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.

How Adoption Consultants Work (And How They’re Different from Agencies)

Starting the adoption process can feel overwhelming, leaving many families wondering where to even begin. Between navigating costs, home studies, and the legal requirements of different states, the journey is often complex. This is where adoption consultants and agencies come in, though they serve distinctly different roles in the process.

What is an Adoption Consultant?

Christian Adoption Consultants (CAC) exists to assist, educate, and advise couples throughout their entire adoption journey. They act as a personal guide and advocate, helping to streamline and simplify a process that can otherwise feel insurmountable. 

The main responsibilities of a consultant include:

• Education and Planning: Providing resources on adoption basics, positive adoption language, and various adoption pathways like domestic, international, or embryo adoption.
• Personalized Agency Lists: Creating a customized list of recommended, vetted agencies and attorneys based on a family’s specific budget, preferences, and situation.
• Profile Design: Assisting with the creation of a high-quality family profile book or online profile, which is the primary tool used to introduce adoptive families to expectant parents.
• Financial Guidance: Helping families create a financial plan by identifying grants, loans, and creative fundraising options to make adoption more affordable.
• Risk Assessment: Reviewing specific adoption situations to help families identify potential legal, medical, or financial risks before they commit.

How is a Consultant Different from an Agency?

The most important distinction is that Christian Adoption Consultants is not a licensed adoption agency. While agencies are licensed child-placing entities that handle the legal transfer of parental rights and the actual placement of a child, consultants focus on the support and navigation side for the adoptive family.

Key differences include:

• The Multi-Agency Approach: Most agencies only show you situations within their own program, but a consultant uses a "multi-agency approach." This allows families to apply to multiple ethical agencies at once, widening their net and typically resulting in a shorter wait time—averaging 7 to 12 months for CAC families.
• Undivided Support: Agencies must balance their time and resources between serving expectant/birth parents and adoptive parents. A consultant is hired specifically to support the adoptive family, providing one-on-one attention and guidance through every high and low.
• No Conflicts of Interest: Ethical consultants, like those at CAC,  never accept referral fees or "kickbacks" from agencies or attorneys. They recommend professionals based on their track record of ethics and service, not because of a financial incentive.
• Broad Expertise: While an agency is an expert in its own state’s laws and its specific programs, consultants often have a team of professionals—including licensed social workers and adoptees—with experience across multi-state adoptions and various pathways.

Why Expertise and Ethics Matter

Choosing between a consultant and an agency isn't an "either/or" decision; rather, it's a "both/and" as a consultant helps you choose the right agencies. Christian Adoption Consultants has spent years vetting agencies to ensure they meet strict standards for ethical practices and birth parent care. This includes ensuring that expectant parents receive proper counseling and that all fees are transparent and reasonable.

Ultimately, the goal of a consultant is to equip and empower you to make knowledgeable decisions for your family. By providing a gold standard of support and a transparency promise, they ensure you are never "going it alone" on your path to building a family.

Adoption can be a complex journey, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Christian Adoption Consultants, we would consider it an honor to play a small role in the plans God has for your family. Whether you're just beginning to explore your options or are ready to dive in, we are here to provide the hope and expert guidance you need.

Ready to take the first step? Email me at susan@christainadoptionconsultants.com and I'll send you a free adoption information packet!

Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Adoption Agency

We know not all adoption agencies are built the same. Finding an agency you can truly trust for ethical, high-quality services has become harder than ever. Not all adoption agencies operate with the same level of ethics, transparency, and care — and families are feeling the difference. In today’s adoption landscape, discerning which agencies truly operate with ethics and excellence requires more wisdom than ever.

I’ve put together this guide to help you identify the most important questions to ask so you can choose an adoption agency with confidence. Practically speaking, you’ll want to schedule calls with each potential agency, take detailed notes, and even create a simple spreadsheet to compare their answers side by side. Look for consistency, transparency, and clarity. Then, after you’ve done your due diligence, take time to pray and seek peace about moving forward.

