Adoption Story: Jeff + Shari

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I had the pleasure of walking Jeff and Shari through the adoption process! After 5 months of being active with agencies, they got a call they had been chosen to be the parents of a one-month-old baby boy. In less than 24 hours they were holding their little one in their arms! Shari and Jeff, it was an honor to walk with your family on the journey that led you to your sweet boy! I am in awe of what God has done, and I can’t wait for others to read about it today! I know it will be an encouragement to so many others who are in a difficult season of waiting!

We've always thought adoption was beautiful, and it was something we definitely talked about while we were dating. Shortly after we were married, we went on a mission trip to Haiti and visited a children's home. This opened our hearts even more to adoption, but like most couples, we assumed we would have biological children first. When that wasn't happening, we had peace about it but began to pray earnestly for God to place a calling on our lives to adopt. And He did! 

A good friend connected us with Christian Adoption Consultants and Kelly Todd, specifically. I'm so glad we requested her to be our consultant. She was friendly, kind, reliable, and so knowledgeable! Having someone walk us through the process and answer all our questions was SO helpful!

Throughout our journey, we clung to Phillippians 4:7. “ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We didn't always "feel" at peace because there were so many unknowns and what-ifs, but we trusted that God would match us with the exact baby He had for us.

After 5 months of being active with agencies through CAC’s multi-agency approach, we were finally chosen! Meeting our son for the first time was so wonderfully surreal. In our case, we found out we matched about 24 hours before we met him and brought him home. It was a whirlwind of emotions to process in a short amount of time. It's not how we envisioned it happening, but it ended up being SO perfect...we wouldn't change a thing!

Looking back, we see so many of "God's fingerprints" in our story. Like as we were pulling into the parking lot to go pick up our son, a friend texted Jeff that the Lord had put it on his heart to pray for us the day before and that he felt we would be getting our baby soon. And looking back on my many journal entries, I was praying God's favor over our baby and their birth family on the exact date our son was born.

Waiting and wondering how your story will play out is hard! Our advice is to fill your minds with encouragement and truth along the way. Read scripture, pray for your future baby and journal! Read uplifting books about adoption, listen to podcasts, and look at all the adoption stories on the CAC website. Know that God is working even when it doesn't feel like anything is happening. God's timing is perfect. Even when you think you're ready, God knows best.

***If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat! Email me to receive a
FREE adoption packet.***

Adoption Story: Carrie + Joe

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Today, Carrie shares the journey that led them to their TWINS! Prior to working with us, Joe and Carrie had been in the adoption process for about 10 years on and off. Understandably, they were exhausted from the ups and downs of the process. Yes, they were weary, but they were not without hope. Joe and Carrie have a beautiful resilience about them that I know they attribute to the Holy Spirit. I was speaking with Carrie the other day on the phone, and she reminded me that one of the reasons she decided to reach out to CAC was because she came across a picture of my family, and she saw that we had adopted twins. Little did they know that almost 10 months later, they would be chosen to be the parents of boy/girl twins! Carrie paints pictures with words, and I know you will be tremendously blessed by what she has to share today!

I'm sure, like many others who have walked this process before, our adoption story can be best likened to a ride on a wooden (antique even) roller coaster. The ascent is filled with enthusiasm for what awaits when you finally make it to the top and have the ability to see out above the track. It is the boiling anticipation and stamina that sustain you. The descent sends your belly into your throat — the kind where you are both exhilarated and terrified simultaneously.

As we all know, with any truly great roller coaster ride, there are unexpected curves and swift moves that jerk you back and forth in your harness, keeping you on edge and awaiting the next turn or drop. There are outstanding peaks, of which you can only see out for a second, and steep drops that remind you that you have no control — where you can only hope and trust that this harness will do its job. This is the closest illustration to our adoption journey, which, in all reality, will continue as a beautiful lifelong story.

We have started many hopeful horizons in the face that plunged us into steep, unexpected drops. And though we experienced hope leading to disappointment over and over again, there was always movement — and so long as there is movement, there is life.

