In 2016, we made the decision to embark on an adoption journey and complete Team Parker with our second son, Spear. Along the way, we learned a TON about the adoption process, and I’ve shared what I learned through a collection of posts that address a variety of adoption-related questions.
I also chronicled our personal adoption journey from when we first made the decision all the way to when Spear’s adoption was finalized (and beyond)!
See all of my adoption posts here
Getting Started
- Q+A About Our Adoption Plans
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Adoption Process
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Post Placement Phase of the Process
My Most Popular Adoption Posts
- Why We Don’t Consider Gotcha Day Offensive
- Christian Adoption Consultants Review
- Our Adoption Journey Two Years Later
- The Difference Between Fostering and Fostering to Adopt
- The Positive and Negative Aspects of Open Adoption
- Explaining Adoption to Kids
- Announcing Our Plans to Adopt
- Adoption Concerns: What About Medical History
- Gift Ideas for the Expectant Mother From the Adoptive Family
- When to Tell Your Child They Are Adopted
Our Timeline
Our family was thrilled to follow the path the Lord had put in front of us. We stepped out in faith and God has written an incredibly beautiful story for our family. We’re so thankful we got to add this precious gift to our family through the blessing of domestic adoption!
April 25, 2016: Decided to Pursue Adoption to Complete our Family!
May 24, 2016: Signed on with Casey from Christian Adoption Consultants
June 15, 2016: Told Kye he’s going to have a Little Brother!
June 17, 2016: Told Britt and Tess the News
June 19, 2016: Told our Families our News
June 24, 2016: Announced Adoption Plans via Social Media
July 28, 2016: Home Study Visit
September 12, 2016: Home Study Approved!
September 14, 2016: Put contract with CAC on hold until early 2017 so we can raise funds and prepare home for baby.
March 1st 2017: First t-shirt campaign ended, raised roughly $1,000!
March 15th 2017: Contact with CAC re-started. Officially moved to “waiting to be matched” status!
August 7, 2017: Received information on “Mama E” and decided to present
August 16, 2017: “Mama E” received our info and selected our family
August 22, 2017: Zach and I spoke with “Mama E” on the phone for the first time
August 24, 2017: Officially MATCHED!
September 19th, 2017: Met “Mama E” for first time and saw “Tab” on ultrasound
December 1st, 2017: “Tab” (now Spear!) was born! Zach and I were able to be in the delivery room with Mama E for this beautifully heartbreaking moment
December 3rd, 2017: Papers were signed making Zach and I Spear’s official guardians. Spear was also discharged from the hospital!
May 14th, 2018: Spear’s adoption was finalized making him a Parker forever and ever!
June 9th, 2018: First Post-Placement meeting with Mama E
Blog Posts About Our Adoption Journey
Summary of our 1st Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 2nd Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 3rd Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 4th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 5th Month “In Waiting”
Stepping Out In Faith (recommitting to adoption decision)
Summary of our time on break (Months 6, 7, 8 and 9)
Summary of our 10th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 11th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 12th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 13th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 14th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 15 Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 16th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 17th Month “In Waiting”
Summary of our 18th Month “In Waiting”
40 Hours (waiting for consents to be signed)
Parental Rights Being Signed to Us
Our Adoption Journey: 2 Years Later
Our Adoption Journey: 3 Years Later
Spear’s Finalization Day Celebration: May 2021
Our Adoption Story- The Journey To Our Son
For We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight
2 Corinthians 5:7
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5
