Adoption Story: Kendall + Maycee

Behind every adoption story is a journey that led there, and this one carries years of longing, resilience, and faith. I had the privilege of supporting this family as they stepped forward in trust, even after so much disappointment. Watching their story unfold has been incredibly special, and I’m so grateful to share it here.

We decided we wanted to start our family in 2019, after seven years of marriage. Kendall had completed graduate school, and Maycee was over halfway through medical school. An early miscarriage led to the discovery that Maycee has a balanced translocation, making it difficult to maintain a pregnancy. Maycee matched into a general surgery residency, and we started IVF right away. Ultimately, we did five rounds of IVF, but all failed. During that time, we also had two additional miscarriages. 

During the whole process, we were being led toward adoption, and we spent a lot of time learning and praying about whether it was right for us. We learned of Christian Adoption Consultants through a friend and decided to book the consultation. Immediately during our phone call with Susan, we felt like this could really be the right next step for us. We signed up with Christian Adoption Consultants in September and immediately began the homestudy process. Susan was so helpful in providing recommendations for home study agencies, placing agencies, and guidance and prayer throughout that time. She would always send a friendly text or email to check in and was always so patient and kind with her responses to my questions. She made us the most beautiful profile book that really captured who we are and helped make that process feel manageable. 

Our home study process was finally completed in February, and our agency applications were completed shortly thereafter. As we continued praying and preparing our hearts for whatever baby God had for our family, we looked at our calendar and decided to pray a very big and specific prayer. We felt like the right timing for our lives, work, and upcoming plans would be to have a baby who was born in April. After years and years of infertility, we did feel a little bit crazy to pray so specifically for a baby so soon, but we really leaned on Romans 12:12: "Be joyful in Hope, patient in trials, faithful in prayer," and Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful." 

You can imagine our surprise when we got a text message on April 1st about a mom in labor asking if we’d like to present our profile. With it being April Fools’ Day, we felt shocked that God would answer our very big and very specific prayer so quickly. We thought this was exactly what we’ve been praying for, so let’s be faithful to take our next step and present our profile, because maybe this would be our baby. A couple of hours later, we were informed that the birth mom chose us, and the next thing we knew, we were on a flight across the country to meet our baby. We learned that the baby was born while we were flying, and they asked if we wanted to know the gender. We said yes! And learned that we would shortly be meeting our daughter. 

Walking to the hospital room, we were very nervous to meet her and her birth mom, and we wondered what this process was going to feel and look like. When I met her birth mom, we hugged each other for a very long time and cried together while we both held this sweet baby girl. We spent a couple of hours with baby and her birth mom until her birth mom left the hospital. We spent that first night in the hospital with our daughter and the next day took her “home” to our hotel. 

It’s amazing how immediately we loved this baby girl so much. And how we went from 0 to 100 in terms of every aspect of our lives, and every decision we made revolved around this tiny miracle baby. Our hearts were healed in an instant.

Looking back on the last several years, I don’t have a clear reason why our path has looked like this, but I know with certainty that God‘s hand was in it the whole time, and he was preparing us for this season and this baby. God is a God of provision. He is faithful and can be trusted with the deepest longings of your heart. We thank God every day for our daughter and the way He has built and is building our family.

Adoption Story: Chas + Erica

It is such a privilege to walk alongside families through every season of their adoption journey—the waiting, the uncertainty, the setbacks, and ultimately, the incredible moments when everything comes together. This family’s story is one that beautifully reflects God’s timing and faithfulness, and I’m so honored to share a glimpse of their journey with you.

Reflecting back on our adoption journey, now that we are on the other side, has brought so many emotions to mind - hope, doubt, anticipation, fear, uncertainty, joy, and peace are just a few! 

We began our journey almost as soon as we were married. We worked with a wonderful agency in our home state to complete all the home study requirements and patiently waited (well, as patiently as we could anyway!). After several years with little movement, we were encouraged to branch out, which is where we discovered Susan with Christian Adoption Consultants. 

It seems like a whirlwind since that time, just seven short months ago, and we really began to feel God's calling that we were moving in the right direction. We had some setbacks and some disappointments along the way, and more waiting, but once we matched with "J" things just felt right, more right than they had in a long time. We were only able to talk on the phone one time with "J" before our little peanut was born - that call brought so much peace and hope to us as we began to prepare to bring our baby home. 

Meeting "J" and baby Penelope for the first time still seems like a dream! The smile on "J's" face when we walked into the delivery room was like none I've ever seen before. Her excitement for us was so evident as we locked eyes and then focused together on naming our sweet Penelope. We soaked up every moment with could with "J" while we were in the hospital, not knowing what our relationship would look like in the future - learning as much as we could about the other and most importantly loving our sweet girl. Saying "until next time" as we parted ways was very emotional. We had talked a lot about God's grace and love at the hospital, and we felt it so much, especially that day! 