Joe and I were at the tail end of our willingness to continue on the path toward adoption after we encountered yet another unforeseen drop. Though we wanted children more than anything, the whiplash from years of letdowns was beginning to take its toll as the end seemed more like a hopeful imagination than a reality worth putting any more money or expectancy into.

We found Christian Adoption Consultants and decided this would be our final go-around before getting off this ride for good. It took 15 years of twists and turns to bring us to where we are today — holding our amazingly beautiful twin babies and basking in spit-up, diapers, and limited sleep. Getting here took walking through numerous adoption situations, experiencing a dozen plus rejections, enduring several failed adoptions, and learning long-suffering — in every sense of the word — that seemed as though it would never end. But, when we got into our SUV to drive home with our twin babies in the backseat safely strapped into two car seats that were loaned to us by our neighbors because we didn't have time to buy our own, and as the congratulations started to pour in, I experienced something deeper than excitement — it was long-suffering coming to an end.

The process of adoption demands perseverance — and it is impossible to have perseverance without hope, without community, and for us, without CAC. They walked with us. That’s what friends do — they walk with you, at your pace, and alongside you. (A big thanks to Kelly for walking — sometimes crawling — with us and always being present through this process and all its demands.)

And to the reader: If you are contemplating adoption, stop thinking and get on the ride.


***If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat!
Email me to receive a FREE inquiry packet.***

Adoption Story: Eric + Marissa

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I had the joy of working with Eric and Marissa throughout their adoption journey! I was amazed by their strength and grace throughout the ups and downs that come with this process. Eric & Marissa, the entire team here at Christian Adoption Consultants are rejoicing with you! Today, Marissa shares a little bit of the story that led them to their son.

Adoption is something that Eric and I hold really close to our hearts, and it was a conversation that we had early on while we were dating and into our marriage because we knew it was something we both wanted for our family. When we felt like God was leading us in this direction, we began to talk about how to get started. My sister-in-law told me about Christian Adoption Consultants, and we completed our home study and began applying to different agencies. 

I remember the anticipation during the beginning stages of this process being nothing like I had ever experienced. Thankfully, we had Kelly to help answer all of our questions, pray for us, and check in every step of the way. 

We experienced several months of “no’s,” which we learned to receive as “not-yets.” In the beginning, when you are told “no,” it’s easier to pick yourself up and keep going. However, the more “no’s” that we received, the more I began to start feeling defeated. The feeling was something that the enemy was projecting on me, and I knew deep in my heart that these feelings were lies. We knew that our story wasn’t over, so we continued praying and trusting God through all of the “no’s.”  

One day in the summer, we got a phone call that we had been chosen! It was a baby girl, and she was due soon. I can remember this day so clearly. We felt so blessed and thankful!  We told all of our family and close friends, and with not much time before her due date, we started making preparations. 


But then we were told that the adoption plan would not be moving forward. The words “failed adoption” entered the conversation.  I sat there on the phone in silence. We were devastated. We knew this was a possibility in the world of adoption, but you just never think it’s going to happen to you..until it does. 

We took time to grieve this loss, and then when we felt ready, we began presenting again. About 4 months went by, and then we received the news we were chosen and matched for the second time! We were so excited! However, the excitement was short-lived—another failed adoption.

We went through a roller coaster of emotions that day and in the days to come. We had so many questions. In the midst of the confusion, though, I almost immediately felt peace about the situation, which I wasn’t expecting. I could hear God whispering to me, “Do you trust me?” The answer was, “Yes! 100%” Whether we understood or not, we trusted God and His plan. He knew the desires of our hearts because He created us. He is faithful, and He keeps His promises, and that is what we clung so tightly to during the days to come. We very quickly picked up the pieces and moved on.

A week after we received the news, we presented our profile to another expecting mother. Four days later, we had a phone call with her. Before we got off the call, she told us that she wanted us to be the mom and dad of her child!  Our son’s Birth Mother gave me the privilege of being in the delivery room as our son entered the world!  It was at that moment that I experienced a love like I had never known before, and I thought to myself, “Thank you, God, for trusting me with your child that you so perfectly created for a purpose and on purpose.” 

