The Best Newborn Adoption Guide

Growing Your Family

Adopting a baby is an exciting journey. Adoption gives a precious child a new chance at life, and it gives you the opportunity to be the loving parent that child needs. We believe adoption is a perfect way to build a family.

Through our free guide you will learn the requirements and process to become an adoptive parent, how to choose the right way and type of adoption to fit your family, and the next steps to take on your adoption journey.

Ways to adopt and the types of adoption
The domestic newborn adoption process
Financial considerations and possible expenses
Tips on communicating with expectant parents

start your adoption journey complete our free application today! Free Application

Who we are.

Hi, we’re Carolyn & Sharon, founders of Angel Adoption.

Since 1998 we have helped more than 1,000 families achieve their dreams of parenthood through the miracle of adoption. As adoptive mothers ourselves, we’ve both experienced the pain of infertility and the joy of adoption, and we know first-hand how overwhelming the process can be. With our years of experience, knowledge, and support, we’d love to guide you through your adoption journey.

Angel Adoption Success Stories

The most rewarding part of what we do is seeing dreams become reality. Some of those families have generously chosen to share their adoption story with hopeful families just like you!

Adriana & Bradley

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

A Family Affair

As we started trying to grow our family and found that we were struggling to have biological children, adoption was the clear option for us. Adriana’s sister was adopted and Bradley’s brother adopted his son, so we felt comfortable exploring what the process would look like for us. Bradley’s brother had adopted with Angel Adoption and was always bragging about how great their experience was, so when we decided to start looking into adoption, we started with Angel. We immediately felt comfortable with them. Once we officially started the process, we were equally excited and nervous! We couldn’t believe that we were doing this.

It Only Takes One

As our wait stretched on without any opportunities, our excitement slowly turned to discouragement. We continued to remind ourselves that waiting was part of the process and did our best to keep the faith.

Finally, as we neared the two-year mark, we got THE call. Adriana works nights and was getting ready for bed when Angel reached out to let us know that an expectant mother had chosen our profile and wanted to talk to us. Adriana said yes immediately and then called Bradley to tell him the news. The expectant mother only lived a few hours from us and she was only in her first trimester. We knew if our communication went well and she liked us, we would be in it for the long haul.

We started by texting her. After some pleasant conversations, we set up a time to meet in person. We chose to meet at a halfway point between us and get lunch together. We were so nervous. We felt like this may be the most important moment of our life and we really wanted it to go well. Thankfully, our first meeting was wonderful, and we clicked!

From that point on, we started texting more regularly and got to know each other better as her pregnancy progressed. Given how close we lived to each other, Adriana was able to attend doctor’s appointments with the expectant mother during her second and third trimester, which was incredibly special. We were even able to have our own gender reveal party.

Even though we felt as though our relationship was stable and going well, there were times that the expectant mother would become less communicative and we worried that she was changing her mind. We had to remind ourselves to stay calm and that what was meant to happen would happen.

Meeting Brody

The Monday after Easter Sunday, Adriana, Bradley and the expectant mother attended a routine doctor’s appointment together. Through previous appointments, we were already preparing for her to likely deliver earlier than her due date, but this appointment changed everything. At this appointment, they found a concern with the baby’s heart and they wanted to admit the expectant mother immediately.

We left the doctor’s appointment and each ran home to grab some supplies. Then we headed back to the hospital so the expectant mother could be admitted. Adriana stayed with the expectant mother through the night while Bradley waited at home to hear what would come next.

Two days later, the expectant mother was induced. Late that evening, our son, Brody, was born! Adriana was able to be in the room for Brody’s birth. His birthmother was the first to hold him, then was quickly brought to the NICU, four days later Adriana held Brody for the first time. He would spend two weeks in the NICU strengthening his heart.

Getting Stronger in the NICU

Initially, it was very overwhelming to see Brody hooked up to everything in the NICU. Even with Adriana being a nurse herself, she felt scared. But we knew he was getting the best care possible and we trusted the medical team. Adriana spent every day in the NICU with Brody and provided regular updates to his birthmother on how well he was progressing. Bradley was able to come to the hospital between work hours and spent as much time as he could while Brody grew stronger.

