Adoption Is Love

What happens at the intersection of an unexpected pregnancy and a couple who are struggling to conceive? Simply put, adoption and a union made from love.

Our journey began in 2009 when my husband and I decided after being married for a few years that we were ready to start our family . As with most couples, we naively thought the process would come quickly and smoothly for us . But it didn’t .

Month after month, nothing happed . So, reluctantly, after the 12-month mark, we made an appointment for infertility testing . Test after test, procedure after procedure led us to the diagnosis of Unexplained Infertility .

We progressed our treatment to IUI’s (intrauterine insemination), including a surgery to remove stage-3 endometrial tissue . After months of progressively stronger medication and no success, we were asked to sit down with our doctor where he told us the heartbreaking news, “There’s 10% of my couples that I can’t help . You are part of my 10% . ”

Pursuing Adoption

Devastated, we closed the door to any further infertility treatment, and in time began our pursuit of adoption . What began as a very educational pursuit on the topic quickly turned to seeing God’s heart and redemptive work through adoption . After countless forms and multiple home studies, we were approved .

We put our “Yes” on the table multiple times for various adoption opportunities, but we were never picked . I stopped counting how many times we pursued various cases presented to us . But I never stopped praying, although after years and years even my prayers felt boring and stale .

Finally, God gave us our “Yes” through a sweet couple in Florida . We traveled to meet them a few times before the birth of their baby to begin developing a relationship with them . At the time of birth, they changed their mind and decided not to pursue their adoption plan . Although we knew that was certainly their right, we returned home to an empty nursery with hearts completely shattered . But God in His goodness carried us through .

Never Giving Up

We put our “Yes” back on the table, this time only with cases considered in the adoption world as “Stork Drops,” where the birth mother makes her adoption plan and signs revocation paperwork (annulment of her adoption plan) before being matched with the family .

As I prayed desperately and fervently that summer, my prayer was that our child would arrive before my birthday . Two days before my birthday that fall, we finally got “The Call .” Our miracle daughter had been born, and we were chosen to be her parents . Our hearts overflowed with joy and amazement at God’s goodness and faithfulness to form our family . Now our daughter is 5 years old and continues to be the light of our lives .

It took us eight years to become a family with our sweet daughter . During the last several years of our journey to parenthood, I had the opportunity to pray for our birth mother that God knew we would be matched with . The more I prayed for her, the more my heart softened for her and her journey . I prayed countless prayers that she would know that she is loved, valued, and cared for in her journey . I could only imagine the tremendous amount of love it would take for her to carry her child to delivery and make an adoption plan .

We will forever be indebted to and thankful for our birth mother and her sacrificial love for her child . She gave us a gift that we could not provide for ourselves, and she chose LIFE! She chose life in the midst of a culture that screams otherwise . She was brave and courageous in her decision . And she is blessed to know that her child lives a happy, healthy, loved, and joy-filled life with parents, family, and friends that love her child beyond measure .

Turning Unexpected Into Something Beautiful

There is no doubt that adoption involves grief, but even in the midst of that pain, God is faithful . He is close to the brokenhearted and I know that God

is close to the brokenhearted, and I know that God honors the decision to choose life . God can take the unexpected and unplanned, and turn it into something beautiful . Life is precious, and we’re so thankful that God can use adoption as a way to redeem families and use stories such as ours for His glory .

Having experienced firsthand the value of life, I knew that I wanted to find a way to give back to an organization that encompasses this value . That’s when God led me to The HOPE Center – a place where women can be equipped and empowered to choose life . I’ve had the honor of volunteering at The HOPE Center as a Client Advocate for over a year now . I look forward to coming in each week to love on and encourage women who need support and prayer .

The women that come to our center have their own unique story and reason that they seek our support, but being able to listen to them, care for them, and share God’s love with each of them is such a blessing . My favorite part of talking with each client is the opportunity to share the Gospel and encourage their deeper relationship with Jesus if they already know Him . There’s a peace to know that not only are we providing for them at The HOPE Center, but that ultimately God is in control and providing for them as well . We personally know the heartache and joy that can be found in adoption, and gladly share our story at any opportunity that we can . We’re thankful for how God formed our family, and how he proved His faithfulness to us in the process .

PROUD TO POWER OUR COMMUNITY

Since 2013, generous Cobb EMC members have rounded up their bills to support local organizations. This small change adds up to make a big difference in the communities where we live and work. The Cobb EMC Foundation is proud to support The HOPE Center.

The ODell Agency is proud to partner with The HOPE Center as they faithfully and diligently serve our community. It is a blessing to be able to see the lives that they are touching and the impact that they are making! We are honored to be a part of this life changing movement!