Over the following days, we planned out scenarios on how we would rearrange the house and talked about other adjustments we would need to make if we were to take in this child. We also began looking into beginning the foster parent process. Our answer was yes, we have room in our hearts and home for more. However, because we lived in county different from our relative, we were not an option for placement.
This event made something real for me: children are growing up without fathers, without families, without a place of belonging. And from this, I believe God drew my heart toward the fatherless.
In addition, Gaby and I were both becoming more aware of global issues like poverty, orphans, trafficking, and we also learned about people making a difference in these arenas. Gaby read No Longer a Slumdog; I read (listened to) Revolution in World Missions, we met several families from our church who had adopted and were adopting. All of this, combined with our desire to expand our family, got us thinking about adoption.
To be honest, I think Gaby was sold on the idea to adopt before I was. I took a little longer to find my resolve to interrupt our comfortable lives and enter into the overwhelming adoption journey. But I remember the day it came. I was working out at the gym listening to my iPod and Just Another Birthday by Casting Crowns came on. The opening lyrics struck me:
Blowing out candles and making wishes
And all around me
Is everyone but the one I'm wishing for
And he sent me flowers
And gift-wrapped excuses
From a daddy whose daughter
Wants to see him again
And I know, I know
It's just another birthday
But I guess I thought
This would be the one
When he would call me, see me
Hold me and free me
But it's just another birthday…"
https://www.castingcrowns.com/music/lyrics/just-another-birthday