Matt and I are honored and humbled to announce that we are expanding our family through adoption. Since the beginning of our marriage, we have had a desire for this to be a part of our family story. God willing, we will be bringing home a son this winter! He is due on February 15th.
Our adoption story began many years ago, when Matt and I talked about adoption while we were dating. I had thought about adoption since I was about 12 years old, while for Matt this was a new consideration. After we talked, this continued to percolate in the back of our minds over the years, even as we became parents to our two young daughters.
As the girls grew, we would occasionally teach them about adoption. Not surprisingly, they have grown to love this idea! Then, in the fall of 2019, Matt took the first step in opening up our home study. This was completed by Christmas, and we have been applying for a match through various agencies for the last several months. After eagerly waiting, we officially matched with a baby of unknown gender on our anniversary, August 1st! We were thrilled, but because it was such an early match, we kept it quiet for a couple months while we awaited more information.
Overall, adoption has been a long and trying journey. We are learning and growing as we move along, understanding a little more each day about ourselves and adoption as the due date approaches. And as we celebrate the joyful news of bringing home a son, our hearts are heavy for the inherent loss that a birthmom and child experience as a result of this difficult decision.
In the interest of transparency, as of mid-December, we have spent $7275 in the last year on home study fees, application fees, consultant fees (vetting agencies), a home study update, education, and other smaller costs. In addition, since August, we have spent another $6800 in monthly support for the birthparents. That said, the funds raised here will help to retroactively cover those expenses (totalling about $14075).
In addition to that total, funds raised will also help to cover the next two months of support for the birthmom ($2600), costs for an extended trip to Kansas in Febrary (would like to have $3000 set aside for Matt and I to drive to KS and be out there for 1-2 weeks to finalize), help with postpartum care for the birthmom (typically about $4000), as well as help with the agency’s $18,000 placement fee (this is a comparatively low fee to cover legal expenses, agency costs and social worker costs). So these costs all together come to roughly $41,675, if all goes “as planned”.
We deeply appreciate you taking the time to read about us and consider helping to bring this little baby boy home. We are extremely grateful to Lifesong for Orphans, an adoption and orphan care non-profit ministry, for not only this fund-raising platform, but for offering us a $5000 matching grant.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for any support you can give, and for helping us to bring our baby boy home. If you would like to pray for us, please pray for the protection and health of both the birthmom and her baby. Also, we appreciate prayers that we would have wisdom as we navigate new territory. We will post updates as things move along!
Love,
Lucy, Matt, Amelia & Isabel Silva
STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction). Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Silva 09205”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.
Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
- In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
- Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