God’s hand was in our son’s story. In the moment, it is always easy to question the why and how, but looking back, I know that God was preparing our hearts, and during the waiting, we just had to trust Him. He walked alongside us in the deepest of valleys, and He never left our side. Here we are now, with our precious son that God so graciously gave to us.


***If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat!
Email me to receive a FREE inquiry packet.***

Adoption Story: Megan + Clayton

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It’s never lost on me that my job as an Adoption Consultant entails walking hand-in-hand with families pursuing adoption. Having gone through the adoption process over 7 years ago, it’s very special to me that I’m able to connect with my families from the personal standpoint of, “Hey, I get it. I’ve gone down the path that you are embarking on. I understand what you are going through.” There is just something comforting about having an advocate on your side who understands the highs and lows, twists and turns, and uncertainties that accompany the adoption process.

I’ll never forget my first call with Megan and Clayton. We shared similar stories of infertility and the pain that coincides with it. Through the overwhelming path that led them to adoption, I sensed a strong sense of hope in their spirit. Despite their circumstances, they did not give up. I’m so glad they didn’t. Through perseverance and faith, God led them to their beautiful baby girl. Clayton and Megan, I’m so happy for your sweet family! Thank you for trusting me to help you on the journey to your daughter.

Megan shares more of their story below…

There is nothing that our God can’t do!

That has been the theme of our adoption story as God flung open one door after another. He had our daughter in mind before we met her, and nothing could mess up the story He was writing for our family.

When Clayton and I got married, we knew we wanted to grow our family right away. What we didn’t know was the struggle that growing our family would come to be. We endured three years of difficult diagnoses, miscarriages, multiple surgeries, several specialists, hundreds of medications and hormone injections, etc. In the thick of it, it felt as though God didn’t hear our prayers, our cries for a child to fulfill the desire He had placed in our hearts. 

While we continued to pray and seek His will for our lives, we heard God place adoption on our hearts. As we prayed about adoption, we continued the medical route for a few more months. It was then that we reached out to Kelly Todd at Christian Adoption Consultants to gather more information about adoption. To be completely transparent, the fear of the unknown had taken hold of our hearts. What if the expecting mother changed her mind, and we experienced yet another loss? How would we afford to adopt after undergoing treatment for the past three years? What did an open adoption truly look like? A few more weeks went by, and we continued to feel God calling us to adoption. We knew it was time to be obedient and trust that He would take care of every detail. It was in that moment, when we fully opened our hearts to be obedient, that we truly felt God honor the position of our hearts and begin to move mountains. 

We signed on with Christian Adoption Consultants and began working towards completing our home study, paperwork, and adoption agency applications. This process is not for the faint of heart, as it requires patience, organization, and being vulnerable enough to ask questions. Kelly was with us every step of the way. She encouraged us, answered our questions, and prayed for us. Within no time, our home study was complete, and we were able to begin receiving situations about expecting mothers who were considering adoption.  

One ordinary evening we responded to a situation about a baby girl due in June. We were so new to the process, and this was only the second situation we had responded to. We said a prayer and sent a text saying we wanted to present to the expecting mother. God was on the move! That weekend in church, we sang the song ‘More Than Able’ by Elevation Worship, and it became the theme song over the next few weeks. “Who am I to deny what the Lord can do?” and “You are more than able” are lyrics I would repeat over and over. 

A few days later, we were informed that the expecting mother had narrowed down the families she wanted to speak to, and we were one of those families! We couldn’t help but get our hopes up. We prayed endlessly, as did our family and friends. After having a phone conversation with the expecting mother, she informed us the next day she chose us to be parents! Tears of joy and prayers of thanksgiving became a part of our daily routine. However, we were no strangers to the fear and lies of the enemy. The more excited we became and the closer we got to traveling for the birth of our daughter, the more the enemy attacked. We are so thankful for Kelly as we continued to pray with us, reassure us, and check in with us continually. As she was praying for us, we were able to refocus our attention on the blessing before us.

