{journey} to our daughter

We are so excited to share our journey of adoption to our daughter.

This journey began in May of 2009 after I {Carlee} took a trip to Thailand in efforts to fight Human Trafficking. It became clear to both Chris and I, that our 4th child was to be through adoption. After two more trips to Thailand to help fight Human Trafficking as well as trips to an orphanage, our ability to adopt from Thailand was stopped due to the strict Thai governments rules and regulations. Our hearts were broken for these children, and the heartache continued as those doors were slammed shut.

Within weeks of learning a Thai adoption was impossible, a friend of ours told us about children in Zambia, Africa.

In the coming days and weeks, God made it very clear that this was His route to our little girl.

During the summer of 2010, we began gathering any information we could on Zambian adoptions, there was little to be found. Early in September we found a private homestudy agency here in Seattle, Wa and have since been going hard after our 'babies'.

Yes, babies...
God has revealed to us over this time that he would like us to be prepared that he may ask us to adopt two siblings.   

We are overjoyed as we anticipate to travel to Zambia late May, 2011. We are blessed to be able to take our children Haley, Tanner and Carter on this life changing journey as well! We plan to immerse ourselves in the Zambian culture and serve in the local community.

We were connected with an amazing woman who runs three rescue homes for abandoned infants, orphans and young children in crisis.  They also provide assistance to local families, offer free education to children who cannot attend school due to family poverty, and provide infant formula to babies at risk of abandonment or starvation.  When a birth mother has lost a battle to HIV/Aids or dies due to birth complications, it is all too common to bury her baby just a few days later, the families left with the infants may be too poor to provide the proper nutrition - leading to death within days or dropping the babies at these homes - which creates another orphan and need.  Through this program, they have seen children, families and communities thrive! We're excited to partner in these efforts and help by serving, delivering and donating to the program during our estimated 4-6 week stay in Zambia as we wait for our adoption process to be completed.

Will you be a part of our journey and partner with our family in bringing our daughter(s) home?

We're excited to continue sharing our journey so please check back for updated blogs!


Love,
Chris, Carlee and the kids!