Adoption Story: Michael + Elizabeth

It was an absolute pleasure to be able to work with Michael and Elizabeth throughout their adoption. From our first conversation, it was evident that Michael and Elizabeth’s hearts were pure and fully open to walking down this path of adoption. While the journey didn’t always look how they had thought it would, their faith and trust that adoption would be the way they grew their family remained steadfast. They are a shining light and example of how to love and care well during the adoption process, and it was an honor to be able to walk beside them. 

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The songwriter says, “The God on the mountain, is still God in the valley”. And truly, that was the truth we clung to over almost two years. My husband and I signed on with CAC and Samantha in May of 2021. We knew very little about adoption, but we knew God was calling us to it. After our initial phone call, we took the leap of faith and started this journey. We shared with our family and friends how the Lord is taking us into the “unknowns” of adoption. With joy and love, they immediately offered their support and prayers. We remember thinking how difficult it was to discuss ourselves in the profile book. We took the advice to trust our guts and be true to ourselves. And Libby did a wonderful job designing our book. By the end of that summer, we were active with multiple agencies, and the adventure had begun. In November of that same year, we got a call that changed our world. We were matched with a little one in the NICU. We met sweet baby, and later, we were told the adoption would not be going through. We never cried so many tears as we did that day. All we could do was hold onto God’s hope in Romans 8.

“For we know that all things work together for the good of those who love him.”

Our hope felt shattered. But as we felt God’s comforting love for us, our desire to serve Him increased in the following months. We would read the blog posts and watch adoption stories online. We learned how to embrace the wait, not knowing how much longer we could trust God’s timing. We learned to take each day for what it was, and in the quiet weeks when we didn’t receive emails, we found ourselves praying harder for the adoption triad. The momma’s making the greatest sacrifice, the sweet children growing in their wombs, and the families walking this same journey with us.

We never want to sugar coat our experience, yet we love to rejoice that we now can share our testimony. Adoption isn’t easy, but we serve a God who is faithful and able. On Valentine’s Day, we got “the call” from an agency. My husband in shock, replied to the social worker, “um, I’m gonna have to call my wife”. The momma we prayed for selected us, and the baby would soon be here! God showed off and was working when absolutely nothing else was. And for that, we are forever grateful! We spent a month out of state while our son was in the NICU. Each time we had a concern or a question, God supplied the need or answer! We were provided lodging, new friends, and so much more. (Philippians 4:19).

Adoption has taught us to surrender to His will, lean on the blessings of support He has provided, and not get so caught up in the process. When you’re in the valleys and on the mountaintops, He is faithful. We praise Him that we are now home with our little guy. The adoption community is wonderful! Through this process, we made connections and friendships for a lifetime. This fall he will be dedicated to the Lord in our church. Honestly, that is the easiest decision given our child was a blessing ordained by God alone.