We have BIG news!
We are adopting a newborn!
We are beyond excited and are doing everything we can to be prepared to welcome a beautiful little one into our home.
As part of our adoption process, we have created a 'giving' campaign for those that wish to support us financially. Adoption is an incredibly rewarding experience, and we are so thankful for your consideration in supporting our journey. AdoptTogether (Hoping Hearts Foundation) is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) so all donations are tax-deductible. All funds raised will go directly towards the cost of adoption, which includes:
• Home Study Fees
• Legal Fees
• Pre-placement Adoption Education
• Counseling Services for Birth/Adoptive Parents
• Prenatal Medical Expenses for Birth Mother
• Labor and Delivery Expenses for Birth Mother
We hope that by inviting you into this process, you will see yourself as part of the community we hope to build around our child as he or she grows up! We are so thankful for your support and prayer as we continue this journey!
Hi friends and family,
I just wanted to take the time to tell you a little about our story so you can see how the Lord has been working in our lives and why we feel called to adoption.
Hunter and I are high school sweethearts who have been married for almost 8 years. We always knew we wanted children and didn't expect infertility to be a part of our story. 6 years ago, we decided we were ready to start a family. After a year of trying, we were referred to a fertility specialist and were eventually diagnosed with "unexplained infertility." After undergoing several unsuccessful treatments and struggling through the rollercoaster of emotions that accompanies infertility, we decided to be still before the Lord. We took a year to just pray, wait, and trust in Him. Although we didn't understand why we couldn't get pregnant naturally, we felt the Lord's presence more than ever before. He drew so near to us during that time.
In January of 2021, we were attending church as usual, but it just so happened to be "Sanctity of Life Sunday" and our pastor presented a video on the importance of adoption at the end of the sermon. That was the moment the Lord first planted the seed of adoption in our hearts. However, in March of that year, we felt the Lord leading us to try in vitro fertilization and soon began that process. In July of 2021, our first IVF transfer failed and we were completely heartbroken. In our minds, the odds of a successful IVF transfer were high and when it didn't work out, we were shocked. We spent the next 5 months deep in prayer and questioning what the Lord was doing. Throughout that difficult time, we came to understand that the Lord often doesn't just say yes or no to our prayers. Sometimes He says, "just wait".
In January of 2022, while awaiting the results of our second IVF transfer, Hunter was attending church while I was working at the hospital. It just so happened to be "Sanctity of Life Sunday" again. The next day, we received the news that our second IVF transfer had failed. While still grieving that situation, the Lord so clearly revealed His plan to us. In that moment, we both finally realized that the Lord was leading us to adopt.
We immediately began the process of adoption and quickly adopted our first daughter, Avery Jo, in October of 2022. The Lord orchestrated the most beautiful story throughout our entire journey and we couldn't be more thankful for His call to adoption. We have grown so much and have learned more about His great love for us through adoption. We couldn't imagine our lives without Avery Jo in it. We know that He has been working for our good all along (Romans 8:28). He has given us so much comfort and peace in knowing that adoption has been His plan for us from the beginning (Jeremiah 29:11) and He has given us immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.
We now feel called to adopt a second child to grow our family. Though infertility remains a big part of our story, the Lord has still so clearly placed the calling of adoption on our lives. Our prayer has been that the Lord would begin to prepare the perfect child for us. We know that He is sovereign and that He already has the perfect child in mind. We pray that we would continue to have peace as we face different situations and circumstances. We are thankful for each person that has encouraged us, prayed for us, and grieved with us along the way. If you would, please continue to pray for us throughout this process. They say it takes a village to raise a child and we consider each one of you a part of our village. Thank you for the role you have played in our lives and for the role you will play in the life of our future child.
Much love and many blessings,
Hunter & Shelby Abbe
