Chris and Beth Burdette are happy with the family they have created, but the couple, along with their children, Megan and Logan are ready to share their abundance of love with children without a family.
“As we had our own family, I felt like something was missing,” said Beth. “There’s more to our family, and I wasn’t sure what that is or what that means, but for quite a while I’ve felt the calling to adopt.”
The Burdettes have started the application process through Children’s House International to adopt children, possibly siblings, from Ethiopia. The Burdettes were torn between adoption through Africa or China, as both countries have staggering orphan rates.
“Through talking to our social worker and the adoption agency, we realized it’s not which country needs our help the most, but which child needs it most,” Beth said. “Every child who is in an orphanage needs it just the same. They all need a home.”
As many adoption applicants want to adopt babies or toddlers, children over the age of three are considered older children, and harder to find homes for. Sibling adoptions are also uncommon.
While adoptions of younger children can take years, older children can be matched with adoption applicants while the applicant is still in the paperwork process.
After attending a Chosen Conference at First Christian Church in Champaign, and talking with a family who has adopted five children from Ethiopia, the Burdettes decided to adopt through Children’s House International.
The Burdettes are also friends with two other families from Mahomet who adopted children from Ethiopia.
“We chose Ethiopia partly because there was a comfort level and support system in knowing other families who have adopted from there, but Africa has always been in my heart,” Beth said.
As a junior high student, Beth’s father was going to move his family to Zambia while he worked in agriculture through the University of Illinois extension program for two years. When her father returned from a short visit, he decided Zambia was too dangerous for his two daughters.
“I always knew that I wanted to go and wondered what it was like there,” Beth said. “Growing up, we saw images of starving people with no food and no help and that’s just stayed in my mind.”
Before Chris and Beth mentioned to Megan and Logan that they were thinking about adoption, they talked to a local social worker through LifeLink International Adoption.
Megan and Logan already had adoption on their mind, though.
“I’ve always wanted another sibling, I love little kids, and I just have always imagined our family adopting,” Megan said. “If we don’t adopt, I would adopt when I am older.”
Beth said she sees a generational change between adoption when she grew up and what is normal for her children. Three family friends in Central Illinois have adopted children while it was almost unheard of as she was growing up.
Through LifeLink International Adoption, the Burdettes will go through the interview process which includes home visits, interviews to make sure they adopt for the right reasons and that the children will be safe.
When they are matched with children, the Burdettes will make two trips to Ethiopia. During their first trip, the court will appoint their children to them. The second trip will be to bring their children home.
“I can’t imagine how hard that must be,” Beth said. “The court says you’re a family, and then you have to leave your child there.”
If Logan and Megan can raise enough money to buy plane tickets, they will get to pick up their siblings with their parents.
It will cost the Burdettes more than $40,000 through the application process, home study, traveling and orphanage fees to adopt a child. Although adopting each child doesn’t cost the same, the Burdettes expect to pay 10-15 percent of the total cost for each additional child.
“We will be a family with different background,” Beth said. “Hopefully they won’t feel so alone when they begin to understand and accept what they’ve been through.”
Beth said through the fundraising and planning activities, the family is building memories together.
The Burdettes are raising money by selling Just Love Coffee. Megan and Logan go door to door in their neighborhood to raise money.
“I already feel like (Logan and I) have grown closer,” Megan said. “And I feel like this is just the beginning of that process.”
The Burdettes invite the community to donate to and purchase from their garage sale at the Mahomet Community Building on Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Family, friends, neighbors and co-workers have donated items for the Burdettes to sell.
All garage sale items are sold on a donation basis. The Burdettes will entertain any offer or donation. Large items will have a suggested minimum price.
“Come find items that are for you,” Beth said. “And based on your heart, give based on your heart, what you feel is fair or want to contribute.”
Megan will also raise money by selling hair bows and baked goods. Chris’s sister has donated Sensia Candles, and Beth will try to increase her Tastefully Simple sales.
Coffee, candles and Tastefully Simple items will have a fixed price.
“If this is a quick process, then we will need money quicker,” Megan said.
With two children involved in multiple activities, the Burdettes realize the adoption process will change the dynamic of their family.
Beth said with a support system of families who have adopted and the belief that God will take care of all, things will fall together as they should.
“We can try to plan for different scenarios,” Beth said. “I realize this will change our family. But just the idea of getting to grow our family by getting to share our family’s love with children who don’t have a home or a family is just awesome.”
To learn more about why the Burdettes was to “Grow the Burd Nest” or to order Just Love Coffee Roasters to support the Burdettes visit justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/burdnest.
