How we’re you introduced to adoption?
After years of infertility struggles we knew in our hearts we wanted to become parents more then anything and our only way of achieving that goal was through adoption! After doing much research and a lot of praying we decided upon a local agency and began the adoption process.
Tell me about your adoption journey?
Our adoption journey seemed like it took forever but in all honesty it was one of the quicker ones! The process of filling out the application, the home study, and working on profile book pages took us around 16 months. Once our profile was placed in the book we were chosen just 3 months later and our beautiful daughter was born 9 weeks after that!
How has adoption changed you?
Adoption has made us parents! It has made my husband a father and I, a mother! It has given us a daughter – and the most beautiful one at that! Adoption has made us not just husband and wife but now a family of 3! Adoption has also led us to be more open. We love talking about our story and our adoption and giving/helping others who are just beginning the process!
What is the most rewarding aspect of adoption?
I think the most rewarding part of our adoption has been the people. They say It takes a village to raise a child but in my opinion it takes a village to adopt a child and to raise a child! We could not have done this without the help of our family, our friends, and even complete strangers. The people who came together to pray with us, to help us fundraise, to write letters on our behalf, and to help us get everything we needed to bring our daughter home are all blessings in our life.
What do you wish people knew about adoption?
Adoption is hard. Adoption is stressful. Adoption is the MOST rewarding experience we have ever been through in our lives. Adoption gave us our daughter and brought 2 families together. We were very hesitant to begin an open adoption but honestly after going through it we wouldn’t do it any other way. Our daughter’s birth mom gave us our greatest gift and we can’t wait to share her life with her as she grows up.
What are some of the greatest resources that you have used in the adoption process?
Our greatest resource was leaning on one another, our family, and our friends! We relied heavily on the power of prayer! We also used our agency staff and social worker as well as others who had adopted before us when questions arose.
What’s the one question you wish I would have asked you? Now answer it:)
Would you or do you think you would adopt again if given the chance?!
Answer: YES! We had such an amazing adoption experience we would be lucky to take the journey again. We would love for our daughter to be a big sister and we would be honored to be chosen to parent again!
Knowing how long and when photos are to take place sets up most of the other vendors for the day and knowing how to put this together can help tremendously and alleviate lots of stress when meeting with other vendors and figuring out how your day might look.
