Family Stories
Our Journey - Chuck and Risa
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Our journey to adoption began in 1999, when we were first told that we would be unable to have biologic children. We pursued infertility treatment options for about a year, before we were given the option of in vitro fertilization. However it was at this time that began to feel that God’s plan for us was going in a different direction. During all of this we had always known that adoption would be an excellent option for us, if we were unable to conceive on our own. We had heard about Bethany Christian services while attending a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert several years earlier, so we contacted their Florida office and began the road to adoption. We had no idea what a wonderful journey we were in for.
While we were staying busy filling out all kinds of paperwork for Bethany (and dodging hurricanes) in August 2004, a wonderful young lady just a few hours away had recently conceived a baby boy. Her name is Andrea, and our profile became available for viewing just a short time before she realized she was pregnant and began to consider an adoption plan for her son. We met with her in March of 2005 and were amazed at the immediate connection we felt with her, and the obvious love she felt for her son. She truly wanted a home for him with a loving mom and dad who would raise him in a Christian home. And there we were so desperately wanting a child to love and raise. God’s timing was perfect as always.
Andrew was born on Thursday, May 5th, 2005, and we were overwhelmed with emotion from the moment we laid eyes on him. We first saw him on Friday evening and enjoyed the time we were able to spend with him and Andrea in the hospital. That Sunday (Mother’s Day), we brought him home and began our journey as his mom and dad. We believe that he is a gift from God and we love him dearly. He is growing so fast, and we are looking forward to continuing to give him all of our love, and to providing him with all of the wonderful opportunities life has to offer.
We have a semi-open adoption agreement and have enjoyed sending pictures and updates on Andrew to Andrea. We have also had fun setting up a blog site for him and enjoy keeping it updated with pictures and comments that she is also able to look at.
Throughout the process from paperwork to today, the staff at Bethany has always shown caring, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Their compassion for the birthparents, the adoptive families, and the children is always evident. We are looking forward to working with them again in the future to add a brother or sister for Andrew to our family.
Chuck and Risa
Always Room for More
Doug and Caroline, “Cally”, have always thought about adoption. Both come from large families and wanted their children to experience the joys of growing up in a large family. Over time they were blessed with children, Abigail, Joshua and Emily Rose. From the time Abigail was two years old she prayed that God would give her mommy and daddy a baby so that she could be a “big sister”. Doug and Cally actually began their adoption journey before Abigail was born and began again when they moved to Florida. Their home study was approved in September 2002 and about a month later they were blessed with a son, Joshua.
Abigail, Joshua and Emily Rose are the joy of their lives. Abigail is “Daddy’s Little Girl” and Doug states nothing would make him prouder then to have Joshua, one day, follow in his father’s footsteps being an air force office and a pilot. Emily Rose, their youngest, is a delight to the entire family. Not only is Joshua her big brother but they are the best of buddies! Doug’s and Cally’s prayer is for their children to “love Jesus with all their heart, soul and mind, and to be a true blessing and a real joy to all that they meet in life”.
Doug and his family believe so strongly in adoption that in spite of his busy schedule Doug has become a member of the Board for Bethany Christian Services. Prior to becoming a member he and his wife have worked tirelessly to promote adoptions in their community and their church, Idlewild Baptist Church.
Following God's Plan
Tony and Stacey have always considered adoption. Their faith that this was God's plan for them never wavered even though the road to adoption was not always easy. Their first two attempts ended with the birthparents choosing to parent. They decided to put aside adoption, but God had other plans and brought Tony, Jr. into their lives. Tony Sr.’s cousin became pregnant and realized she was not prepared to be a parent but wanted a family to adopt her baby. Enter Tony and Stacey - their first son was born in March 2002. After having Tony they knew they wanted another child. This time they asked to be considered for a little girl. Again, God had other plans for the family and brought another son into their lives, Michael. Michael was born in April 2005.
Tony and Stacey shared their reason for choosing Bethany. “We chose Bethany instead of an attorney because of God’s work. Bethany helps birthparents who choose to parent rather than place. So our money for adoption is not going to the attorney, but to the community to spread God’s love. We loved that Bethany supported and believed in our desire to raise Christians in a Christian home. It was important to us, that the birthmothers of our boys believed that adoption was God’s plan for all of us. We were blessed with wonderful adoptions and just look at our boys and know that God is awesome.”