Our Adoption StoryJoanna & Kyle

How did you decide to adopt a baby?

We always knew we wanted to grow our family somehow. We never thought adoption would be the way. After trying to have a family of our own for so many years, we looked into other options. We are so thankful adoption exists — without it, we wouldn’t be able to have children.

Why did you choose to work with Angel Adoption?

We chose to work with Angel Adoption for a few reasons. First of all, they were local to us. Second, their website was very user friendly, which seems silly, but the adoption process itself is so overwhelming, we thought the easier the better. Also, the staff was all very friendly and sensitive to us. I remember my first phone call was with Katie, and she was the sweetest and made us feel so hopeful in just one phone call.

What were your feelings as you began your adoption journey?

We felt a little anxious, but mostly excited to start our adoption journey. We knew our faith would get us through the tough times.

How did your friends and family react to your decision to adopt?

Our friends and family were and still are so incredibly supportive about our decision to adopt. They’ve all known we have been wanting to grow our family for so long, they were beaming with excitement.

What was it like meeting the birthmother for the first time?

Meeting both the birthmother and the birthfather for the first time was very nerve-racking but very fulfilling at the same time. We all instantly felt a connection and love for one another. They, being so young, gave us a gift we’ve been praying for our whole lives. They were so sweet, they loved hearing our story, and they loved seeing how excited we were to talk about the future.

Did you choose an open or closed adoption?

We chose an open adoption. The birth parents both wanted open, and we agreed.

Describe receiving the call that your babies were being born and traveling to meet them.

Our twin babies came seven weeks early! Now that is a moment we will never forget. We knew twins could arrive early, but didn’t expect it to be that early. Their birthmother was having back labor and went in to see the doctor at 10pm on a Monday evening. A few hours later, the birthfather called telling us she was being flown into another hospital and it was time to leave! So we left immediately, and three-and-a-half hours later we arrived. We made it in time for the birth, thank the lord! We got to sit and wait in the hospital room all day with the birth parents and both their moms talking, laughing, and getting to know each other. It was very special.

Describe the experience of finally meeting your babies.

The moment we met our babies, it was the best feeling in the world. Our hearts grew, we melted. The missing piece in our lives instantly felt full. These boys are true miracles and we are forever grateful God has chosen us to be their parents.

What is your relationship like with your babies’ birthmother?

We have a really good relationship with their birthmother. We are lucky! Being an open adoption, we text from time to time and send pictures. She always referred to the twins as ours, and always made us feel important and special. She is truly an amazing, brave young woman.

What were the biggest challenges of the adoption process?

The biggest challenge for us was waiting. That is no surprise. It’s very hard watching the days go by and people asking you if we’ve heard any news yet. We were lucky enough to have been chosen by a birthmother only a few months after we finished our classes and started with Angel. Days felt like weeks and weeks felt like months. We knew in the long run it would be worth all the emotions, but sometimes it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Adoption can be a lengthy process — how did you get through the wait?

For us, trying to grow our family was a lengthy process overall, so when we got to the adoption part of our journey, it almost felt like a sigh of relief. We were so hopeful that this would work for us, so we tried not to stress about it too much. We have a lot of supportive people in our lives and we couldn’t have gotten through this without them.

Would you adopt again? Why or why not?

Of course, we would adopt again! Adoption is amazing and we wish more families would do it.

What advice do you have to share with other adoptive parents?

Keep the faith and stay positive. I know everyone will tell you that, but it’s true. We tried focusing on all the good in our lives and knew the rest would fall into place. And it did!