Adoption Guide: Questions to Ask Adoption Agencies

Confirm Licensing & Accreditation (Non-Negotiable)

Start with the basics:

• Fully licensed in its home state

• In good standing with the state licensing authority

• Authorized to place children across state lines (ICPC experience)

Ask: “In what states are you licensed, and how long have you been licensed?”

Red flag: Vague answers or reliance on “facilitators” instead of licensed professionals.

Ask About Ethics & Birth Parent Support

Strong agencies prioritize ethical practices and informed consent. Look for:

• Independent options counseling for expectant parents

• Clear explanation of parental rights and timelines

• No pressure on birth parents to choose adoption

• Post-placement support for birth families

Ask: “What counseling and support do you provide to expecting parents before and after placement?”

Red flag: Agencies that focus only on adoptive parents or minimize birth parent needs.

Demand Fee Transparency (In Writing)

Reputable agencies provide:

• A clear, itemized fee schedule

• Explanation of what is refundable vs. non-refundable

• Disclosure of typical total cost ranges

• Clear explanation of birth parent expense policies

Ask: “What is the typical total cost, and under what circumstances could costs increase?”

Red flags:

• Guaranteed placements

• “Low-cost” promises without explanation

• Pressure to pay large non-refundable fees upfront

Understand Realistic Timelines (No Guarantees)

The agency should:

• Explain average wait times, not best-case scenarios

• Clarify how matching works (birth parent choice)

• Be upfront about factors that may extend a wait

Ask: “What is your current average wait time, and what factors most often cause delays?”

Red flag: Promises like “You’ll have a baby within a year.”

Assess Communication & Support

Adoption is emotional and unpredictable. A good agency:

• Responds promptly and clearly

• Offers education and preparation

• Provides consistent updates during waiting and matching

• Has a clear point of contact for your case

Ask: “How often will we receive updates, and who will be our main contact?”

Red flag: Long response times during the inquiry phase.

Research Their Reputation

Talk to past clients. Ask for:

• References from recent adoptive families

• Testimonials that describe both positives and challenges

When speaking with others, ask:

• Did costs match expectations?

• Were timelines realistic?

Check:

• State licensing databases

• Better Business Bureau (patterns matter more than one complaint)

• Independent reviews and adoption forums

Tip: Focus on how issues were handled, not whether issues existed.

Bottom Line When Looking for Agencies

Major Red Flags to Avoid

• Guaranteed placements or timelines

• Pressure tactics or fear-based sales

• Lack of written contracts

• Unclear handling of failed/interrupted matches

• Organizations acting as “matchmakers” without clinical or legal oversight

What a Good Adoption Agency Feels

• Honest, not sales-driven

• Clear about risks and realities

• Respectful of all parties

• Organized and well-coordinated

• Willing to say “this may not be the right fit”

But by now you're realizing how long this might take. Finding agencies that do more than a few adoptions a year, and then calling them one by one to ask all of these questions and verify their responses.

Adoption already requires emotional energy — it shouldn’t require endless hours researching which agencies can be trusted. That’s where Christian Adoption Consultants comes in. We fully vet agencies, ask these detailed questions, and evaluate ethics, transparency, and practices upfront. CAC carefully screens, interviews, and evaluates agencies before recommending them to families. We ask the difficult questions about ethics, transparency, financial practices, and support — because your peace of mind and your child’s future are too important to risk. In a multi-agency approach, trust matters — and we make sure it’s well placed. In a multi-agency approach, you gain broader reach — without sacrificing time or peace of mind. We’ve done the homework, so you can focus on building your family.

You don’t just need more options — you need the right ones. At the end of the day, families shouldn’t have to become investigators to feel confident in their adoption journey. Adoption is too important to leave to guesswork. CAC thoroughly vets each agency, evaluates their practices, and asks the hard questions — so you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. 

Adoption decisions carry weight — and you deserve guidance you can trust. If you’re ready to explore a vetted, time-saving multi-agency approach, feel free to reach out. I would be honored to walk this journey with your family!