While Brody was in the NICU, his birthmother met with the attorney to sign over her rights. It was the most agonizing day of our lives. We were pacing and waiting, pacing and waiting. Bradley was the one that finally saw the attorney coming to tell us the news. When we finally heard that she signed, we both wept in relief. We shared the news with our families and Adriana received a text from her dad that said, “Congratulations, mom!” That text in particular meant the world to her.

Our Family Today

At almost two weeks to the day from when we walked into the hospital, we finally left with Brody. It felt so good to drive those few hours home with our son. Once at home, settling into our lives and trying to establish a routine was harder than we imagined. Everything felt so big and scary without the hospital staff around, and after wishing and wanting for a child so badly, we felt guilty reaching out to ask for any help. Thankfully, we have amazing families who stepped up to make the transition so much easier for us. We are so proud of the family that we have become.

We have continued to provide Brody’s birthmother with updates and pictures. She has met up with Adriana and Bradley a few times to see Brody. We’re just going to continue to keep that door open for her. She made us a family, and we are so grateful for her every day.

Allison & Dillon

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

How We Decided to Adopt a Baby

We always felt that adoption was something we were called to do. Even though we already had four wonderful children in our family, it just didn't quite feel like our family was complete yet.

The moment that solidified our decision to pursue adoption came when we were sorting through old clothes that had belonged to our son, intending to give them away. As we were doing so, I, Allison, unexpectedly started crying. I realized I wasn’t ready to close that chapter of our lives yet. That’s when we knew we were meant to adopt. We had so much love and space in our hearts for another child, and we were confident that adoption was the path for us.

We first learned about Angel Adoption from a family friend who had adopted with them. Their experience was so positive that we decided to set up a meeting and learn more.

Starting Our Adoption Journey

From the very first conversation with the staff at Angel, we felt at ease. They were supportive, knowledgeable, and understanding. They reassured us about the adoption process, which made us feel confident in our decision to move forward with them. Angel felt like the perfect fit for our family and the right partner to help us navigate our adoption journey.

When we began the process, we were filled with excitement and anticipation. Our close friends and family were just as excited as we were, although there was some hesitation from a few people who didn’t fully understand the adoption process. Some worried that something might happen that would cause us to lose the child after having bonded with them for years. But we knew exactly what adoption involved and had zero doubts. Our kids were incredibly supportive too—they would even say a prayer every night for their future brother or sister, which brought a lot of hope and faith into the process for all of us.

Shortly after starting the waiting period, we were chosen for an opportunity to adopt. That expectant mother ultimately chose to move forward with another family she felt more of a connection with. It was disappointing, but we didn’t lose hope.

Meeting Juliette

A few months later, we were chosen again, this time by an amazing expectant mother named Juliette. And that’s when everything changed. We talked with her every day and quickly became close friends. The bond we developed was truly special. We drove down to meet her before the baby was born, and it felt like visiting an old friend. While we were there, we accompanied her to an ultrasound appointment, which was such a meaningful experience. Leaving her to go back home afterward was tough, but we knew we’d see her again soon.

Unfortunately, Juliette had complications late in her pregnancy. We never learned exactly what she had, but we think it was preeclampsia. One night, we received a text from Juliette saying she was feeling very sick. After a call with her doctor, they decided to induce her labor in a few short days. With that news, we immediately made our travel plans and flew down to be with her as soon as possible.

A Surreal and Emotional Experience

We went to a hotel near the hospital and planned to get some rest while we waited for news. We were able to spend time with Juliette and her mother before she headed to the hospital to start her induction. Just after we started to fall asleep, we got a message telling us to come to the hospital right away!

We rushed to the hospital, and when Allison walked into Juliette’s room, the nurse said to Juliette, “Okay, Allison is here, you can push now!” It was such a surreal and emotional moment to be there for the birth of our son. I, Allison, will never forget when I asked Juliette if I could go see the baby. She looked at me and said, “Yes, you are his mom!” That moment will forever be etched in my heart.

We have an open adoption with Juliette, although she did tell us early on that communication from her might not be very frequent. This was the hardest thing she’s ever done, so we completely understand and respect that. We send her regular pictures and updates about our son, and whenever we do hear from her, she always thanks us. It’s important to us that Juliette knows how much our whole family loves and appreciates her. We all including our kids pray for her. We consider her a part of our family forever, which just goes to show how much love is involved in this beautiful journey.

Advice for Waiting Families

The waiting period was the hardest part for us. We experienced moments of doubt and wondered why we weren’t being chosen. Through it all, however, our kids had more faith than we did. Their unwavering belief helped us stay strong and reminded us that everything happens in its own time.

