Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2018

What is your advice for someone considering transracial adoption? LC: I think the biggest thing is to not think of it as transracial adoption. It’s about the child first and then your family. I don’t want to discount that the adoption is transracial, but that isn’t primary. The primary thing is figuring out the needs of your child because, like with biological children, each is unique. AC: Their identity is in who God says they are; it’s not determined by their skin color or what they’re good at. Each child needs the Gospel, and you need to study your child to see what their needs are individually. LC: This is especially true if your child comes from a different culture, and you’re adopting them into your culture. Age plays a huge part in it, but assessing the needs of your child should be your primary concern. Any advice for families considering adoption? AC: Don’t go into it looking for applause. Adoption is hard, and many have had it more difficult than we have, but it’s so, so good. Our training told us to give our children as much of a story about their biological family as you can, so they can know why they do things a certain way. That was helpful. How has your faith grown through the adoption process and beyond? LC: One of our biggest challenges in parenting has been health-related, and we don’t have a health history on Lila or Bella, which can make it more difficult at times. God has definitely grown our faith as we rely on Him through the difficult health issues with all of our children. We have found him to be so faithful, and at our weakest points we have had some of the sweetest communion with Christ! AC: Yes, often in parenting in general, God graciously reveals our need for Him. In that process he expands our love for our kids and our love for Him. Lila and Bella’s physical adoption has deepened my vision of God’s spiritual adoption of us. This is a magnificent exchange that has infinitely fallen in our favor! Final thoughts? AC: We are just so thankful God has blessed us to have children. Marriage and family are not the greatest good, but they are one of God’s sweetest blessings and one of the greatest opportunities to put the realities of the Gospel on display. We are just overwhelmed at the kindness of God to choose this path for us. We can’t imagine life any other way. Alyssa Speicher ’17 is a former student public relations writer for Cedarville University. Cedarville Magazine | 25 Chartered in 1887, Cedarville was a dream waiting to become a reality. WhenWilliam Gibson passed away, he left 2 percent of his estate for the new college. That bequest allowed Cedarville to open its doors to students. Now 130 years later, your bequest will provide Christ-centered education for generations to come. Let Advancement help you discover how to leave your legacy! Your Bequest, Your Legacy 1-888-233-2784 cedarville.edu/giftlegacy