"The Love of a Family is life's greatest blessing." ~Eva Burrows
We began this adoption journey in the Fall of 2021. We took courses to prepare ourselves for adoption and all that may come with it. We were ready, and then we weren't. We had not yet given fertility treatments a try and maybe there was an easy fix. So we pivoted to fertility treatments.
January 2022-June 2024 we sought out fertility treatments. Tommy and Ashley both underwent surgeries to help fix issues and once those were sorted out, began trying IUI. This was a gray area for us as in our Catholic Faith IVF is not something that we believe respects life and God's role in marriage and a life. IUI still allowed God to work, but also gave us a better chance. We felt so fortunate too because we had infertility insurance that helped pay for most of these treatments! 7 tries later, there was no success in our IUI treatments. We know that it is not part of God's plan right now and we are accepting that. We are still feeling called to being parents which brings us to this.
We need help. Infant Adoption in the United States can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $60,000. The agency that we have chosen to go with, St. Elizabeth Coleman, costs about $40,000. "It takes a village to raise a kid" is what we keep hearing. What we are hoping is that our village will help us adopt a kiddo before we can raise one.
We would love any support that is given to us: prayers, time, happiness, talents, and monetary donation. We already know that we are so loved and our future child is so loved. Thank you in advance for all the love and support you have and will always show us. We love our village.
We found out this past week that our Home Study process will begin in early October! While we do not have an exact date, we are excited to prepare for this. We have lived in our home for almost 4 years now and still have pictures that need hung up so our project list this month includes that. We also have been able to clear out our guest bedroom and plan on preparing that space to be our future nursery. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We feel it, see it and hear it. Sending our love to all our supporters no matter how they support us. We continue to pray for all of you and our future child as we wait for the next steps.
We sent our application in late last week and are waiting to hear the next steps! We are so excited to get started on this journey and are feeling so loved and seen by our village. Our next major step is beginning the home study. This typically costs $2,000-$2,500. We are there with our donations and really appreciate your help! After that step, we will wait to be chosen by a birth mother/family. We are not obligated to pay anything until we take the child home from the hospital so that does give us some time. When we do get chosen and are about to take the child home, we will owe $18,000. The good news is that since it is due at the end, we have time. Time to apply for grants once we have an approved home study. Time to do other types of fundraisers and even take side jobs where we can to add on to that. We continue to pray and ask you to do the same. We feel so loved and already love our future child so much.
We have exciting news! After trying to get into contact with St. Elizabeth Coleman agency here in Indianapolis for a long time, we finally did! We loved what we heard from them and have chosen to change our agency! A few factors went into this decision being made.
1. The overall cost is less. This was a big factor for us as we are trying to save money on our own with help from our families and friends.
2. The payments are not due up front. With the other agency, the payments were due before anything was done for us. With St. Elizabeth Coleman, the payments are due at the end of each step.
3. It is a Catholic Charities Agency.
4. The average wait time is 18-24 months which was less than expected through the other agency.
We are excited to be working with this agency and are hopeful for the future. Continuing to pray and discern along the way.
Love to our village,
Ashley and Tommy
Tommy and I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for all their love, support and help in our adoption journey. We are working hard to find ways to save up money and fulfill our calling as parents. We cannot apply for many grants until we have a completed home study. There are very few grants out there that allow for no home study to be completed. We are still hoping and praying as we wait in God's Time for a child to call our own. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Thank you for your time and willingness to come on this journey with us! We are in the beginning stages of the adoption process and are working on funding right now. When we have started to move on to the next steps in our adoption, we will be sure to update you.
Please keep in mind that adoptions can take a short time or more than 2 years. This could be a quick journey, or one that takes time and patience.
Much Love To You All,
Tommy & Ashley