We have been so incredibly blessed on this journey - even though it was long and difficult at times, as it brought us to the perfect place with our sweet girl - we can't imagine our life without her!

Adoption Story: Jack + Kenna

Some adoption journeys carry both deep heartbreak and incredible redemption, and this story is a beautiful reflection of both. It was an honor to walk alongside this family through loss, uncertainty, and ultimately, the joy of seeing God’s promises fulfilled. I’m so grateful to share their story with you.

We decided to start our family through adoption because we knew God was calling us to adopt. We decided to partner with Christian Adoption Consultants in this process for a variety of reasons, including our shared Christian values. Working with and being supported by fellow believers was something incredibly important to us. Through CAC, we were connected to several agencies. In September of 2025, we matched with an expecting mom. We traveled in November to meet her and her other kids, started to fall in love with the daughter she was allowing us to adopt, and then everything changed. On her induction date, she decided to parent. This is called an "interrupted adoption." We grieved our loss, but were also thankful that a family was able to stay together. CAC walked through our grief with us every step of the way. Susan was a listening ear when we needed someone to talk to, and would give us advice based on Scripture when we needed it. She and the CAC team played no small part in our decision to continue with the adoption process after our loss. 

Fast forward to March of 2026... we are presented with a drop-in case. Another baby girl. We texted back and forth, prayerfully considering what to do. We came to the conclusion that we would need a miracle if we are chosen, but we've needed miracle after miracle the whole time. We matched with the drop-in situation on a Tuesday. And by Friday morning, we arrived at the NICU to meet our daughter. We were with her every step of the way until she was discharged. 

Her birth family named her Amari, and we decided to keep the name. Why? Amari in Hebrew means "promised by God." Given our story, given how many people told us "God has the baby meant for you," it seemed like the perfect fit.

Adoption Story: Kyle + Katie

Every adoption story is unique, and it’s a privilege to be part of each one. Kyle and Katie’s journey was filled with trust, hope, and so much love. I’m thankful to share a part of their story here.

Kyle and I have always had a heart for children. We knew we wanted to grow our family, no matter how or what that looked like. God provided a way for us to become parents through adoption! 

We didn't know where to start, but a friend had recently adopted with the help of Christian Adoption Consultants and had nothing but good things to say about them. We explored many options, and we are so glad we chose CAC  to help us become parents. Meeting our son for the first time was incredible. Our case worker helped the transition go so smoothly; she got us lots of pictures before we could make it out to meet him (he came fast and furious!). 

The process of adoption can be so emotional, tiring, and expensive, but the team at Christian Adoption Consultants stood by us the entire time, prayed with us, and helped us through the entire journey.

Adoption Story: Ian + Alyssa

Ian and Alyssa had a whirlwind adoption. But it didn't come without months and months of planning, completing their home study, and working diligently to fundraise. Then came the waiting as they presented their profile. Six months of presenting and saying yes to situations, praying every night as a family for a baby brother or sister to join the family. Then a call about a baby born that changed everything...

Our situation was a "stork drop," which is a little more unique, and also required us to be flexible and trust God's plan. If anything, it gave God even more of an opportunity to show just how in control He is. We got a call at 9:30pm stating that there was a baby ready for us in Florida, and in less than 24 hours, we were in a hotel lobby with the adoption agency, meeting our baby boy for the first time. From airplane tickets to Airbnb's, God brought it all together. It was a special opportunity for us as a family to all travel together and meet our new family member for the first time.

It was all such a shock and a whirlwind that I think we are all still processing and reflecting. It's been beautiful to see how God has been in all of the details of our family's story - of our baby's story. I am so glad we trusted God and took this leap of faith despite the many challenges we faced along the way. The rainbow has been a wonderful reminder for us on this journey. God always fulfills his promises.

Our biggest encouragement to other hopeful adoptive parents on this journey is to BE FLEXIBLE!! As humans, it is in our nature to want to be in control and have a well-thought-out plan for every little thing. Our adoption journey has certainly stretched us in this area. We really had to "let go and let God," and it was amazing to see Him in all the details once we were willing to do that.

Once you take that first step, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and want to give up. Something we had to constantly remind ourselves was that if God has truly called us to adoption, He will make a way. There are so many little pieces that have to come together for adoption to happen. There is no way that all of the pieces come together without a loving and sovereign God who is in charge of it all.

We are thankful for the support from Susan and Christian Adoption Consultants on this journey! There are so many odds and ends that can seem overwhelming. It helped tremendously to have someone to hold our hand throughout this journey.

Adoption Story: Marc + Christy

"God won't let you miss your baby."

