part 2

Lest I be accused of being altogether absent from the blog that bears my name, I now submit my contribution to the adoption FAQ’s begun in Lauren’s last post. Since I’m the one who deals with the bills and the budget, we thought it appropriate that I would address the following:

How much does adoption cost, and where in the world will you find the funds to pay for it?
The financial costs of adoption are substantial and come in several forms. There are fees paid to our adoption agency, fees paid to the social worker who performs our home study, fees paid to our government, fees paid to the Ethiopian government, and costs of travel to pick up our baby. In all, we expect to spend between $20,000 and $25,000 just to complete the adoption process and get our baby home. This is, of course, in addition to all the expenses that accompany the birth of any child, like furnishing a nursery, purchasing baby clothes, and stocking up on diapers and formula. Really, the costs required to adopt a baby could be pretty daunting to anyone who stops to consider them. That’s why I never think about money or check my checking account balance. Ok, not really, I just wanted to scare Lauren’s and my parents for a second. Truthfully, our budget is the number one thing on my mind these days. I am constantly estimating expenses, forecasting income, and checking, double-checking, and even triple-checking the Excel spreadsheet describing all things monetary in the Dean household.Still, I am not absolutely positive where every penny for the adoption will be found. Some of the money will come from savings, some will come from the income I received from selling my rowing shell and oars, some will come from my paychecks next fall. Mostly, Lauren and I are depending on God to make a clear path for us to pursue that which he has called us to do.God’s provision for us is already evident in many ways. Take for example the house we purchased. We got it at a great price and it requires no repairs, updates, or improvements. In addition, the sellers agreed to let us close in August, so we won’t be paying a mortgage and rent on our old apartment at the same time. The sellers also agreed to pay almost all closing costs, which will save us thousands. Additionally, by closing this year, we’ll receive $8,000 from the government as a tax credit. Depending on what Congress does in the next few weeks, that amount might actually be redeemable towards our down payment, leaving the money we’d saved up for that purpose available for adoption expenses.In addition, God has helped us find money we did not expect. Whether it was the small cash prize I got as part of an award I received from the law school, a graduation gift from family, or an unexpected house-sitting job for the entire month of July, funds that we did not anticipate have been appearing regularly.Though I will continue to budget diligently and account for the spending of every penny, I am not going to pretend I believe this adoption will be paid for by Lauren’s and my diligence. If it is going to happen, it will happen by God’s grace and to His glory, not ours. Uncertainty is not always the most comfortable feeling, especially when it comes to money, but in my best moments I believe scripture is true when it tells us that God faithfully keeps His promises and qualifies those He calls. If it comes down to the two of us, I’d rather be trusting in His grace than my earning power, any day.