Adopting Baby Wags ~ ¡Bebito o’ Bust!

This page describes a bit of how we got here, what the approximate timeline of our journey looks like (though that of course is subject to God’s plan!), as well as asking you to consider praying, encouraging, supporting and partnering with us in this adventure!  

Cole’s Story:

“The seeds of adoption were first sewn for me seven years ago when I took a missions trip to Haiti. It was there that I spent the week working with orphans that had been placed there after a horrible earthquake had ravaged the country less than a year before. These kids were desperate for love and affirmation, and my heart broke for them. Even though most of our group didn’t know the language and we only knew a few phrases in their native language of Creole, it didn’t matter. What these kids craved was love above all else. A smile, a hug, any sort of affection we could give them was met with thunderous and never ending enthusiasm. Adopting children is a truly special calling to those who listen and take it up. It allows us the chance to love a child in a unique way that can’t be replicated. Giving a child a chance to live a full and happy life under the love of God’s umbrella is captivating in every sense. Sarah and I pray every day that God would bring the right child into our lives that we could nurture and love.” 

Sarah’s Story: 

“From the first time visiting Mexican orphanages when a young teen and interacting with the precious littles, adoption became a desire of my heart.  When I was 15 and had my third open-heart surgery, due to the logistics of the surgery and the lifelong repercussions it entailed, I realized pregnancy should never happen.  One night as I cried out wondering why me, I was led to the verses: ‘He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children’ (Psalm 113:9) and ‘Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,’ says the LORD" (Isaiah 54:1).  At that moment I knew it was not that God was choosing me to not ever become pregnant, but instead God was choosing me as Mama to babies who would not have a Mom without adoption.  Adoption is a gift from our Father above, and I praise God for a husband who shares in this passion and call for adoption.  We daily ask God to lead us not only to the beautiful baby He has chosen for us, but also to convey His traits of unconditional love and joy, and message of salvation, to everyone involved in the process, especially the future biological parents.”

We both have a special place in our hearts to touch our own land in the US where countless mothers are currently considering abortion, but by God's intervention may change their mind if the baby has a Dad and Mom waiting to accept the child with open arms, or other families who cannot care for their child due to young age or other tough circumstances. After research and consulting with others who have walked through the adoption process, we are beginning the fundraising portion now. This is so that we, Lord-willing, have the funds available to become “active” with the home study in Fall of 2021, and then upon completion, ready at any moment to accept our baby with open arms. The adoption process involves many upfront dues, as well as with domestic adoption, after becoming “active” one has to be financially and physically ready any day to get the call that we have a baby ready to come home. 

A Christian agency we are in contact with specializes in domestic infant adoptions all across the US and matches orphan baby and family as fast as a couple months to a year, with the average being 4.5 months total to bring baby home from the time becoming"active". As we talked to one of the agency's coordinators, we said how daunting the large number of $37,000-$50,000 on average to adopt a child seems, as even though we have been setting aside little by little when we can, we do not have anywhere close to that kind of money. The coordinator replied, "It is always, always amazing to see how the Lord funds what He favors!", and this was just the reminder needed to trust and obey, and leave the rest up to God as we wait and watch His fireworks as He makes it all happen, bringing together all the necessary resources to bring home Baby Wags. Though to us it looks like an unclimbable mountain, to God it is just a speed bump to carry us over.   

We are so grateful for friends/adoption mentors of ours recommending applying to a Christian organization called ABBA Fund as a crowd fundraising charity website that works with adoptive families who love the Lord, and accepts tax-deductible, charitable donations on our behalf made from family, friends, and other supporters of ABBA Fund. Anything given on our behalf goes directly into an adoption fund they have set up for us, that will be utilized to directly fund each of our adoption fees along the way.  If you want to keep up with our adoption adventure and/or financially give, you may follow our fundraising adventures, status updates, and current prayer requests, as well as an opportunity to give directly, on our ABBA Fund page: www.abbafund.org/cswagnerfamily. If you choose to give, during the next tax season you will receive a letter directly from ABBA Fund reflecting your donation for tax-deduction purposes. Also, if you would choose to give, please use the embedded donation form on our ABBA page, just below our testimony.  (Note: If you financially are able and want to give but do not want to do so online, you may also send a check to: ABBA Fund, PO BOX 868049, Plano, TX 75086-8049.  Please do not write our names on the memo line, but instead write our names on a separate note you include in the envelope with the check. This is due to state regulations of IRS, because it is considered a “charitable donation” for tax-deduction purposes.)  But most of all, we ask for your prayers as we cannot go on this adventure alone!

We want to thank you in advance for your consideration in partnering with us to extend the same love our Father has shown us, as we open our hearts and lives by adopting one of His children! We know it will not by any means be an easy road, but will be rewarding as we stand in awe and watch as God continues to bring the unique and beautiful pieces together to create His picture of our adoption adventure!  ¡Todo por Su gloria!  All for His glory!

In His love,

Cole & Sarah Wagner (& Chamo)

¡BEBITO O’ BUST! – Adopting Baby Wags

A couple from the “Sweetest Place on Earth”,

we now await the birth 

and adoption of Baby Wags,

thrilled to cherish and love even in a time lag.

At the orphanage in Haiti, Cole in the midst of smiles n’ high fives first realized,

the dire need of love for all orphans and children to thrive,

just like God adopted us into His family and defends our cause,

he wanted to make adoption a reality someday without clause.

And in her visits to orphanages of Mexico,

Sarah felt the tug to learn Spanish, reaching more children than just with the app Duolingo. 

Adoption for a multicultural family always her desire, and with surgeries of her heart,

it was clear that God wanted her to take part,

as solely an adoptive Mama of babies,

who otherwise would be just a maybe.

Now we begin the long road starting with fundraising and support,

and know that nothing can thwart,

the thrilling adventure the Lord has chosen to entrust,

so we announce to y’all, “¡Bebito o’ bust!”

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families." ~ Psalm 68:5-6