It's a truth I've seen over and over and remind families of often. When families are faithful to put their "yes" on the table, it's incredible how God aligns so many details. Marc and Christy's story of how they grew their family through adoption is one of trusting in God's plans, walking by faith, and watching God's faithfulness on full display. It was a joy to watch them celebrate their first of many Mother's and Father's Days in awe of God's goodness. 

In 2024, we decided to trust God and applied to an adoption agency that we read about twice over a four-year period in a daily devotional. The agency graciously rejected our application because we weren’t local and they were already at capacity. However, they recommended Christian Adoption Consultants. After praying and gathering ourselves, we applied to CAC and were connected with Susan VanSyckle, who was absolutely phenomenal and perfect for our family. She was so sweet, encouraging, informative, and prayed for us! Susan quickly reached out and talked us through the process and answered all our questions.  She was so kind and thorough and was so encouraging with all of our questions.  We knew that God is faithful, but this was going to be a front row seat to see Him be faithful in growing our family through adoption. Through our adoption process, God taught us to trust in Him and His amazing faithfulness, patience, how to hear His voice more clearly, and how to persevere in our prayers!

Because the Lord was the one to nudge us to adoption, we knew he was going to be faithful; we just had NO idea how perfect his plan and timing would be. We made the decision to sign on with Christian Adoption Consultants. Susan was amazing in helping us gather the information we needed to get everything together and eventually start applying to agencies. To say there is a lot of paperwork in this process would be an understatement. We felt bogged down at times with all the paperwork we needed to fill out, but the Lord continued to nudge us forward at exactly the right time. For everything, we were continuing to trust in him and practice patience as things were not happening in our timing, but His timing each step of the way.  We were filling out paperwork for our first agency and had some questions and concerns about substance exposure.  We reached out to Susan, and she was able to talk us through some of our concerns and then so gently say, “God is not going to let you miss your baby.” Wow, that made us stop in our tracks. You know in your mind that God is in control, but to take a step back and trust Him in something so big and personal, now that is a step of faith.  We heard this truth loud and clear and checked the boxes we felt led to check and gave the rest to the Lord.  

Once we became active with several agencies and started seeing situations, we would pray about each and ask God if we should present or not, reminding ourselves over and over that God was in control of our family.  He was not going to allow us to miss what He had for us.  Hearing ‘not yet’ each time was not easy, but we kept hearing what Susan said to us “God is not going to allow you to miss your baby” and we kept reminding ourselves of the verse “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:11). We knew we just needed to be faithful to the God who is so faithful and follow His voice and leading. 

One day, we received a situation, but we could not open it on any device. We prayed about it and talked it out, and felt this was the Lord protecting us from something.  Two days later, we were contacted by one of our agencies, sharing that an amazing birth mom had chosen us and asked if we were able to accept this match. God is so good, because we were thrilled and honored to be able to accept the match, as we had not been able to open or present to the last situation we saw a couple of days prior. God orchestrated EVERYTHING more perfectly than we could have ever planned on our own. We were matched on the Friday of Mother’s Day weekend, and we signed placement papers on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. You know God can do the impossible and is faithful down to the last detail when you read stories in the Bible, but we were awestruck to see how faithful down to the last detail he was through our adoption journey.  From the paperwork, to presenting to situations, to the timing of being matched, to the travel, to our son’s amazing and sweet birth mom, to the love and support of our family and friends, and all the people we met along the way, God was in every detail and we could not feel more blessed to have gone through this process.  To those of you thinking about adoption, just starting your journey, or in the wait, know that God is with you and writing a perfect story for your family, so don’t be afraid to lean into Him in every step. He is writing a story that will draw you closer to Him along the way and touch others as you share your testimony.

Adoption Story: Tyler + Molly

"We are full of hope and are excited for what the future holds. We know God’s timing is perfect and we are leaning into that as hard as we can and doing our best to be patient as we continue through this season of waiting."

That was from an email Tyler and Molly sent me in August. None of us knew then that there was a baby already born who would be their daughter. Just weeks after their declaration of hope and trust in God's goodness, they welcomed a little girl into their home. Today Tyler and Molly share their adoption story.

