After the adoption of our first son from foster care, we knew we wanted to pursue adoption again in the future. Our second son is biological; we wanted our first son to have a sibling close in age, and our adoption during COVID was almost at a standstill, as was much of the rest of the world. Two years later, we had two healthy boys and thought we had completed our family. But of course, our lives are always in God’s time, and He had bigger plans for us. We began pursuing adoption again.
We anticipated either a traditional or international adoption, but while speaking with Snowflakes for the first time, we felt an immediate peace and knew this is where God wanted us to be. Embryo adoption was something we had never heard of, but Jared and I both knew immediately, nervous as we were, that this was exactly what God wanted. We never could have imagined the extraordinary relationship we would have with our placing family.
From the very beginning of this adoption, we knew we wanted an open adoption, as our oldest son unfortunately does not have that opportunity due to his circumstances. What we never anticipated, though, was inheriting an entire family of loving aunties, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.
We met our placing family for the first time through a FaceTime call, and they happened to mention in passing where they live. Shockingly, it was the very place we were heading for vacation just two weeks later. I think that was the moment all four of us knew with complete certainty that God had planned this more perfectly than any of us could have imagined.
We adopted three embryos and implanted two during our first round. We were blessed with two beautiful babies for seven weeks before one of our sweet babies was called back home to Jesus. Six months later, we were overjoyed to welcome our sweet Theodore.
The relationship we have with our placing is amazing, ever-changing, surprising, and wonderful. There is no handbook for how to pursue the future, but we do know this: we are forever grateful for the love and support we feel daily from our placing family.
