Adoption Story: Dan and Eliza

This sweet couple. Wow! If you need a reminder today that endurance in the adoption process is worth it, look no further. Dan and Eliza had been in their adoption wait for almost four years when they called me, interested in learning more about using an adoption consultant. Almost four years! Yet, when they shared their story with me on that first call I heard no bitterness or anger from them; they were holding onto the Lord. More importantly, the Lord was holding onto them. I prayed specifically for God to bless them with a short wait with me given that they'd already been waiting for so many years. I won't pretend to understand God's time-table, but I do know that His timing in connecting...

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Adoption Story: Jon and Annette

I won't mislead you-this is a gut-wrenching story. Adoption is always born from loss but Jon and Annette's adoption journey to their twin daughters is absolute tragedy mixed with beauty. The compassion of Jesus was so powerfully displayed in them as they deeply loved their daughter's birth mama in the face of terminal cancer. This is what it looks like to step into devastating loss with eyes fixed on Christ and not on self. It was an honor for me to witness this adoption journey as I walked alongside Jon and Annette as their Adoption Consultant. They got started with me at the end of October in 2018 and were chosen by their girls' birth mama five months later in March of 2019. Annette so...

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Brian and Jenn Johnson's Adoption Story

A global pandemic. Quarantined at home. Travel halted. Unrest and anxiety hovering as Covid-19 spread. Devastating racial injustice. Protests. Rising racial division and grief. Rioting. A nation desperate for peace. These were not the circumstances Brian and Jenn Johnson of Bethel Music expected they’d be in during their second adoption journey. And yet, for such a time as this their son Malachi would enter the world. As an Adoption Consultant who has walked the Johnsons through both of their adoption journeys, I’m honored to share some of their most recent adoption story today. Brian and Jenn brought home their son, Ryder, in 2017. They have beautifully shared God’s heart for adoption...

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Brent and Leslie's Adoption Story

One of my favorite things about being an adoption consultant is getting a front row seat to the deep work of faith growth that God regularly does in hearts along the way. It inevitably challenges and strengthens my own faith as I watch God speaking to the adoptive parents that I work with. Now about three years after Brent and Leslie brought home their daughter, I continue to give thanks for the ways they sought God in the midst of questions and difficulty. Leslie reflects back on their adoption journey: Never say never. I vividly remember sitting in our church around ten years ago listening to a visiting pastor talk about he and his wife’s adoption story. I thought to myself and even...

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Adoption + The Sibling Perspective: Katie's Thoughts

Though our temptation can be to simply focus on how adoption affects our lives as adoptive parents, there are many more people's lives intricately connected and impacted when someone adopts a child. Most importantly, the adoptee themselves, as well as the child's birth parent. But another important person in the equation is a sibling whose parents have chosen to adopt. Katie was almost 15 when her family adopted the first time and 17 when they brought home her sister through adoption. I'm so glad you get to hear today from Katie about her "sibling perspective." Did you have any fears or concerns while your family was in the adoption process waiting before your siblings were born? How...

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How To Tell Your Child That They Were Adopted

Few things can strike fear in the heart of a newly adoptive parent like the thought of talking with their child about their adoption story. We know that it's so very important and we don't want to get it wrong! So how exactly do you tell your child that they are adopted? After walking with many adoptive parents as an adoption consultant, studying informative adoption research, listening to the voices of adult adoptees and adoption social workers, and caring for my own children that were adopted, I've seen 9 important components that are essential to telling your child their adoption story. How To Tell Your Child That They Were Adopted: 9 Essentials 1) Talk about it from the very...

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Guest Post: To The Waiting Woman Who Longs To Be A Mother

In my role as an Adoption Consultant, one of the things I hope to spread is the importance of listening to all members of the adoption triad: birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents. As Mother's Day approaches, I'm sharing some letters from members of the triad. As I thought about who I wanted to ask to write a letter to the mamas in waiting, my friend, Kim, immediately came to mind. The Lord has given her a gift for words and she so beautifully shares them below. Thank you, Kim! To The Waiting Woman Who Longs To Be A Mother Hello friend, I rolled out of bed in a bad mood and reluctantly dressed for church. This act of putting on my “Sunday best” was even more unbearable on this ominous...