For other adoptive families, we would say to stay faithful and encouraged. The journey may be long and challenging at times, but it will work out the way it’s supposed to, and when it does, it’s worth every moment of waiting.

Christina & Wayne

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Embracing the Journey of Adoption

We had always dreamed of adopting a child. When we decided to start our family, we were faced with fertility issues. After several unsuccessful attempts with IUI and experiencing the heartbreak of pregnancy loss, we decided not to pursue more expensive and invasive fertility treatments. Instead, we turned our focus towards adoption, a path we had always felt strongly about.

We felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as we embarked on our adoption journey. We were eager to start this new chapter in our lives. Our friends and family were incredibly supportive of our decision to adopt. The encouragement and love that poured in from our close circle provided us with the strength and reassurance we needed to move forward.

Nervous Beginnings to a Heartfelt Connection

Shortly after beginning our adoption journey, we had our first conversation with an expectant mother. We were so nervous when we initially reached out to her, but we had great conversations through text over the next few weeks. We were feeling happy with the conversation but wouldn’t let ourselves get overly excited. We wanted to manage our expectations and we understood there were a lot of uncertainties we were facing through the process.

Responses from the expectant mother became sporadic, and eventually, we stopped hearing from her altogether. While we were disappointed, we knew this was normal and that inconsistent communication is often part of the adoption journey.

We continued to remain hopeful and lean into the waiting process when our coordinator at Angel reached out with some wonderful news: we had been chosen by another expectant mother! We were beyond excited to be singled out a second time, and so soon after our first opportunity! We reached out to the expectant mother right away and began a conversation.

The expectant mother was amazing! The connection we formed was immediate and heartfelt. We continued building a relationship with her and got to know eachother better. The expectant mother was due the very next week. The expectant mother was experiencing false labor contractions. This was the time her due date was pushed back by a month. Luckily, we did not have to wait that long; the very next week we received the exciting news, just two weeks after beginning our connection with the expectant mother.

A Father's Day to Remember

It was Father’s Day weekend, a Saturday. We had just finished setting up new patio furniture in our backyard and we were leaving the grocery store when we received a text from the expectant mother telling us she was in labor and on her way to the hospital. That moment was surreal. We were overwhelmed by a mix of anticipation, excitement, and nerves as we dropped everything and hurried to the hospital.

Meeting our baby for the first time was a dreamlike and emotional experience. The gender of the baby was a surprise to us, and we were completely overwhelmed with joy when a nurse came down and asked if we were ready to meet our baby girl.

Holding our daughter for the first time, we felt an instant and profound connection. We were completely wrapped up in the intense emotions that come from seeing your child for the first time. It was at that moment when our world felt complete. We could not have been more in love with this beautiful baby girl. All the setbacks leading up to her arrival was worth the wait!

How Trust Transformed Our Adoption Journey

We are so thankful for our daughter’s birthmother. Our relationship with her has gone very well! Our mutual respect and healthy communication allowed us to navigate the complexities of adoption with grace and understanding. Initially, she wanted a closed adoption with no contact after the birth. However, we had built such a strong, trusting, and supportive relationship with her throughout her pregnancy, that we ended up fostering an unexpected but very welcomed open adoption arrangement. This decision evolved naturally, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to remain in contact with her.

Through all of the ups and downs of our adoption journey, we were left with our biggest piece of advice for other adoptive parents going through this process: Trust your instincts and do not let external opinions or “adoption horror stories” affect your journey. Every adoption story is unique, and staying true to one's own path is crucial for a positive experience. Learning to release control and trust wholeheartedly that what is meant to be will be truly helped us float through the waves toward parenthood.

Through our journey, we found that the challenges and uncertainties of adoption were far outweighed by the joy and fulfillment of welcoming our beautiful baby girl into our lives. Our story is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and love in the journey to parenthood.

Katie & Andrew

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Deciding to Adopt Again

After experiencing the joy of adopting our daughter through Angel Adoption, we knew in our hearts that we wanted to grow our family further. The bond we formed with the team at Angel during our first adoption journey was so strong that when it came time to add a sibling for our daughter, there was no question about where we’d turn. Working with Angel was such a positive and supportive experience the first time around, and we couldn’t wait to start the process with them again.

