but before we were to meet her the next week, she canceled. Even though we didn't get to meet her, the failure felt the same. Beth was beginning to feel like starting a family wasn't going to happen.  At end of April, Beth received a call at work from the agency that someone there wanted to talk to her.  She spoke with the birth mom directly who said she had chosen us to adopt her son.  The baby was due the end of June 2019.  We met her the next week for lunch and to get to know each other.  There was nervous excitement in meeting her, but we felt so comfortable with her and found out we had a lot of similar interests. Baby boy was born June 17^th, and we were able to meet him later that night.  As birth mom handed him to us, she called us his mommy and daddy.  His adoption was finalized in February 2020.

A few weeks later, we received another call from the agency.  Our adopted son’s birth mom was expecting a girl and wanted her to be part of our family and to grow up with her brother.  She was born August 28^th 2020, five weeks early.  We were able to stay with her in the hospital, and she was discharged five days later.  Her adoption finalization will take place the end of July 2021.  We truly believe God heard our prayers and answered when He felt the timing was right.  We have a positive relationship with our birth mom, and our adoption is a semi open adoption.

were matched with an African American family and their embryos. Kristine gave birth to Noa in 2015. They consider it an amazing adoption option for those that have the desire to give birth to their adopted child. Embryo adoption became part of their journey a second time when Kristine delivered Abel in 2018.

Believing their family was complete they were not looking or considering a 6th adoption. However, God moved in their hearts in 2019 when an encounter with a friend expressed the need that existed in Liberia with the New Horizon's Children's Home. It took surprisingly only 24 hours for both Kristine and Vance to realize that God was calling them to adopt once again. They were matched with their little girl in February 2020. While COVID-19 turned the journey into a longer than expected process, Olive arrived home in the United States in July 2021. They feel extremely blessed to have been able to take two of their Ugandan sons to Liberia with them to complete the adoption process. Kristine and Vance were overwhelmed with care given by the staff at the foster home in Liberia. It was a special journey to spend time and watch their older boys interact with all of the children in the home. They know they will definitely be returning to Liberia so that Olive can connect with her culture and all her siblings can see her birth country.