The Miller 5 have been on a rollercoaster family journey as you all know over the past 2.5 years, but the story here actually begins a long time ago in the 1980’s.

From as early as the age of seven, I (Sarah) felt it in my bones that I was to adopt. I cannot explain it. This was something I just knew I was called to do.

So much so that when my best friend (that’s Josh) and I began dating at 18 years old I brought it up to him that adoption was the desire my heart. I asked this serious boyfriend of mine if this was something he was open to, or if this was going to be a deal breaker and his response was that he would be open to it. My heart swelled even more when I heard him say that he actually loved the idea!

Fast forward to a long distance dating relationship, full time college, three degrees, full time jobs, a marriage and three amazing biological kids later and here we were. We again felt the true pressing to help those kids in need, to be God’s hands and feet, to love those vulnerable ones. We decided to look into adoption. This was going to be it!  As we prayed and researched we began to learn of a true and silent crisis going on in the state of Arizona. 19,000+ kids in foster care and not enough foster parents to care for these kids. We felt compelled to help. We had the room in our home and hearts. We had three kids who saw the need and responsibility to care for God’s children. Together we all collectively decided to become licensed foster parents. We spent over a year getting licensed, dealing with mounds of paperwork, background checks, home study interviews, as well as a good amount of money to get our house “state licensed appropriate.” We were just waiting to be official “foster parents.” Little did we know God already had a baby bundle that was to be with us. We were gifted with a baby girl at eight days old who had been formed and was addicted to methamphetamines. We were entrusted her before we were officially licensed foster parents. Two months later we were official foster parents (in the state of Arizona's eyes) and we were four months later gifted a toddler who had been born exposed to marijuana as well as who had severe attachment and cognitive issues due to extreme parental neglect.

To say our faith and true understanding of God was “tested” would be an understatement. Did we “know” God is good… all the time? Yes. Did we believe it? No. Not always.  Did we understand why God allowed these two precious foster girls of ours to be “returned” to their blood? To very dangerous situations, one of which was in the local news recently? No. And we may never ever know. But we, the Miller 5, know we made a huge impact on these lives and souls, even for a moment in time. God had a plan to have them in our family. God still has a plan even though we don’t see it and may never see it here on our time on Earth.

Well friends, it has been a deep time of healing for us- much counseling, therapy, prayer and reflection. And in all of this, we have still felt the tug, the quiet and still voice of God saying, ”There are little ones who need your family.”  “There are still ones your family needs.” “There is a story I am waiting to write to glorify My kingdom.” “Be willing.”  “Trust me.” “It is time.”

And we are ready. We are willing.

 We have decided to take the next step in growing our family in a more permanent way, but we need your help. We finished our adoption classes this week, and have paid multiple fees leading up to be at this exact point.

Particularly following all the foster-related legal expenses over the past two years, we are asking for community support for our adoption fees. This GoFundMe is actually the smaller chunk of what we will ultimately need to raise in order to complete the adoption process. This smaller chunk just covers the fees to officially start the process and have the home study done.

There is a larger amount to the sum of $23,500.00 that we can raise via Arizona tax credits for the actual adoption, where an Arizona individual or married couple can donate up to $500 or $1,000 and it becomes a direct state tax credit.

However, this $3,800.00 fundraising effort is the portion that can NOT be raised through tax credits, so this $3,800.00 will be pure donations without any tax credit advantages that we will later be asking for. This money must be raised in order to complete our home study and get us in the book for potential bio mama’s to see our profile and learn about The Miller 5 and to see if our family would be one the family they would chose to entrust their precious baby, their precious gift to for life.  This is all in addition to the thousands we've already spent out of pocket (yes, adoption is expensive).

We will be open to adopting a single child and are also open to a sibling group. Please keep us in your prayers. Please keep our future child/children’s bio mama in your prayers as well. We want her to feel loved, valued, and protected. She is choosing life which is an amazing gift! We want to have a good relationship with her.

We are blessed by anything you can give.

 

Thank you!

 

Josh, Sarah, Jack, Cade, and Claire Miller