This time, we felt more prepared and excited, knowing the journey ahead would bring us another incredible blessing. Having been through adoption before, we felt a lot more at ease. There was a deep sense of comfort, and we truly believed that everything would unfold in its own time, just as it had before. Our family and friends were just as excited as we were, cheering us on as we embarked on the road to bringing home a new little one.

The Path to Oliver

Our journey to meet our son Oliver moved faster than we could have imagined. Just three weeks after we started the adoption process again, we were chosen by an expectant mother. The excitement we felt was indescribable! We eagerly texted her early in the morning, only to feel anxious when we didn’t hear back right away. It wasn’t until the next day that she responded, explaining that she was a night owl. That response set the tone for the relaxed and easy-going relationship we would eventually form with her.

We kept in touch regularly for about two and a half weeks, as she was already nearing her due date. The birthmother wanted us to be present during the delivery, and the idea of being in the room when our son was born filled us with joy and the best kind of anticipation.

She was scheduled to be induced a bit earlier than expected, so we quickly packed up our whole family—our parents, our daughter, and the two of us—and made the journey In to be there for the big day.

The next morning, we headed to the hospital and just a few hours later, Oliver was born. I had the honor of being the first to hold him, which was an unforgettable moment. Meeting Oliver for the first time, we were filled with an overwhelming mixture of excitement and concern. Unfortunately, he needed to spend some time in the NICU. We were, of course, worried about his health, and his birthmother shared those concerns. She signed the papers allowing us to visit Oliver in the NICU, which we appreciated.

During Oliver’s initial NICU stay, I stayed with the birthmother. We had the opportunity to talk and connect, which was something we hadn’t experienced during our first adoption. It was truly beautiful to share those moments and bond with her. Three days after his birth, Oliver’s birthmother officially signed over her parental rights. It was an emotional and profound experience, one that we’ll always hold close to our hearts.

Meeting Oliver & Beyond

Being present for Oliver’s birth made the experience so much more meaningful. It was incredible to witness his entry into the world and to share that special moment with his birthmother. Our relationship with her remains positive.We’ve created a shared drive where we upload pictures of Oliver so she can see how he’s growing. It’s been a beautiful way to maintain that connection, and we’re grateful for the bond we’ve built with her.

While the adoption process moved quickly for us, it wasn’t without its challenges. Between navigating state requirements and dealing with Oliver’s time in the NICU, there were moments of stress. But through it all, we kept faith in the process. The waiting period, though short, was filled with hope and anticipation.

Our advice to other adoptive parents is to keep your faith in the journey and remember the challenges that birthmothers face. It’s important to empathize with their experience. Understand that while it’s exciting to grow your family, it’s equally challenging for a birthmother to make such a difficult decision. Always approach the process with love, patience, and understanding. We’re so grateful for Oliver and for the incredible support we received throughout this journey.

Sara & Josh

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

The Journey Begins: A Dream of Parenthood

We met in high school, and our bond grew stronger as the years passed. Even back then, we knew we wanted to start a family together. As high school sweethearts, we envisioned a home filled with love, laughter, and the pitter-patter of little feet. After being together for 17 years, the desire to become parents only deepened.

For a long time, we thought our path to parenthood would be the traditional route. However, after nearly 10 years of trying to conceive naturally without success, we began to consider other ways to fulfill our dream. Adoption had always been on our hearts; we felt called to it in a profound way. We believed that love makes a family, not just biology, and that we were meant to open our hearts and home to a child who needed us.

Choosing the Right Path: Why We Chose Angel Adoption

When we finally decided to pursue adoption, we knew it was important to choose an agency that resonated with our values and would support us throughout the process. We did extensive research on various adoption agencies, both locally and nationwide. Angel Adoption stood out to us from the beginning. Their website was filled with success stories that were heartwarming and encouraging.

The more we learned about Angel Adoption, the more we appreciated their approach. They offered hope and support to both waiting families and birthmothers, which aligned perfectly with our desire to create a loving and nurturing environment for our future child. We felt a sense of peace and confidence when we chose Angel Adoption, knowing they would be our partners in this life-changing journey.

The Waiting Game: A Test of Faith and Patience

As we embarked on our adoption journey, we were filled with hope and excitement. We prepared ourselves and our home, thinking that at any moment, we could receive the call that would change our lives forever. But as time passed, our anticipation turned into a long, quiet wait that tested our patience and faith.

