Growing Our Family Through Adoption
The Lent and Easter seasons are wonderful times to reflect on the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It may seem odd to reflect on the infancy of the Lord during Easter; however, May first was the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. We have been reflecting on how peculiar the start to the Lord’s earthily life was. An angel announced to the Blessed Virgin that she would conceive through the Holy Spirit a son, and Joseph, to whom she was betrothed, was visited in a dream by an angel to take Mary and Jesus into his home. From then on Joseph was an adoptive father, protector and teacher to Jesus.
We were not told in a dream that we would become adoptive parents, but our adoption journey began a year ago during a difficult and grieving infertility journey. We felt the Lord calling us to grow our family through the spirit of adoption and accept the joys and uncertainties of nurturing children. We are officially approved to accept a match with an infant 0-18 months in age, domestically (within the US)! Our hearts go out to those who pray to grow their families and the real challenges they are experiencing. We pray for them always.
“If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts…” Psalm 95: 7-8. Throughout our adoption journey, we have tried to stay open to God’s will and where the Spirit is moving. This journey has included lots of paperwork, safety checks, education, and a home study which is a comprehensive assessment of us individually, as a couple, and our support system. This was an intensive but rewarding process, much like marriage preparation, but to prepare for the complexities related to adoption and adoptive parenting.
Although the road ahead has much uncertainty, we have been blessed in many ways as we have shared our story. It is heartwarming to see our community excited for our journey and their willingness to help us during the adoption process and post-placement. The Co-Cathedral and Rochester-Catholic community members have blessed us with a photo shoot and editing help for our profile, letters of reference for adoption grants, and many supportive words and prayers.
Many lives are touched by adoption, especially those in the “Adoption Triad”; the adoptee, the birth family, and the adoptive parents. The goal of modern adoptions is to do what is best for the child while recognizing the dignity and autonomy of the triad members. In practice, birth parent/s are presented with prospective adoptive families and they decide the best fit. Then the prospective adoptive families can accept the match. Nearly half of matches happen through extended social networks, so we prayerfully ask you to help share our story as well as the stories of other waiting families in our local community. You never know how you may be connected to someone considering making an adoption plan. We also ask that you support those on this journey. You too likely have talents that could help support those in a similar situation.
Throughout this period, we prayed often that God may guide us on our journey and “ Give us a new heart and put a new spirit in us” Ezekiel 36:26. This spirit, we believe is a spirit of adoption. We are all adopted sons and daughters of God, and the immense love of the Father has called us to encounter and love others.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
St. Joseph, Pray for us!
Please don’t hesitate to talk to us about our adoption journey. Thank you for sharing the story of our growing family.
Blessings,
Emily and Luke Doskey