Before we knew it, we were flying out to adopt our baby girl. Meeting her Birth Mom, watching her enter the world, and becoming her parents has been the greatest blessing we have ever experienced! Words truly cannot describe the emotions that surround this answered prayer.

We are currently living out our long-awaited dream of being parents, and we thank God every day for the little girl he chose to be ours! Adoption (and the three years of trying to grow our family) taught us to fully rely on the Lord, to find refuge in Him, and to seek His will above our own. Adopting our baby girl has been the greatest reminder that when we let go of our own plans and let God in, His blessings are far greater than anything we could imagine!

We are forever thankful for the gift of adoption, for our perfect baby girl, and for God’s faithfulness. We are so thankful for Kelly and Christian Adoption Consultants. This whole process truly takes a village, and we highly recommend having Christian Adoption Consultants as a part of your village! 

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! Psalm 126:5

With love and gratitude, 
Clayton, Megan, and Baby Girl


***If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat!
Email me to receive a FREE inquiry packet.***

Adoption Story: Chad + Cori

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I remember my first conversation with Chad and Cori. They were so kind and easy to talk to, it seemed like I was connecting with good friends. We were only a few minutes into chatting and they began sharing their story and what led them to adoption. Shortly after our conversation, they signed on with me at Christian Adoption Consultants. After their home study was finished we had a call to go over their questions, next steps, and what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. We discussed the wait that comes with the adoption process and the difficulty that can often bring. Little did we know that their wait would be short-lived as they went on to match the very first time they presented! It was such an honor to walk with them on the journey that led them to their son, Isaac. Cori shares a little about their journey below…

This year God has blown away all of our expectations. Working with Kelly and Christian Adoption Consultants provided such helpful information. It was a purposeful choice for Chad and I to foster hope in our hearts despite the risks and the disappointment that we could face. We thought it would be a roller coaster ride, but our experience was more like a wave!

In August, we started the process with Kelly at CAC. After our home study was finished, we began applying to agencies via their multi-agency approach. By January, we were accepted and began seeing situations, and in February, we were matched! It was like being knocked over by a wave of God’s grace and goodness.

Two things we now know about God and adoption that we didn’t know before….

1. We adopted our baby boy Isaac, but we also expanded our family more than we ever would have imagined! We have an open adoption and have built a relationship with his Birthmom and Birthfather. They are so very dear to our hearts!

2. With every obstacle we faced, it was evident that God had gone before and smoothed the way. When we were navigating Isaac’s birth and spending time with his Birth parents, Kelly spoke words of wisdom and encouragement to Chad and I. She pointed us toward a vision of what the future might look like, which was so life-giving. We are so grateful for Kelly and, of course, our bundle of Joy!

Our encouragement for families currently in the wait is to foster hope in your heart despite the “what ifs” because God is gracious, and He loves to surprise us!

If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat! Email me to receive a FREE inquiry packet, and check out Christian Adoption Consultants for more information!***

Adoption Story: Mandy + Kirk

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It was such a joy working with Kirk and Mandy! I am so grateful that the Lord connected our paths, as it was such an honor to have a front-row seat in their adoption journey! Below they share the story that led them to their two amazing kiddos and how God bonded their hearts with them forever. 

It’s so cliché, but everything happens for a reason. Some people know from the jump that adoption is in their hearts and follow that path. We were not those people. Our 5-year journey to parenthood started in 2013 after we were married. We were placed on the adoption path in 2017 after trying to get pregnant both on our own and then with specialists. 

When we met our daughter, Kenna, for the first time in 2018, it was like the waters parted, and it all made sense. All of the heartbreak over years of negative tests and failed treatments just melted away. We fell in love with her instantly.

Fast forward a few years, and we were ready to grow our family again. We had briefly tossed around the idea of doing one “Hail Mary” round of IVF, but I just didn’t have it in my heart. Adoption had rooted in and taken hold of it. While our first adoption experience was wonderful, once we were “in” the world of adoption, we learned about these people called consultants… and specifically about this wonderful group of people at Christian Adoption Consultants. 

