learned About Adoption

There are tens of MILLIONS of orphans in the world. Most will never have a family, but every year about 15,000-18,000 children are brought home from oversees orphanages or foster homes.

There are lots of misunderstandings and even myths about adoption.

We adopted a child from Russia a few years back. Since then, I've taken a lot of questions from friends interested in bringing an orpahn into their family. The adoption maze can be daunting.

I offer these tips to those who are considering it:

1. It is a long process
2. It is an unpredictable process
3. It is an expensive process
4. It will be memorable process, even if it is hard a lot of the time
5. It requires flexibility
6. It requires patience
7. It requires prayer (even if you don’t believe, you’ll pray sooner or later in the process)
8. It allows you to meet new people (at adoption agencies, at the police station, at state offices, at travel agencies)
9. It will be a story you like to tell, and will never tire of telling
10. People care and want to be involved

I hope you'll consider adopting a child who has no hope, who needs you.