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Guest Post: To The Woman Considering Adoption

Today's guest post is a beautiful letter from the perspective of a baby to his/her birth mother. As a Christian, wife, mama, adult adoptee, and pro-life advocate, Sarah is uniquely equipped to write this. Her voice is one that we can all learn from. Check out more of her story here. To The Woman Considering Adoption This Mother’s Day by Sarah Zagorski Dear Mom,  I know you can’t see me quite yet, but I can see you. No, not with my eyes, silly. I can see you with my heart.  Remarkably, your actions allow me to see who you are without even getting a glimpse of your face. From where I’m at I can hear your voice and detect the sound of your heartbeat as it races rapidly in conversations...

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Guest Post: To The Woman Who Made Me A Mother

Each guest post you read here this Mother's Day week was prayerfully written directly from the heart. Thank you to this adoptive mama who so beautifully shares today. I'm grateful to know you, Sarah. To the woman who made me a mother, When I first heard your name and knew you carried a child for whom you were choosing parents, I didn’t know how to connect my heart to yours. It would have seemed presumptuous or somehow greedy, to ask something of you or to force a bond that wasn’t there yet. I had prayed for a child for so long and, forgive me, I didn’t know how to pray for her first mother.  After we knew your name and knew we would be a family of three because of your courage...

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Guest Post: Letter To My Children This Mother's Day

I'm thankful for the opportunity to feature this letter from an adoptive mama today. Below she shares her heart for her children as they navigate the complexities of Mother's Day. Adoptive Mama Guest Post: To My Children This Mother’s Day, This week the world celebrates “Mother’s Day” but for you it’s more complex-maybe sort of like eating a dessert while simultaneously pulling the bandaid off an open wound. There’s nothing simple about it-this coexisting sweetness and loss. Celebrating with me is sometimes a reminder for you that you aren’t celebrating with her. You love me with all that you are and tell me that repeatedly throughout each day. Yet right alongside that deep love...

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Adoption Story: Vernon + Rhea

God loves to work through community. Vernon and Rhea's adoption journey so clearly reminds me that He often chooses to encourage and challenge our hearts through His people. It was such a joy for me to walk alongside this sweet couple as their Adoption Consultant. (And goodness, isn't their daughter adorable?!!) Rhea shares: A family friend of ours referred us to Katie in October 2018. We are so thankful we were able to connect with Katie and start our adoption journey with her. I had never heard of an adoption consultant but now it is my #1 recommendation to anyone considering adoption. Our home study was complete at the end of 2018 and by January we were being sent situations about...

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Adoption: 8 Ways To Love Well At The Hospital

We drove to the hospital in the dead of night, the freeway wide open and our hearts spilling over with nerves and hope. The moment we'd been waiting and praying for had finally arrived; the baby was coming! My heart beat wildly as I tried to remind myself: "The hospital time is not about us. Whatever happens, God is always trustworthy and love is always worth it." 8 Ways to Love Well At The Hospital When You're Adopting The hospital time is intense for everyone involved. As an adoptive parent I have learned hard lessons through our two adoption hospital experiences. And as an Adoption Consultant who has walked many adoptive parents through their own adoption hospital days, I am convinced...

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Adoption + The Sibling Perspective: Cosette's Story

Here in this space, I'm currently sharing some posts about Adoption and the Sibling Perspective. (Don't miss Gianna's thoughts here!) For families who enter domestic infant adoption with children already in their home, they wisely consider, "How will this affect our other kids?" I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to share with you some thoughts from a few siblings of the families I've consulted. Cosette was almost 13 when her family brought home their baby through adoption. Thank you, Cosette, for sharing your thoughts about adoption! 1) Did you have any fears or concerns about adoption while your family was in the adoption process waiting before your sibling was born? How did the...

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Adoption + The Sibling Perspective: Gianna's Thoughts

When families who already have children in their home consider domestic infant adoption, it's not uncommon for them to grapple with the question, "How will this affect our other kids?" As an Adoption Consultant, I've been so blessed to watch God knit families together through domestic infant adoption. One of my favorite things as a Consultant is hearing about the love and bond that God grows between siblings through adoption. I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to share with you some stories this week from the perspective of siblings! Below are thoughts from Gianna, a high schooler who went from being an only child to being a big sister a few years ago when her parents were clients...

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Adoption Story: Darin + Lois

It's not easy to hold fast to hope, stand on the truth about who God is, and keep trusting He is working even while you wait during your adoption. It IS easy to become discouraged, question if you'll ever be chosen, become frustrated, and want to give up while you're waiting to be chosen by an expectant mom making an adoption plan. Darin and Lois blew me away by their consistent trust in the Lord during their difficult adoption wait! The grace He poured out on them while they waited was so beautiful to see. I'm so happy to share some thoughts from Lois today about their adoption journey with me! This journey of bringing home our baby girl has been a long, beautiful, and hard road....

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