UPDATE 4/21/24: We have a son! We've shared an update below with more details :)
UPDATE 4/10/24: Our adoption costs are estimated to be at least $62,000. If you are able to help us ease the financial burden to adopt our baby–we would be so grateful!
We are now matched! All glory and praise go to our Lord and Savior for he has turned our sadness into joy! While this is an exciting time for us, it is a difficult one for the expectant mother who chose us to adopt her baby. This was not an easy decision and we have the utmost admiration for her. She has demonstrated the greatest love—that is laying down her life for another. We look forward to sharing the title of parenthood with her. What an honor to be selected as the family to raise her baby. Thank you Lord for providing and growing our family in this way!
ORIGINAL: We were married in January 2015 and knew we wanted to have children early on. We began trying to conceive just a few months after our wedding, but knew something wasn't right after 1 year had passed. Over the next several years, we went through 3 rounds of medical testing to understand why we hadn't been able to get pregnant and each time we were told everything is normal.
Having a biological child was a special dream for Sarah, in particular. Being able to see physical and personality characteristics inherited from us was something we both greatly looked forward to. So we began the process to start IVF in 2021. However, at that same time, Sarah had a conversation with a friend that changed everything. In expressing her fears and excitement for IVF her friend responded, "If God wills for you to have your own baby, he won't need IVF for that to happen."
Sarah began researching IVF more and her heart began to warm towards adoption. It took some time to grieve and give up the dream of having our own biological child, but we received immense peace from the Holy Spirit over the decision to walk away from IVF by choosing to grow our family through adoption instead. Chris was thrilled as he always had a heart for adoption! It just took a bit more time for Sarah to get there too.
After all, as Christians, the Gospel is paramount to our entire way of living. And adoption is a reflection of how we are adopted sons and daughters into God's family. What a gift it is that we get to live out our faith in a literal way through the adoption of our future baby!
The cost was another factor that prompted us to choose adoption. With IVF, this money goes directly into the fertility industry's pocket. But with adoption–it serves a mom and baby in need. And for us, we chose to partner with professionals that are furthering God's kingdom by sharing the Gospel with each birth parent they meet. So we felt assured that this would be the best, God-honoring way to steward the money God has blessed us with.
We do not know when and whom we will match with. But God does. And while the unknowns of this journey have been daunting, we trust Him. We would be thrilled and honored to share this experience with you. Your prayers and monetary gifts will help us to bring our adopted baby home and also serve a mom in need.
Thank you for being with us. We could not do this without you!
With heartfelt gratitude, Chris and Sarah
Yes, we are parents!
On Tuesday 4/16 (the same day our son was born), we learned there were some problems with our match. On Wednesday 4/17 morning, after many phone calls and doing everything we could to save our match, everything fell apart. We disrupted again and were devastated.
We called our local agency facilitator to discuss what happened and while on the phone, she received an emergency call. It was a baby born case and asked if we wanted to present. We submitted our profile for consideration and by that evening we were told the birth mama had narrowed her selection to her top choices. We were in the running! She did phone interviews the next day 4/18 with each family and ultimately selected us to adopt her baby :)
That evening, we met our son and his birth family for the first time. It was such a special memory we will cherish forever and we will share with our son as he grows. We named him Bravery James in honor of the incredible *brave* decision his birth mother made for him. And James because James 4:7 was my favorite verse in the Bible as a little girl--thanks to the donut man :)
God continues to provide and thankfully, our adoption costs will not be as high as they would have been with our other match. What a praise!
If you are able to contribute, we would be so grateful. Thank you friends for being prayer warriors alongside us throughout this journey. It was the hardest season of our lives and we could not have done without you.
In the pain, we chose to praise Him and in this immensely joyous season, we are praising Him still. For He has indeed dealt bountifully with us.
It’s been nearly 1 year since we officially began our adoption process. And today, an expectant mother chose us to adopt her baby! We are so excited God chose to grow our family through the gift of adoption and we admire this mother so much 💕
Baby is due in June —we do not know if this babe is a girl or boy yet. We will be so happy either way!
Our adoption costs are expected to be $62,000 (including legal expenses). If you are able to contribute further financial help to help us adopt this baby, we would be so grateful.
And if not, we understand. Please continue to pray specifically for this sweet mother and her growing baby. And for us, as we prepare our home and hearts to become parents.
Love,
Chris and Sarah
It has now been 9.5 months since we began our adoption journey! Last week, we traveled to Utah and hand delivered our application to an adoption agency. We are hopeful by adding another agency, this will improve our chances of matching and bringing home our baby sooner than later. The state of Utah also has more adoption friendly laws and since we travel there frequently, it was a good fit.
We also got the glider/rocker for our nursery :). We intentionally selected tactical green for Chris. Chic and beautifully designed for Sarah.
Everyday we face feelings of "this is never going to happen." And everyday, we remind ourselves God is sovereign. For that, we continue to praise and thank Him. For he has dealt with us bountifully!
We are nearly 8 months into our adoption journey! We are still waiting to be matched. Since our disruption in the summer, we have not been selected by any birth moms. The wait is difficult at times, but we remain hopeful we will match soon and hopefully bring our adoptive baby home. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement along the way. It has meant so much to us! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
As some know, we were matched with a birth mom at the end of August. It was a “stork drop” where baby had already been born when we got the call. Chris and I raced to Walmart late at night to get essentials so we could bring baby home the following morning. Unfortunately though, when we were moments away—things took a turn. We did eventually meet the birth mom and hold the baby, but things did not work out in the end. To be perfectly candid, we felt confused, angry and sad. But in the middle of it all, we were grateful to have a wonderful community supporting us. Back in July, a new bill was signed, making all facilitators in CA illegal. This was intended to prevent shady people from taking advantage of others, but it sadly impacted the good facilitators—like ours. She is now transitioning to HOPE4KIDS, whom we will be working with going forward. We remain hopeful we will match again, soon. Thank you for continued prayers for us and being the strength we need to navigate the unknowns of this journey.
