Was the adoption expensive?

Since we hope to promote adoptions of other special needs kiddos from the US or abroad, I sure don't mind talking costs or logistics. Paperwork-wise, this one adoption had a LOT more paperwork and hurdles involved than all 3 of our domestic adoptions combined! But between our state agency, Lutheran SS, and wonderful guidance of our international agency, Holt, and the prayers and encouragement of many, we completed the course and brought this special one home :-).

The adoption process isn't totally over until the 1 yr post adoption reports are done and turned in. But hopefully most of the expenses (and paperwork!) are in. This adoption cost over $30,000 since we had the extra expense of having to go backwards and clear our 18 yr old child at one point. That figure does not include taking our 18 yr old on our trip to China with us.

But between a Holt grant, wonderful donations (THANK YOU!!), and a future expected adoption tax credit, our remaining cost will be under $5000. And then between a fundraiser we held here, the selling of a couple of items, lots of skimping by the family, and an extra productive market garden summer of 2009, God provided ALL we needed to bring this young man into a family of his own :-), plus enough to let Ryan travel to.

Was it worth it? It was to Joshua GuanYan :-). THANKS again to all who participated in bringing Joshua "home" whether by prayer or donation of time or money. God used a lot of people to open the door for this little one... and we can't wait to see what God's Plan for his life is :-), and how the ripples will spread from here.