Through our adoption journey, God has taught us patience, faith, and perseverance, which is no surprise. As any of you who have started down the adoption path have discovered, it is challenging, difficult, and a lot of work! Being on the other side now, though, we can tell you that it is so worth it. It is beyond what we could have even imagined. God's timing is always perfect, even when we cannot see it or feel it in the struggle of the process. About a year into our adoption journey, we thought we were finally reaching a happy conclusion to our story. Ultimately, we ended up going through a sudden and completely surprising failed adoption. We were at one of the lowest points of our lives in the aftermath, wondering what was next: do we even want to continue with this, and would having a child ever become a reality for us? Little did we know, while we were in those dark days, there was a baby being born that would ultimately be coming home with us a couple of months later. Of course, God knew all of this; He was perfectly orchestrating our story and could see to the other side. While we were in the lowest valley, we never lost hope in Him. Now that we have seen the rest of the story and the happy ending for our family, it is amazing to look back and see how God was refining and preparing us. God doesn't plan for bad things, but allows them to happen. He then creates beauty from those trials and hardships we face. We just want to encourage all of you who are in the middle of the storm, feeling trapped, or like there is no end in sight. Keep your faith and eyes on the Lord. Keep loving each other well, praying, and do not give up. Jeremiah 29:11 offered us so much encouragement: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

We also want to send a huge shoutout and thank you to Susan, our consultant at Christian Adoption Consultants. It is hard to put into words how much help Susan and the entire CAC team were for us in this adoption journey. From creating our profile, finding a reliable home study provider, to selecting and getting us on the lists of the various adoption agencies, it was a wonderful experience. There is no doubt, we could not have done it without them. The process has an extremely high workload at times, and our stress level was reduced by a large amount, having Susan and the whole CAC team there to guide us along step by step. The Adoptive Parent Guide was another great resource for us to be able to go look at on our own. When we did reach out to Susan, her communication and response time were so incredible. She was always thoughtful, understanding, very caring, and willing to do anything she could to help us out. If you are considering adoption and looking at going the consulting route (which we highly recommend!) then you cannot do any better than Susan and her entire team at CAC. 

Want to start your own adoption journey and story of hope, contact me here!

Adoption Story: Nate + Erin

I haven't met a hopeful adoptive family yet that assumes the road to adoption will be an easy one. But often, families have a hard time knowing just how their personal story to grow their family will be written. Nate and Erin had no idea what God had for them in the years they pursued adoption, but there's no doubt His plan was good from the start. Read more as Erin shares their incredible story!

Since childhood, we both knew adoption would one day be part of our story. Growing up with adopted relatives gave us a firsthand understanding of the beauty, significance, and lifelong impact of adoption. It opened our hearts early on to the idea that family is built not just by biology, but by love, commitment, and calling. Early in our relationship, we found that we shared this desire, talking often about how adoption would someday be part of how we grew our family. It wasn’t just a passing thought; it was something the Lord had planted deep within both of us.

After welcoming our two wonderful boys and settling into life as a family of four, we began to sense the Lord stirring our hearts again, reminding us of that long-held dream. The desire didn’t fade; it grew stronger. We felt Him gently nudging us, opening the door, and calling us to step out in faith. It wasn’t a decision made lightly, but one covered in prayer, conversation, and trust.

Adoption has always been more than just an option to us—it’s a reflection of the Gospel, of being chosen and deeply loved. We believe in the sacredness of this calling and the honor of being part of a child’s story in this way. So, when the time came, we stepped forward with open hands and hopeful hearts, ready to walk the road God had prepared for us.

We first heard about adoption consultants from a friend and were immediately intrigued. In 2022, we connected with Christian Adoption Consultants and had an introductory call with Susan. From the very beginning, we knew she was the perfect fit for us. Susan made what could have been an overwhelming process feel manageable and filled with hope. She was incredibly knowledgeable, always patient with our questions, and consistently available to offer guidance. Her steady encouragement, thoughtful prayers, and genuine care gave us so much peace and confidence every step of the way. We truly can’t imagine walking this journey without her, and we’re endlessly grateful for the heart, wisdom, and support she poured into our adoption story.

Our adoption journey was long and difficult, marked by years of waiting, failed adoptions, and even a fraud case. At times, we questioned if we should keep going, but each time we cried out, the Lord reminded us to trust Him and His timing. Though it wasn’t easy and we wondered if it would ever happen for us, we held onto faith, believing He was always at work even when we couldn't see it. We clung to the truth that He had called us to this and would bring it to pass. A quote Susan shared with us by Elisabeth Elliot stood out to us along our journey: “Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith.” Despite fear and uncertainty, we chose to keep trusting the Lord every step of the way.

When we presented to our now daughter’s birth mom, we felt a deep peace and were sure she was meant to be ours. When she chose us, that peace only grew. But after arriving and waiting to go to the hospital, we were told we wouldn’t be adopting the baby. We were heartbroken and confused, doubting what we had heard from the Lord. The drive home was painful, and we paused our adoption to heal and pray. One of us felt God saying no new situations would come, while the other felt we were close and just needed to trust His timing. Though it seemed conflicting, we chose to move forward and trust God’s direction. Then, just a week after making that decision—and a month after returning home—we got a call: our case worker told us that the birth mom asked if we were still willing to adopt her daughter. We were stunned. What we thought was a closed door, God reopened. We said yes, and days later, we were on a plane to meet her.