We were connected with Kelly Todd at CAC, and she quickly put us on our path to finding our son. She was there with us every step of the way. From reading letters to prospective birth families to offering prayers and kind words after the disappointments of not being chosen, to the joy after finding out we had matched, and finally, the elation that came with meeting our son, Liam. 

Once again, the minute we saw him, we knew we were meant to be together. Not only did we have those parental feelings of joy, love, and connection, but Kenna immediately fell in love with him as well.

So this is us… Our story isn’t necessarily what we thought it would be, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We could not love our children any more than we do. They amaze us, and we are in awe of them daily. God knew what he was doing when He joined our hearts with theirs. Our path is the path we were always meant to take, and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

***If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat! Email me at kelly@christianadoptionconsultants.com to receive a FREE inquiry packet, and check out Christian Adoption Consultants for more information!***

Adoption Story: Molly + John

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As an adoption consultant, I have a front-row seat in watching God’s plans unfold for amazing couples, just like John & Molly. A few questions I often ask families inquiring about our services here at Christian Adoption Consultants is, “What led you down this path? What brought you here?” I will never forget the sheer vulnerability that poured from Molly’s heart when she answered those questions. There was not a dry eye on the phone. As Molly shares below, their adoption story did not pan out as they expected it would, but God did not waste their wait. He never does. Molly and John, it was an honor to assist you on the journey to your beautiful baby girl!

As far back as when I was a 12-year-old little girl, I remember being somewhat aware of the topic of adoption. I had a cousin who was adopted, and the thought of adopting was planted in my heart. Fast forward many years later, and the topic of adoption came up again. My husband and I welcomed twin boys. During my labor, I had very serious complications that eventually led to me not being able to have any more biological children. I brought the topic of adoption up to my husband, but at the time, he was not on board. This conversation continued to happen over many years. I still felt the tug of adoption on my heart, but my husband just wasn't feeling the same way. I continued to pray over and over that the Lord would either change my husband's heart or mine. It was the year 2020 when I first saw my husband's heart change. That fall, he came up to me and said, "I'm ready.” And thus, we began our journey to adopt.

I knew from the get-go that I wanted to work with an adoption consultant. The world of adoption felt overwhelming and confusing. I wanted someone who could help guide us along the way and pray for us. I had heard of CAC in my research, and I reached out to them for more information. We were immediately set up with an informational call with Kelly. After asking a few questions, I knew this was the route I wanted to take. We quickly signed up to work with Kelly, and we are so thankful we did.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it, the process was tough-mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Even though I tried to prepare myself for how hard it was going to be, there is just nothing one could do to totally prepare for what it is going to be like. From the Home Study paperwork, the tough conversations you have to have as a couple, to the rejection you feel when you are not picked by a birth mom-it's just difficult. There were so many times I had to surrender everything to God and choose to praise Him despite feeling defeated.

Everyone always tells you that "waiting" is the hardest part and it's true. In my head, I thought our wait would be quick. In every case that we would present, we couldn't help but get our hopes up. "Maybe this is the ONE," I would think to myself. I would begin to envision how our family would change, how I would prepare for the baby, etc. And then when we would get the email. "I'm sorry, the expecting mom has chosen to go with another family.” All those dreams came crashing down. I would allow myself to be sad about it for a while. I didn't know how not to be sad when not chosen. I knew that I trusted God, but that didn't make it any less sad for me.

Throughout all the ups and downs, Kelly was always there to lend a listening and comforting ear. She would pray for us when we were frustrated. She would encourage us when we were down. I can't tell you how much this meant to me during all the hard waiting times of adoption. She was also there to answer the numerous questions that would arise during this time. Each agency is so different and so there are always things that we would run past Kelly when we were unclear about something. She was quick to reply and always so patient with us.

During our time of waiting, we just kept reminding ourselves that God was in control. That HE knew what was best for our family and that we would trust him with that.

