Romans 8:15  -

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Our journey to adopt a child began sometime in late 2000.  We didn't know it then but God was preparing us.  Actually, looking back on various circumstances and relationships, God had been preparing both of us our entire lives.  In 2000 though, we talked seriously about our future.  Did Dale want to have additional children?  Did Dawn want children at all?  We went back and forth for a long time.  Both scared of the future and both desperately wanting a family, a larger family actually.  At the end of those discussions we were on the same page and decided we could move forward with our relationship and started planning our wedding.

After marrying in October 2001, we soon decided we wanted to grow our family as soon as possible.  We began to eagerly look forward to pregnancy.  A pregnancy, which did not occur so swiftly.  Dawn had an intuition all along that she would not get pregnant.  God had given her that intuition in early 2002 and she never doubted the hard truth of this.  But, she fought it and Dale just couldn't believe it to be true. In March 2003 we went through fertility testing.  No issues!  Perfectly able to have many children!  Knowing we were perfectly able to have children, we decided to seek medical assistance to speed up the process.  It was almost a slam-dunk!  In July 2003, after medical help, we were still not pregnant.  Now what?  This seemed strange to us.  Sure, sometimes pregnancy can take a long time.  But, we felt there was more. God was preparing us for something different.  Although, we did not yet know what He was preparing us for. 

Now, back to 2000:  We wanted a daughter!  No doubt about it, we wanted a girl!  We would joke around about it.  "Do we really have to go through pregnancy and diapers?  Can't we just adopt a 2 year old?  Ya, just somehow get a cute little girl."  After failed medical attempts, Dawn began to cry and pray feverously for God to take the desire to have children away.  She had prayed this for a long time.  But, was now desperately praying.  The pain of being childless was too strong.  We had not made any jokes about "just getting a cute little girl" in years and somehow we had remained ignorant to the adoption plan.  Even with all the joking in 2000, we never really thought about adoption. 

All of sudden, while praying, God was very clear!  The tears still come when we remember it.  "First, you shall adopt."  Really?  Did He really say this?  And are we crazy? Does God really speak?  No!  "YES!"   He moved our hearts so powerfully that we could literally 'feel' not hear His words. And, did he say "first"?  What does that mean?  Well, we don't know yet.  But, we do know that we followed God's direction.  Pregnant or not, we wanted to adopt an orphan. 

In August 2003, we attended a FamilyLife marriage conference and listened to one of our favorite Christian artist speak about him and his wife adopting twice from China, even after having 3 biological children.  We knew instantly that God was calling us to China also.  There was not enough Kleenex in the world to dry Dawn's eyes.  She must have cried for a month straight.  And, Dale never doubted nor wavered.  He knew instantly his daughter was in China. According to him, there was no need to look into other countries.  It took bringing us to our knees for us to see God's wondrous plan.  The miracle of adoption! We had received the Spirit of Adoption!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress... - James 1:27

On February 20, 2004, our paperwork (dossier) left for Beijing, China to request a daughter from the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA).  We are happier than we could have ever imagined to be expecting this child, this miracle and gift from God!  He is her heavenly Father who loves her more than anyone on Earth and yet He chose us to care for her.  We are so lucky and so blessed!

 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  

- I Samuel 1:27

 "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:15-16

Why did we share this intimate and personal story with the world?

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. - Acts 20:24

We all have a story to testify with.  This is ours.