Meeting our daughter for the first time was absolutely surreal—an unforgettable moment where time seemed to stand still. We instantly fell in love. She was perfect in every way—tiny, beautiful, and full of life—a little ray of sunshine that lit up our world. Holding her in our arms for the first time brought tears of joy and overwhelming gratitude. In that sacred moment, every hardship, every unanswered question, every year of waiting melted away. It all made sense.

The Lord had been so faithful, gently and purposefully weaving together each part of our story to lead us to her. She is more than we ever dreamed of—full of joy, wonder, and a sweetness that fills our home with light. Watching her grow, hearing her laugh, and simply being near her is one of life’s greatest privileges. We are constantly in awe of the gift she is to us. Our hearts are overflowing with thankfulness to the Lord for choosing us to be her parents. She is a daily reminder of His goodness, His perfect timing, and His ability to turn waiting into beauty. She’s not just the perfect addition to our family—she is a miracle, a blessing, and a treasure beyond words.

Our daughter comes from a strong, brave woman who made one of the most selfless and loving decisions a mother can make. She entrusted us with the incredible gift of raising her daughter, and we are deeply grateful she chose us to be her forever family. Her courage, love, and strength are forever woven into our daughter’s story, and we will always honor that. She will always have a special place in our hearts and in our home—she is part of our family. We cherish her, not only for the choice she made but for the beautiful person she is. Her love gave our daughter life, and her decision gave us the greatest blessing we could ever receive. We are committed to making sure our daughter grows up knowing how deeply she is loved by her birth mom and how her story began with immense bravery and love.

The journey to our daughter was nothing like we expected, but we wouldn’t change a thing. The Lord orchestrated it so beautifully—far beyond what we could have imagined—growing us individually, strengthening our marriage, and deepening our faith as a family. Adoption isn’t easy; it’s filled with unknowns, waiting, and moments of surrender. But through every high and low, we’ve seen how God’s love and grace sustain and shape us. He used this journey to refine our hearts, to teach us trust on a deeper level, and to remind us that His plans are always good—even when they look different from our own.

Adoption has forever changed us. It has expanded our understanding of love, of sacrifice, and of what it means to be family. It’s taught us to hold space for both joy and grief, and to embrace the beauty of redemption woven through brokenness.

God continues to write the story of our lives with care and purpose, and we know that our precious daughter is one of the most beautiful chapters—a gift beyond anything we could have hoped for. She is a living reminder of His faithfulness, and we are honored to be her parents.

I love that Nate and Erin wanted to end their story with verses they clung to during their adoption journey and prayers that they would encourage others.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  -Proverbs 3:5-6

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   -Philippians 4:4-7

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.  -Proverbs16:1

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  -Romans 12:12

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  -Isaiah 40:31

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  -Psalm 27:14

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.  -Psalm 37:4-5

Embryo Adoption Story: Matthew and Kati

Today I'm thrilled to share a first. This past Spring. Christian Adoption Consultants welcomed our first-ever baby through embryo adoption! I was blessed to work with his parents, Matthew and Kati, as they walked through the process of adopting sweet Josiah as an embryo, going through the frozen embryo transfer, and carrying his pregnancy. I was in awe watching them prayerfully and thoughtfully go through each step so intentionally and today Kati shares a bit about their journey.

Matthew and I adopted Josiah when he was a 5-day-old embryo in August of 2023. He was placed in the care of a medical facility anonymously, which means that his genetic parents did not want to disclose identifying information or have a relationship with his adoptive parents. Many such embryos are placed alongside their genetic siblings, also in frozen, embryonic state. Josiah, however, was on his own. It is not uncommon for singletons like him to be adopted with less frequency than genetic sibling groups. According to the paperwork, he was truly alone.

And yet nothing could be further from the truth. Josiah has always had, and will always have, the best of fathers: Jehovah himself. The Father who says to each of us, “I have called you by name; you are mine”. No amount of genetic assurance or nuclear family members could ever assuage the longing in our hearts to be truly known and loved. Only our Creator can do that. One day, Jesus will call us to our true home in Heaven.

In the meantime, we rejoice daily that God brought each of us together. He united Matthew and me eight years ago. He has also entrusted us, despite all our shortcomings, with three precious kiddos. Josiah’s older siblings Isla (just 6) and Callum (almost 4) tend to him with unrivaled tenderness and zeal. Since the moment he was born, Matthew and I find ourselves saying to each other, “He may have only joined us a few months ago, but it feels like he has always been a part of us.”

