Puzzle Piece Fundraiser for Collin & Kaleigh’s Adoption

As we begin the new year, Collin and I would like to tell you about our new journey. Despite my end of 2024 post, which really highlighted the heartache we’ve endured, we have been in the process of something exciting. Adoption. Something I’ve always wanted to pursue. Something we talked about while dating. Something we truly thought we would do once we finished having biological children. But we all know what happens when we plan…. Collin and I began talking more seriously about this last summer and to *try* to keep a long story short, we had our first conference call with our agency in November. We left that phone call truly feeling the type of peace that can only come from being exactly where you’re supposed to be, doing what God has called you to do. Now that we are in the midst of our home study, I thought it the appropriate time to share for a few reasons. 1….This has been a hard one for me. We’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way to fund this ourselves, to the point of almost putting our house on the market. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around ever asking anyone for help. But the Lord has humbled me and I have realized that, while they say it takes a village to raise a child, it’s going to take a village to bring ours home. I wanted to choose a fundraiser that was meaningful and that would commemorate those of you who will help make this happen. We have a beautiful 1000 piece Noah’s Ark puzzle and will be “selling” pieces for $20 each. Donors names will be written on the back of the piece and, once complete, the puzzle will be framed and hang in our nursery. I know that this is a lofty goal, but the truth of the matter is this goal is a little less than half of the amount it takes to complete a domestic, private adoption. We have complete faith God will provide. 2….We need your prayers! Our fertility journey has been far from easy but we aren’t naive to the fact that the journey of adoption isn’t without its hardships as well. Matching and placement could take years, birth mothers change their minds, etc etc. We’re still learning, talking, and opening our hearts to all scenarios that could come our way. Pray for patience in this pursuit, faith that everything happens for a reason, and a gracious heart to be everything we need to be for this child and their mother. Please feel free the reach out with any questions! We have learned so much and are happy to share. I may eventually make a FAQ post to help everyone better understand this process (all information is specific to our particular agency/the states they work in). What I do want everyone to understand is that we are not giving up on our hopes of becoming pregnant. I actually had a successful procedure recently and the future looks promising. Collin and I have had many discussions and prayers for guidance. We did not take lightly the decision to pursue private adoption. When we sent off our initial paperwork, we had fully committed to God and to the child that we will one day adopt that we are all in. This meaning that if I were to get pregnant after matching with a birth mother, we will trust the Lords timing and graciously (and excitedly, to be honest) bring home 2 babies. However, if I was to get pregnant before matching, we would likely pause the adoption process until we’re ready to begin again. The great thing about our specific agency is that we are contracted with them until we bring a baby home, no matter how long it takes, or until we ask to terminate our contract. We’re choosing the former. With this in mind, the timeline for fundraising is not concrete. Our goal would just be as soon as possible, as we could match anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 years from the time our home study is complete. And of course, this also could change based on the fact that we are still trying to conceive. Our personal goal to meet the rest of the funds is end of 2025, so if this puzzle could reach completion by the same time, that would be amazing! Thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far. And thank you in advance for your prayers and support. Our hearts are bruised and battered, but also very grateful and hopeful. ❤️‍