When we first read about our daughter's situation, we felt excited but also kept our excitement at bay. We were drawn to the case, but we had learned from past experience that nothing is a sure thing. We told the agency that yes, we wanted to be presented. The day I got the call was the day after Mother's Day and the day before our twins' birthday. I remember looking at my caller ID and seeing a state listed, and it was the same state as the agency where we presented. My heart immediately started beating faster. I remember the person from the agency telling me that we matched, and I immediately started crying. It felt surreal! I was elated, excited, nervous, happy, all the emotions! I immediately face timed my husband at work, and he could tell just by looking at my face that I was calling with great news. We were both just so excited! I then made the calls to some of my dear friends who had been praying for us for such a long time on this journey. Their joy was palpable!

We matched with our daughter’s Birth Mom in May, and our daughter was due a few months later. We immediately started to plan a time when we could meet our daughter’s Birth Mom. I was, of course, nervous and excited. What would it be like? How would the conversation go?  It was very neat because I had immense peace on the day of the meeting. I felt a sense of calm, and I know it was because we had so many people praying for us.  When we arrived to meet her, I immediately gave her a hug. I'm a hugger, so I told her that, and she smiled and gladly hugged me back. It was so neat to have dinner with her and her family. The conversation just flowed. My heart just felt so much peace and happiness.

Fast forward a few months, and it was the end of July. We had just hung out with some friends that day and got home in the evening. I heard my phone ring, but I missed the call. I went to get it and immediately saw that the call was from our social worker. I looked at my husband and said, "It's baby time; I just know it.” I called the social worker back, and she told me that, yes, our birth mom was in labor. Cue the adrenaline spike! At this point, it was 8:30 pm, and we had a 10 hr drive ahead of us. I already had a bag packed for the baby, but we still had to pack ourselves. We rushed around, called our friend to come and stay with our boys, and then called my parents so they could come and stay with the boys until we could return.

We had been invited to attend the birth, and we weren't sure we were going to make it. All the while, we were receiving updates from the social worker. It became clear that we weren't going to make it for the birth. Although disappointed, we knew it was out of our hands. Our social worker was great at sending us updates. We got the text at around 4:00 am that our daughter was born! We couldn’t wait to meet her!

When we got to the hospital, I remember slowly walking into the room and seeing our daughter in that little hospital bassinet. She was starting to wake up and fuss a bit, so I asked if I could hold her. I scooped her up and just stared at her precious little face. I couldn't believe that after all the years of prayer and longing, I was holding my daughter. My heart could burst. I was so happy. I remember looking at her and thinking, "You are the one we have prayed for all of these years.” I also remember thinking, "God, you are so so good.”

We are so thankful that we have an open adoption with our daughter's birth mother. That was something that was very important for our daughter’s Birth Mom and us as well. We communicate very regularly via text. We also facetime occasionally and will see her around the time of our daughter's first birthday. We want our daughter to know how loved she is by her Birth Mom! The fact that she is in our lives and can tell her that as she grows up is so amazing!

This process definitely taught me a lot about trusting God and surrendering my plans to Him. I, of course, had the perfect idea of when it would be ideal to match.  And while it didn't go badly, it definitely took longer than I thought it would. This process really taught me to not only say I trusted God but showed me how to trust God. With every "no" we got, I had to surrender that plan or dream to God and say, "I don't understand, but I trust you, God.” That was really hard. But it grew my faith and taught me to surrender my plans for His.

No one can really prepare you for the ups and downs that come with this journey. You can read every blog or every story, but just know yours will be unique to you. My advice would be not to have timeline expectations on when your match will happen. Make sure you and your spouse talk through how you're doing emotionally and mentally throughout the process. My husband and I dealt with disappointment in this journey very differently, and that was hard at times. I would also encourage you to have a support system. Share with your friends and family so that they can pray for you. Prayer is huge during this journey and very needed. There were many times I wanted to give up, or I was emotionally exhausted, and it was because of prayer and encouragement from friends and family that we were able to keep going. My other piece of advice sounds so cliche, but it's true. Trust God along the process. You may hear some hard "no's," but trust God that this is not the child for your family.

Professional Photos by Tiffany Brubaker Photography


***If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat! Email me, Kelly Todd, at kelly@christianadoptionconsultants.com to request a FREE information packet!***