Adoption Story: Michael and Becca

One of my favorite things is asking families to tell their stories. This space is full of adoption stories and often, hopeful adoptive families will pore over each one, wondering how their own story will be written. Or looking for encouragement on their own journey which turned out longer than they anticipated. When I asked Becca to share the story of their son, she didn't hesitate. She knows good stories are meant to be shared...and celebrated.

I am so excited to have a story to share on Susan’s adoption blog! I read her blog late at night when I found out we’d yet again not even been presented to a birth mother. I loved how every adoption story came together so differently. God is creative, unchanging, and reliable all at the same time.  Adoption was laid on my heart in my early twenties as I attended a church with a huge heart for adoption. The youth pastor and his wife had adopted from foster care and advocated heavily for little ones in similar situations, working hard to educate people on ways to get involved. When our first pregnancy ended in miscarriage I brought up the topic to my husband and he was fully on board. We started adoption classes in 2015, but quickly learned our life was not at all at a place where we were proper adoptive candidates. Several years later, we were settled into a house and raising two little ones. My husband and I were pretty set on adoption through the foster care system but kept hitting walls, sort of like a "square peg, round hole" situation. I had a local family friend who adopted domestically with the help of Christian Adoption Consultants and over time we realized that’s the direction God was steering us toward. 

As 2022 began, we ramped up our efforts towards becoming home study ready and officially signed on with a handful of agencies. We chose three to four that we connected with on paper and felt peace about partnering with, but there was one agency that really stood out to me. We asked to be considered for probably twenty-plus situations before the agency we felt most drawn to called out of nowhere in October with a match! We happened to be on vacation and began driving to meet this sweet birth mama and baby. Things unexpectedly took a turn and twelve hours later, we heard she had decided to parent. Although I was genuinely happy for her and her baby, we were far from home and I felt so confused. It was then that Susan was able to provide some answers and address my doubts and concerns. The  conversations we had in the next week kept me at peace with our hope to adopt and thankfully we stayed the course. 

Just twenty days after our rapid heartache, the same agency called again with a match: a little baby who had been chosen for our family. And just a few hours after that, we were boarding a plane to cross the country. I was more than a little anxious and prayed the entire flight. We left the airport and got into our rental car to head to the town where this sweet baby was waiting. My whole family fell asleep in the car. It was a lovely ride with gorgeous scenery and lots of heaven-sent peace. I was still so nervous but the peace reigned. This is a drive I often look back on with such a happy heart. I didn’t know then what was ahead, but now I know it unfolded so beautifully.

We ran into some obstacles once we got to the hospital. Before we could meet the baby, official papers had to be signed and reviewed. It was three days before we met our son and I felt like I was about to bust the doors down - it couldn't come soon enough! We finally met him and settled into an Airbnb as a family of SIX! We loved where we were staying, appreciated every moment, and just hours later we received the call from ICPC we could travel home. We were shocked it was so quick! It was close to Thanksgiving and we were so grateful to be able to celebrate at home.

I look back on the days before we received "the" call, the hours of achingly waiting to see what would happen, and the early days of meeting our son with awe. Honestly, God blew us away. There were times during our journey, especially after we were foster licensed but felt zero peace, when I was so confused about this calling we felt. I was always on board to adopt but thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for it all. I am so, so grateful, for our journey, thankful we stayed the course. and absolutely adore the baby God brought into our family. 

God was always there and always leading. 

Adoption Story: Adam and Lindsay

Adam and Lindsay's adoption story is one of patience, perseverance, and incredible faith. They walked through so much to ultimately bring their son home, at the most unexpected time and in the most unexpected way. I love the way Lindsay describes adoption, as grief and joy intertwined. Read more of their story as Lindsay shares the grief of the long journey and the joy of a son growing their family.

We had always talked about adoption and knew adoption would be part of our story, but we weren't sure when or how. After growing our family initially with two biological children (and a lot of trauma), we felt like adoption was the path that God was pointing us toward to complete our family. Lindsay's cousins had used Christian Adoption Consultants for their adoption a few years back and highly recommended them, so in November 2021 we had a call with Susan and decided to officially move forward.

The beginning was a flurry of activity - the home study, profile book, and loads of paperwork and applications. After that, we waited. We presented. And waited and presented some more. Finally, in May of 2023, we were matched with an expectant mom who was due to have a baby boy in just a few days! Ultimately, she decided to parent. While we were devastated, we also rejoiced that a family got to stay together (Isn't that adoption in a nutshell? Grief and joy intertwined). We continued to wait, and matched again in early July, this time with an already-born baby boy. Unfortunately, while we were at the airport, we got a call from the agency saying it was not going to happen. This was our lowest point - we weren't sure we could recover from a second failed match and questioned whether we misunderstood and if this was really the path for us.