The first year was full of eager preparation, but when there were no signs of progress, doubt began to creep in. The second year was even harder. We felt as if we were in limbo, with no communication from potential birthmothers. It was a time of deep reflection. We wondered if this was truly the path for us or if we had misunderstood our calling.

By the third year, We started asking God if we had somehow missed His plan for us. But then something changed within us. We realized we were trying to control the process too much, and it was time to surrender our desires to a higher power. We decided to place our trust in God, believing that if this was meant to be, it would happen in His perfect timing. It was then that God showed us a vision of us holding a little girl after we asked him if this was what he promised us.

This newfound peace carried us through the toughest days. We stopped trying to force the process and instead focused on living our lives with the faith that our child would come to us when the time was right. Six weeks later we would get a call for our little girl.

A Miracle in the Making: Meeting Our Daughter

Our journey took an unexpected and beautiful turn one afternoon while we were relaxing outside on our lunch break. We missed a call from Angel Adoption and immediately called them back, filled with excitement. The news we received was beyond anything we could have imagined: the birthmother and birthfather of a newborn baby girl had chosen our profile and wanted to speak with us.

Within hours, we went from relaxing in our hammock to making arrangements to travel to meet our daughter. She was born just four hours away from our home in Missouri, which made the logistics easier, but the emotional impact was overwhelming. We rushed to gather everything we would need for her and left early the next morning, our hearts full of hope and love.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were greeted by the birthmother, a beautiful and soft-spoken woman. The room was calm and filled with a quiet reverence as we met our daughter for the first time. Holding her in our arms was a moment of pure joy and awe. She was everything we had prayed for and more. The tears flowed freely as we realized our dream had finally come true.

A New Beginning: The Blessing of Adoption

The journey to adopt our daughter was long and filled with challenges, but every moment of waiting was worth it. Our relationship with the birthmother and birthfather is one of mutual admiration and respect. We are all united by our love for this precious little girl, and we are grateful every day for the role they played in bringing her into our lives.

The biggest challenge of our adoption journey was undoubtedly the wait. It was a time of uncertainty and doubt, but it also strengthened our faith. We learned that sometimes, the hardest journeys lead to the most beautiful destinations. Our faith in God was our anchor, and His promise kept us going through the difficult times.

Now that we are on the other side of the wait, we can say with certainty that adoption was the right path for us. We would absolutely adopt again. The love and joy our daughter has brought into our lives are immeasurable. She is a true blessing, and we know that she was meant to be with us all along.

To those who are still waiting, our advice is to hold on to hope and trust the process. It's easy to feel discouraged when things don't happen as quickly as you'd like, but remember that everything happens in its own time. Give your journey over to God, and He will guide you through it. The waiting may be hard, but the reward is beyond anything you can imagine. Your child is out there, and when the time is right, they will find their way to you.

Karen & Paul

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

How We Decided to Adopt

After facing infertility issues, we explored several options to grow our family, including IVF and foster-to-adopt. The emotional and physical toll of infertility treatments was overwhelming, and we found ourselves continually drawn back to the idea of adoption.

Adoption had always been a possibility we considered. The thought of providing a loving home to a child in need resonated deeply with us. After thorough discussions and lots of soul searching, we knew deep down it was the right path for us. The decision brought us a sense of clarity and purpose and reinforced our desire to become parents.

Choosing Angel Adoption

Our decision to work with Angel Adoption was a result of our trust and familiarity with one of the company founders, Sharon Ahmann. Sharon is the mother of a close friend who had always spoken highly of Angel Adoption. Growing up around Sharon and hearing about her positive experiences with adoption made us feel confident in Angel’s ability to support us through this journey.

Our Emotional Journey

As we embarked on our adoption journey, we experienced all the highs and lows of an emotional rollercoaster. We were filled with excitement and hope, but also lots of uncertainty. While we were thrilled to take those first steps, we also felt overwhelmed by all the unknowns involved in the adoption process.

Adoption may be a concept that many people are aware of; however, few truly understand the complexities involved. Sharon’s constant reassurance to "trust the process" became our mantra, helping us stay grounded during challenging times. Our friends and family were incredibly supportive, eagerly anticipating the day we would become parents. They were so excited for us at times, we had to temper their enthusiasm as we navigated certain intricacies of the process. We didn’t want to get our hopes — or their hopes for that matter — up too high.

