Why we adopted...

We've been asked a few times why we chose to adopt, particularly since we have a son biologically. I'm going to keep this as short and to the point as possible, which, as I write that, am having serious doubts that's going to happen.

Maria Marcela and I, shortly after being married, and quite possibly even before we were hitched, spoke about children and more specifically about the prospect of adopting. We both agreed that it was a possibility for our future, especially given that we did not know if we could have our own.

We chose to begin trying for a child biologically. We've been very blessed to have Andrew of whom I'm sometimes fearful of the love I have for him. That may sound strange to some and would probably deserve some explaining of its own. I'll refrain for now.

Needless to say, after having Andrew, for whatever reason, it was confirmed in our minds to seek adoption. To put it as plainly as we can, we were just simply led to make this decision. After plainly seeing that having our own flesh and blood is one thing, we still questioned when faced with the option to bring a nonexistent child into this world as opposed to taking an existing life and giving it a home.

Based on that, it was an easy decision for us. We remained hopeful that God would lead us through this process.

When we first inquired of adoption with an agency in Dallas in the summer of 2005, we sought first to go domestic. It only made sense to us at the time. However, we were met with so many obstacles such as my age (yes I'm getting older); the fact that we can have children biologically put us at the back of every list; not to mention the potential risks of having been given a child only to lose it to it's biological parents in a court order.

We next sought South America, Central America, then Europe, and then Russia. The fact that we were seeking an infant girl solidified China as our choice.

Given that China still has the one child law, the fact that the culture dictates that most families choose to have a boy who will grow up and support the parents. And then finally, the fact that the culture also dictates that children with handicaps are usually shunned, kept indoors and never taken out to society for the mere belief that the family is cursed and it is a shame to family to have such a child.

So, as you can see Wei Ming Su, now Emily Mei Snyder, had 3 strikes against her. Some may say she's a very fortunate child and we've done a good thing...

We say we are fortunate that our Creator allowed as much as to bring her our way and change all of our lives forever.

Emily has certainly weaved herself into our family and admittedly, at times, she can seem as a stranger that has come into our lives and in our midst. But I'll tell you...I felt the very same way the moment Andrew made his first appearance that day in October of 2003.

Life is anything but normal. But then again, what is normal? I believe it to be an existing culture's way of saying, accept me. We're not necessarily seeking that road.

As any parent will attest, having children is an aspect of life that is gained from taking the focus off of ourselves who provide for our own needs, wants and desires. But all of the sudden, it's realized that true happiness is when we've given of ourselves entirely and completely. It is no surprise that we mimic what our very own creator does for us.

At the end of our lives, it isn't what wealth or social status we've acquired that determines our success and fulfillment, but what is on our heart and how much of that heart has been laid upon others...an orphan, a widow, a complete stranger.

Don't be duped into thinking we've accomplished that. We can only hope to be going down that road.