We share this part of our story not to give other hopeful adoptive families doubts, but to give them hope. Because those challenges ultimately led us to our son! One week later, we got another call that we were chosen by a birth mom with a 7-month-old baby boy. We were guarding our hearts heavily, but made the journey to Utah to meet them. It was love at first sight and papers were signed the next day. It was such a whirlwind, but in the absolute best way.

Our son is the sweetest, happiest, most snuggly (and chunky!) baby in the world. We have bonded with each other in such an amazing way and we love him fiercely. We also love his birth mother and are forever grateful to her. Everything we've been through in growing our family has 100% been worth it - we couldn't love him more.

When we set out on this journey, we didn't picture a long wait; we didn't picture failed matches; and we didn't picture bringing home a baby who wasn't a newborn. But God had other plans, and we thank Him every day that he brought our son into our lives. We truly cannot imagine life without him - we were meant for each other.

The guidance, resources, and prayers from Susan and the CAC team were invaluable during our adoption journey. I don't know how we would have done it without them. 

Adoption Story: Kyle and Jamie

Beautiful stories aren't often beautiful in the midst of them. They can be messy and hard and long. I love Kyle and Jamie's adoption story. But the middle of their story was full of waiting, unknowns, and a lot of "not yets" from God. Today Jamie shares their wait, their son, and God's answered prayers.

We started the adoption process in September of 2021. We became active on the waitlists in January of 2022. While we had hoped to match within the year, God had other plans. We waited for what felt like forever. After a while, the initial excitement and buzz began to wear off and we started disliking when people would ask for updates because we just didn't have any. We came to the point where we weren't sure if it was really going to happen for us. Adoption seemed like a far-off, unattainable dream. 

At the beginning of May 2023, I had just posted on Facebook that we had no updates and things were just moving slowly. The very next day, we got the situation about our son's birth mother. One week later, we matched with her and just six days after that, he was born. It was an insane whirlwind to end a very long, slow process. And looking back, a year and nine months isn't that long of a wait; it's just hard to remember that when you're in the middle of it and you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

As we reflected on our adoption process and God's providence through it all, we discovered something interesting. We counted back to nine months before he was born, and that period in our lives was actually a very difficult one for us. But all the while, he was growing in his birth mother's belly. There are so many things that God orchestrated behind the scenes without our knowledge. When we thought things weren't moving along, our son was there, growing strong. When we thought all hope was lost, we got the call the next day. 

It still hardly seems real, but what a testament of God's mighty hand working all things out even when we can't see it. 

Adoption Story: Sam and Angela

The journey to parenthood is unique to every couple. For Sam and Angela, it was a seven year wait to becoming parents and a family of three. Today Angela shares the heartbreak and joys of finding their way to their son.

“Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

In March of 2021, we had already been trying for a family for five years. In our prayers and petition before the Lord, we were moved to explore adoption. Right when we started acknowledging adoption as an option, we started hearing from friends and family who were all tied to adoption! A friend of ours introduced us to Christian Adoption Consultants and spoke highly of the vetting process for the adoption agencies, the integrity of the organization, and the consultants’ advocacy for their clients. We reached out and connected with Susan. 

Soon after, I became pregnant for the first time, so pursuing adoption took a backseat. Fast forward to November: we went through a whirlwind of personal events–including two miscarriages. At the lowest point in our journey to growing our family, we were once again connected with Susan! This time around, we made the choice to move forward with a phone call with Susan. After our phone call, we were filled with a sense of life and peace. Sam and I looked at each other and knew we were being called to adopt. 

We quickly got to work – filling out paperwork, working on our profile book, starting our home study process, and sharing the exciting news with our friends and family. By March of 2022, we were home study approved and active with multiple agencies. During that first month, we received so many cases. At that pace, we were sure we’d be matched in no time! However, as the months went on, the cases started coming in much more slowly. 

After nine months of waiting, we expected a "not yet" every time we presented. We were questioning if there was something about us that the expecting moms didn’t like. Pregnancy announcements were becoming more difficult to receive. And our initial excitement was quickly dimming. We decided to pick ourselves out of the lull by planning a trip to visit my family overseas. We spent weeks looking online for the best flight deals and the best time to go. However, every time we found a good deal, something would hold us back from purchasing tickets. One night, I found myself asking God why it was so difficult to buy tickets? What was holding us back? 

A few days later, on December 8, 2022, we received an email about an expecting mom who was due in January. The expecting mom listed very specific criteria of what she was looking for in a family and we met every single one! We quickly decided to present, but ran into some technical difficulties with our background checks expiring soon. We shared with Susan that this case felt so different from all the other ones, and she reassured us she was advocating for us. A week later, we heard from the agency that the details had been worked out and the expecting mom wanted to have a phone call with us. 