A Two-Year Wait

As we waited to be chosen, we tried our best to be patient while eagerly anticipating the call that would change our lives. For two years, we were not chosen by a birthmother. This also meant that we didn’t experience any disrupted adoption plans, which, in retrospect, was a blessing. Looking back, this waiting period, along with our need to trust the process, were the biggest challenges we faced, but the unwavering support from our family made a significant difference.

As we approached our two-year mark and received a contract extension, an immediate opportunity arose to adopt twins. The call came while Karen was at work. We had to travel to Michigan immediately.

Once we were there, we did not have any contact with the expectant mother for three days because she was not communicating with the adoption professionals. This added a layer of stress and uncertainty. At the same time, we understood that it was an emotional time for her as well, so we tried our best to patiently wait and see how everything would unfold.

Eventually, we were able to meet our babies. The relief we felt was indescribable. Despite their birthmother only signing a temporary consent form and the babies being in the NICU, we chose to meet and bond with them, believing that everything happens for a reason.

Our New Life

Meeting our babies for the first time was a mix of overwhelming joy and cautious optimism. Their birthmother had not yet relinquished her rights, and we still had to get through a revocation period, but we wanted to start loving our babies right away.

We were open to any level of post-placement communication, but we were thrilled when the birthmother ultimately decided she wanted an open adoption with us. We have maintained regular contact with her since, which has been a positive experience for everyone involved.

Adoption has brought immense joy and fulfillment to our lives, and we are open to the possibility of adopting again in the future! Our advice to other adoptive parents is to be patient, trust the journey, and lean on the support of loved ones. The wait is worth it. The reward of becoming a parent is wonderful beyond measure.

Sara & John

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Finding Our Way to Angel

We knew early in our relationship that having children was a shared goal of ours. Unfortunately, Sara was diagnosed with PCOS, so we were aware that it may be difficult to have biological children. After many fertility appointments, we hit a crossroads: did we want to pursue fertility treatments or look into adoption? Sara’s side of the family has a strong history of adoption, so we felt drawn to that path. Sara worked in physical therapy and the topic of adoption came up with one of her patients. They had recently adopted through Angel Adoption and recommended them, so we started our research there. After speaking with the folks at Angel, we felt like they were the best fit for our adoption journey and dove right in!

A Disheartening End

Not long after joining Angel’s program, our profile was selected for the first time. The expectant mother was early in her pregnancy, still in her first trimester. We were so excited to be chosen so soon and could not wait to start getting to know her. We found out that she had previously placed a child for adoption, so after starting to get to know her, we were feeling pretty confident. We were very quick to hire legal services when she was ready, which was right at the start of her second trimester.

After the attorneys got involved, tiny red flags started popping up, but they were nothing that caused us to walk away from her entirely. It was a lie here, an additional ask for money there – all things that we knew were considered “normal” in adoption. While Angel and the attorneys continued to support us, everyone was advising us to proceed with caution.

As we learned more about this expectant mother’s story, we really felt for her. After investing six months of our emotions and financial support for her, we felt it was important to see this connection through. One week before we were set to travel for the birth of the baby, we got to the point where we were no longer able to provide her with financial assistance. We informed her and the attorney and she stopped responding to us. She informed the attorney that she was going to move in with the birthfather and was no longer pursuing adoption. Thus, our first opportunity with the expectant mother came to an abrupt end.

Stepping Away

After that disruption, we felt defeated. Emotionally, financially, and mentally. We needed a reset. We chose to put our time with Angel on hold and agreed to touch base with them in three months. At the three month mark, we knew we were not ready to jump back in yet. We were still reeling from the disruption. We felt like if we started again and got chosen for a quick connection, we would still have a sour taste in our mouths. We wanted to be in a better place before resuming our journey.

Three months turned into one year, which turned into two, and then three. Finally, in talking with family and friends, it became clear to us that we were ready to start again. We reached out to Angel, renewed our home study, updated our profile, and resumed the process with a fresh outlook.

Playing the Long Game

We started the waiting game again. Like when we first began, we didn’t have to wait long before our profile was selected. When we got the call about that opportunity, it was eerily similar to our first opportunity. The expectant mother was early in her first trimester and wanted to start texting with us that same day. We carefully proceeded, hearts guarded, but after we began communicating with her, we realized that was where the similarities stopped.

