Adoptive Families Blog

Earlier this year, adoptive couple Derek and Jennifer were blessed to adopt a baby boy through Lifetime. In this family’s story, we hear from Jennifer about receiving "the call," the bond they've established with their son Elijah's birth mother, and their experience with becoming parents together through an open adoption.

Now a forever family, adoptive mom Jennifer shares their beautiful story in this special guest blog post!

Because we live on the West Coast, I wasn't surprised to hear my cell phone ring as the sun began to rise over the mountains.

As I pulled my phone closer and tried to focus my blurry eyes, I saw the call was coming from Grass Valley, California. I held my breath as I answered knowing that Lifetime Adoption called with "good news" outside of business hours. My husband and I listened to the voice on the other end of the phone intently. She spoke of a birth mother who chose us to raise the precious child growing inside of her. We listened carefully to every word and detail and soon learned a baby boy was due in just over three weeks.

Melissa perched on the edge of the sofa, with a cup of hot coffee in her hands. She grabbed her tablet and started to eagerly browse her adoption agency's website, something that she did every morning before work. As she did, Melissa began to feel defeated. Looking at all the smiling faces of other couples waiting to adopt, she wondered to herself, "How will we stand out from the other couples? What would make a birth mother pick us to be the parents of her child? How can we compete with so many couples who are more attractive, more educated, or wealthier?"

Does this scenario sound familiar? Many hopeful adoptive parents can relate to the fear that a birth mother won't pick them. Struggling with jealousy and frustration during the adoption wait is normal.  Lifetime hopes to clarify the open adoption process and provide you with some bottom line facts about being picked by a birth mother.

Recently one of Lifetime’s adoptive moms introduced us to author Melissa Radke’s book, Eat Cake. Be Brave., a personal testimony of faith, courage, accepting one’s strengths and unique path in life, including infertility, miscarriage, and adoption. In Chapter 19, Dear Miss Danielle, we were moved to read Radke’s heartfelt letter to her daughter’s birth mother. This real-life encounter with modern adoption, as seen through an everyday adoptive mom (with a great sense of humor and ability to share words as if you’re talking with a friend), will speak to so many of our followers and families.

If you’re a hopeful adoptive parent, or if you’re already raising a child through adoption, you’ll be touched by this excerpt from Chapter 19 of Eat Cake. Be Brave. Perhaps you’ll identify with the hard emotions each side of a child’s adoption face as they come together for a match. Or you’ll anticipate the great love that you’ll have for the ONE mother who chooses you to adopt her baby, and how you hope you can find just the right words to tell her how much she means to your family, how much you admire her brave love. You might even read this as a birth mother, and be reassured that you are not forgotten, and some of the brightest things about your child will remind his or her adoptive parents of you in the best ways.

Because of modern adoption, a child can grow up knowing that she inherits good things from both sides of her story.

With permission from Melissa and David Radke, we are honored to share this excerpt from Eat Cake. Be Brave. with you below.

It's that time of year when showing gratitude and giving thanks is on the top of everyone's minds. Many times, Thanksgiving encourages us to think about the special things in our lives and express gratitude for them. It's a favorite holiday for many, as they're surrounded by loved ones and reminded of all that they have to be grateful for.

Whether you're in a season of hope or one of challenges, remember that you have been given "every spiritual blessing in Christ,"  in the words of Ephesians 1:3. Despite whatever challenges you're facing during your adoption journey, you can have an attitude of thankfulness.

The heart of Thanksgiving is expressing your gratitude. But in the midst of all the Thanksgiving meal prep and the tryptophan naps, it can be hard to figure out how to make time for that! Here are 8 creative ideas to refocus the thankful season:

"Are we meant to adopt?"

Lifetime adoptive couple Adam and Kristi share part one of their adoption story

"This is never going to happen." Many people who walk through infertility often identify with the hopelessness that can come of trying and trying to build a family, without success.

Moving from infertility to a decision to become a family through adoption is a deep and thoughtful process. There are layers of grief and disappointment mixed together with the hope of looking forward to the good that will come from their determination not to give up.

We often are asked: "How do you know when to move from fertility treatments to adoption?"

For every adoptive parent, the answer to that honest question will vary. However, one recurring thread in nearly every Lifetime Adoption testimony is the sense that adoption is where the story was leading all along.

As you’ll see in Adam and Kristi’s story, a sense of peace, relief, and renewed hope came from answering a call to adoption.

"It seems like adoption is so expensive, almost like it is buying a baby. Why does it have to cost so much when all we want to do is help a child in need?"

Many families have a similar reaction when they discover that there is a cost to private adoption.  Learning more about the costs often help families understand who the fees go to and what they are for. Today, Lifetime is giving you a quick rundown to help understand adoption costs!

Lifetime's Founder Shares Her Vision

Lifetime's Founder Mardie Caldwell knows the deep-seated need that motivates couples to seek adoption, having endured seven miscarriages before turning to adoption. Mardie's experience drove her desire to help others realize the joy of parenthood through adoption, and she opened Lifetime Adoption in 1986.

“I love to see people’s dreams come true!" she says. "I want adoption to be successful for everyone – the birth family, the adoptive parents, and the children."

Keep reading to learn more about Lifetime Adoption, how adoption has changed over the years, and get Mardie's #1 tip for hopeful adoptive couples!

If you're matched with a birth mother, you're probably feeling a range of emotions, from excitement to concern. You might be wondering “is it appropriate to have a baby shower when we’re adopting?”

While it's true that everyone in your life will want to celebrate your baby's arrival, sometimes a traditional baby shower isn't appropriate for adoptive families. Lifetime shares why we recommend an adoption sip and see instead, and how you can best celebrate in this way!

When a couple is dealing with infertility, there are generally five stages of grief and loss that they go through. Encountering these emotions is a normal and healthy way of moving from infertility toward adoption.

We all deal with grief and loss in different ways. Some people experience all five stages, while others only encounter a couple. Furthermore, it's normal to experience the stages in any order.

As a couple moves from the grief of infertility to adoption, they may experience these stages of grief and loss:

You might not realize it, but your employer might be able to help make your adoption a reality! More and more companies are starting to offer adoption benefits to their employees. Keep reading to discover how your employer might be able to help you fund your adoption!