I was a ball of nerves before the phone call. What if she didn’t like the way we talked? What if she changes her mind at the last minute? But the second we got on the phone with her, the nerves fell away. Our conversation with her flowed so easily. At the end of that conversation, she told us our favorite sentence of 2022, “Would you guys like to become parents to this baby?” 

I still remember the quiet moment of utter disbelief followed by the squeals of excitement and tears. This was it! We were finally becoming parents! We had two weeks to get everything ready. We packed our car with some baby essentials and headed down to Florida. Through a church friend, we were connected with a fellow believer who took us in and treated us like family. While we were down in Florida, she lodged us and fed us – no questions asked. We now lovingly call her “Granny Judy.”

(Baby’s first time at the beach with Granny Judy)

When we arrived at the hospital, we met up with the expecting mom in person for the first time. It still felt so surreal at that point. The hospital staff moved quickly, and within two hours, I was in scrubs and inside with her. I had envisioned how the delivery would be, but I was not prepared for the flood of emotions. As we held him in those first few moments, everything felt so unbelievable. 

(Our first selfie!)

However, we were still withholding our excitement, because we knew birth mom had 48 hours to change her mind. Those 48 hours were just as nerve wracking as the wait up until that point. But through all our education concerning adoption, we knew it was essential for mama to spend time with her baby. So as difficult as it was, we made sure to take him to his birth mom whenever she wanted to see him. Two days later, our attorney arrived and went to the birth mom’s room to sign the adoption paperwork. It felt like the longest wait. After a while, our attorney came into our room, smiled, and said she signed the papers. We were free to leave the hospital with our son! That was the first time we felt true relief in our entire adoption journey. Later on, his birth mom shared with us that she was grateful for those 48 hours with us. She felt like that time she had with him and us in the hospital helped her realize that she was making the right decision. 

After 7 years of waiting, struggling, doubting, praying, and petitioning, we were parents. In the beginning of our adoption journey, we thought becoming parents through adoption depended on how hard working we were. If we could apply to enough agencies, present the best profile, or write a good enough letter to the birth mom, we’d be parents in no time. However, through our 10 months of waiting to be matched, we realized that becoming parents through adoption requires our absolute dependence on God who is the Faithful One. If you are on this journey, know it's okay and normal to question and doubt, but also be reassured this is not where the Lord wants to leave you. Because He is the One who has called us to adoption, He is also the faithful One who will complete it. 

(The glasses are not real–just cute!)

Adoption Story: Kevin and Kaylee

So often in adoption, once the paperwork is complete, the home study done, and the applications turned in, it can feel like nothing is happening. Like the adoption journey has come to an abrupt halt as you wait to be chosen and matched with an expectant family. The silence can be deafening and the lack of movement paralyzing. But so often, God is working behind the scenes, maybe even across the country, preparing all of the details in His perfect timing. Kevin and Kaylee know about the agonizing wait. And they also know about God amazing faithfulness.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope." Psalm 130:5

Ever since I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to become a mom. Whenever asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” The answer was always “a mommy!” And after marrying my college sweetheart, we were both so excited to start our family. Years of infertility and multiple miscarriages were definitely not an expected part of the plan. We felt an incredibly deep sadness, and were worried we would never become parents. Then a good friend told us about Susan at Christian Adoption Consultants, and encouraged us to reach out. 

We started our adoption journey in January of 2022. While adoption wasn’t part of our original plan, we felt like this was what God wanted us to do. We started the process full of hope and excitement. By May of 2022, paperwork was done and we were officially on waitlists. Checking our phones constantly, we waited with anticipation. 

The excitement slowly started to drift as we heard nothing for months. Why weren’t we hearing anything? Was something wrong? Were our names really on the waitlists? Susan continued to encourage us to stay hopeful and trust God’s plan. Some days, it was easy to do. Others, we were full of doubt. 

When we finally started hearing from the agencies, it was an emotional rollercoaster. A moment of hope and excitement would quickly be diminished by another “no.” It’s so hard to be so vulnerable and put yourself out there only to be told “they picked someone else.” After a handful of “no’s” and our paperwork expiration dates creeping up, we truly felt like we might be at the end of our adoption road. We felt extremely defeated, frustrated, and hopeless. 

Then in January of 2023, almost exactly a year after we first talked to Susan, we got a phone call. 

We were matched on a Monday night and our precious girl was born two days later. We truly felt like we were living in a dream. It was a whirlwind of emotions; joy, excitement, nervousness, fear of another possible “no.” But all fears washed away as we held her and started to bond with her incredible birth parents. 

We are in total awe of God’s faithfulness. He knew all along that this was our daughter. Through all of the “not yets,” the tears, the worries… our daughter was growing and preparing for her entrance into the world. The road to get here was HARD. But now holding this amazing gift in our arms, it was absolutely worth it.