This was her first pregnancy. She was in a serious relationship with the expectant father, so we started a group chat between the four of us. She was younger than our first expectant mother, but she was mature beyond her years. She was very mindful of our emotions throughout the process. For example, she didn’t want us to start working with an attorney until she was fully in her second trimester. It was never her burden to bear, but we were grateful that she was so considerate of us and how we were feeling. Anytime she visited the doctor, she would share with us the updates and the ultrasounds with the attorney to share with us, which we loved and appreciated.

A Test Run and a Visit

As we became more comfortable with each other and as her due date neared, the expectant parents asked if we would be open to visiting them before the baby was due to arrive. We immediately said yes and started planning a weekend trip. We used this visit as a test run of the drive we would take when the expectant mother went into labor. It was roughly a ten-hour trip and we mapped out good stopping spots along the way. Once we got to her hometown, we checked out the hospital that she planned to deliver at and took note of what all was nearby.

Then it was finally time to actually meet these amazing people we had been communicating with. We were both incredibly nervous, Sara was practically shaking. We had made arrangements to meet at a restaurant. We got there early and it honestly felt like we were waiting for a first date. When the expectant mother and father walked in, they immediately gave us hugs. Right away, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. The visit was wonderful. We couldn’t believe how easy it all felt.

The Sweetest Lincoln

After our weekend with the expectant parents, we felt comfortable enough to share the news with friends and family. We were cautiously optimistic, but feeling good! We discussed baby names with the expectant parents. We shared with them that we loved James for a middle name, but were torn between three first names. All of us ended up liking the same first name the most, Lincoln, and with that, this sweet baby boy, already loved by so many, had a name: Lincoln James.

As we neared the expectant mother’s induction date, we were preparing for our trip. The expectant mother didn’t want to see us during the birth, but she did want us to be at the hospital for it and we were determined to make that happen. The day before we were scheduled to leave, we received a call that the expectant mother was headed to the ER — she felt dizzy and her blood pressure was through the roof. We could have just waited to see what happened, but we were determined to honor her wishes and be there for her. We left our dinner dishes in the sink, food and all, hopped in the car, and took off.

About three hours into our drive, the expectant mother called and said they were sending her home until her induction date. We stopped at a hotel to rest for the night and picked up our drive the following morning. We arrived that afternoon and checked into a local hotel. That evening, the expectant mother headed to the hospital and we stayed at the hotel. She didn’t want to see us while she labored, so we respected her wishes and gave her the privacy and space she needed.

Instant Love

Two very long days later, we finally checked into the hospital and were given our own private room. We still did not go see the birthmother because she was now in active labor, but we reassured her via text that we were right down the hall and ready to support her however and whenever she wanted us to.

Around 10am that evening, we went to sleep for the night. About 45 minutes later, a nurse came in to tell us to get some sleep while we could, because they were prepping the expectant mother for a C-section that was scheduled at 3am. We were so excited and nervous, there was no way we were going to be able to fall back to sleep! We tried to at least get some rest while we waited.

At 3:25am, the nurse came in to get us and took us to a receiving room. This was it, we were finally going to meet our son! John had to run to the restroom and as coincidence would have it, that’s right when the nurse brought Lincoln in to meet Sara for the first time. He was so tiny and Sara couldn’t believe how much love she immediately felt for him. She was talking to him when John returned. John was able to cut the remainder of the umbilical cord that the birthfather had cut first and Sara was able to spend a full hour of skin-to-skin contact with Lincoln. The hospital staff took such great care of us and Lincoln’s birthmother. We were offered everything that a biological family would be, and they were wonderful in respecting the birthmother’s wishes of keeping us separate.

We were discharged from the hospital 36 hours after Lincoln’s birth and stayed in his birth state for 10 days while the ICPC paperwork cleared. We had agreed not to reach out to his birthmother until she contacted us. Five days after the birth, she reached out to us, and we shared some photos with her. We have stayed in contact with her ever since, and share email updates with her every three months. We love how much she loves Lincoln and are forever grateful she gave us the opportunity to be Lincoln’s parents.

Pushing Through

After our first disruption, followed by a three year pause, it was hard to imagine there was a baby out there that was meant for us. We now know it was truly meant to happen the way it did and that Lincoln was the baby for our family the entire time. We were so close to giving up, and we are so thankful that we pushed on just a little bit longer. Without that little push, we would not have the family that we have today.

