 |
 |
 |
  
     |
“Prayer for a Child” I didn’t know it was possible to love someone through a two dimensional photograph, but it is. I also didn’t know that love could grow every day, but it has. From the day I received the news about Kseniya, born half a world away in Siberia, I loved her. The joy increased exponentially when I began sharing the news. All of a sudden, I looked around and saw an army of people crying, celebrating and loving with me. I had not been alone; all along they had been there - among the many gifts from God in the process of adopting through the Lutheran Adoption Network. Each day brings special moments too numerous to count, but there are some that I am convinced I will never forget. I can still see the faces of my friends at the airport welcoming Kseniya home and feel the wave of relief that came over me. And, there was the challenge of bridging what had been two very separate worlds: the experiences of Russia and the reality of home. International travel with a one year old is everything you would expect and more. You can, in fact, juggle a child, diaper bag, carry on and stroller through an airport and onto an airplane with just two arms. It is also possible to change a diaper in an airplane restroom, win over hearts of other passengers in spite of a few screaming fits, and glean hours of entertainment from an in-flight magazine. My sympathies to the United Airlines employee who had to clean up the piles of shredded paper in row 26 seats A & B. Some of our milestones are different from what you might expect. At the end of our first week back, there was the day that Kseniya realized this was home. We were sitting on the back patio and the look on her face said clearly “I get it! This is my place, and these are my people”. A number of weeks passed before she could fall asleep in her crib without intense rocking. And, after three months at home, she fell asleep in my arms for the first time. When I held her, she didn’t resist. She didn’t wrestle. She just laid her head against my chest. But nothing can top the feeling this morning – seven months later – of lifting Kseniya from her crib and snuggling together for a few minutes before the busy day began. Words fail me most when trying to describe the richness that Kseniya has added to my life. She dances to sirens, alarms, bells, whistles and even the roar of a Harley Davidson. All my life I have loved music but it took Kseniya to help me hear that there is music everywhere. Watching her learn, seeing her grow, being the comfort she needs in a crowded room, sleeping in a chair through an ear infection, seeing the smile on her face when I pick her up from daycare. All of this I see with amazement, wondering how it is that of all the children in the world, and in Russia, and Novosibirsk, and Orphanage #1, I ended up with this most wonderful little girl. The details of our adoption process, two trips to Russia, the adjustment to home, and daily life with a two-year-old could fill volumes. But those details matter less than the stories that have yet to be told. You can not travel to Russia without seeing that we are all so very blessed. You can not see families traveling home with children, especially older children, without thinking about those still waiting for a home of their own. Kseniya and I pray every night that God will: “Bless other children far and near, |
|||
|
Affording Adoption
Comparing costs and fees from various websites and agencies can be very confusing, if not frustrating, as not everyone uses the same “language” to talk about adoption costs. LAN purposely does not disclose adoption fees on this site. However, when you contact us or one of our member agencies, you will be given detailed information about all the fees and expenses you should expect in a specific country. As a guideline, however, most international adoptions with LAN range between $15,000 and $30,000 in total costs. Factors which contribute to the variation in costs include:
Adoption fees include both local agency costs and the international agency and program fees. Examples of local agency costs are the homestudy, training and/or dossier coordination, and postplacement visits and reports. International program fees, the highest of all, include support to the orphanages and humanitarian aid to the children left behind, as well as salaries and compensation for the people who work on behalf of the children before they are adopted, both overseas and here at home. Yes, it is expensive! But families all over the United States are adopting more children than ever before. There are resources which can help you afford adoption! Best of all is the US Federal Tax Credit of $10,000 for either domestic or international adoption as long as your income is less than $150,000 per year. (See Publication 968 of the Internal Revenue Service—http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html—for more detail). Some states also offer tax benefits, as do many employers. Check www.adopt.org/workplace for details on employer benefits. Check these resources for more information about affording an adoption:
Chase Bank and the Dave Thomas Foundation offer a home equity loan program specifically for adoptive families now: |
We hear it all the time when prospective parents contact us to learn more about international adoption:
back to top |
LAN: A Lutheran Adoption & Foster Care Alliance |  |