Kristopher & Antonia

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

International vs. Domestic Adoption

We had talked about pursuing adoption to grow our family long before we were even married. Eventually, when the time felt right, we dove into the process. We started by looking into international adoption, specifically adopting a child from China. We chose an adoption agency and posted about our international adoption journey on Facebook. Having seen the post, one of our friends reached out to us and asked if we’d ever considered domestic adoption, a process that he and his wife had recently gone through.

We hadn’t seriously considered domestic adoption before, but it piqued our interest, so we started researching it. We couldn’t find a local agency that felt like a good fit, so we branched out and found Angel Adoption. After meeting with them and speaking with every referral on their list, we decided to shift our journey from international to domestic adoption and signed on with Angel.

Chosen so Quickly

Only months after completing our adoptive family profile and our home study, we were on vacation when we received a call from Angel. Our profile had been selected for the first time. We were blown away with how quickly it had all happened! We started speaking with the expectant mother and continued to do so on and off for two months. The attorney that we hired was absolutely wonderful in validating our fears, providing us with guidance and advice, and being a sounding board throughout the entire process.

As we got further into the process with this expectant mother, we started to feel uncomfortable with some of her requests, so after much deliberation we chose to walk away from our connection with her. We would never have predicted that it would be two full years before we were chosen again.

Unexpected Heartbreak

After two years of waiting and keeping ourselves distracted, we had a handful of adoption opportunities that didn’t pan out. We were starting to ask ourselves, “What’s next?” “Do we give up?” “Is this really meant for us?” Just as we were seriously considering giving up on the process, we received a call from Angel that an expectant mother had selected our profile, and she was due in just a few days!

We immediately started texting back and forth with her and had a great conversation; it felt like the perfect fit. We flew to Colorado and got there just in time to meet the baby. The birthmother chose not to meet us, but we had an opportunity to meet the birthfather and everything seemed like it was working out. We bonded with the sweetest baby boy in the hospital and when we were discharged, we headed to a nearby friend’s house to wait for the ICPC paperwork to be processed.

Just as we were settling in, our attorney called and told us the heartbreaking news that the birthparents had chosen to parent. We made the painful drive back to the attorney’s office and handed over the baby. It was awful. We were utterly devastated and shocked to our core. We returned home, our arms empty and hearts heavy.

Is This Really It?

As we grieved the loss of what we had thought was our son, we stood at a crossroads, unsure which way to go next. Our home study was about to expire, our contract with Angel was nearing its end, and we were feeling defeated. We debated, but ultimately our social worker convinced us to update our home study and fingerprints, just in case.

We completed all of the pieces to keep our home study up to date and headed to Hawaii for a wedding and some time away. Two days after the wedding, Kristopher received a call from an Illinois number. Being from Illinois himself, he was used to spam calls and ignored the call. When the same number called Antonia’s phone immediately afterward, she knew she had to answer — it was Angel! They told us that a baby boy had been born two days prior and we were chosen for the opportunity! We had one hour to decide if we wanted to move forward, but we didn’t need the full hour and immediately said yes!

It was a Friday, and Angel informed us there would be little movement with the case over the weekend, so we had some time to make our necessary travel arrangements. We were originally supposed to leave Hawaii over a week later, so we moved our departure flight up to that upcoming Wednesday and changed our destination to Illinois, where the birthmother was. Getting through those few extra days proved to be far too difficult. We were barely able to focus on anything else. After two sleepless nights, we knew we wouldn’t be able to rest until we were at the hospital. So we rescheduled our flights once again and left Hawaii on Sunday, a full week before we were originally supposed to.

Kristopher’s mom was still living in Illinois, which meant we had the perfect place to stay while we waited for our ICPC paperwork to clear. Before leaving Hawaii, we reached out to her and filled her in on the situation. She was thrilled and did a massive shopping trip for us getting all of the essential baby supplies while we were on a red eye to Illinois. When we landed, we headed straight to the hospital and met our son, Jack, for the very first time. He had arrived three weeks early and was in NICU, but he was the most precious baby we’d ever seen. His birthmother and birthfather chose not to meet him or us, and the birthmother had already been discharged from the hospital by the time we arrived. Jack was discharged from the hospital the next day, which also happened to be the day our home study would have expired if not for the serendipitous encouragement of our social worker. We brought Jack to Kristopher’s mom’s home, which was the same house Kristopher had come home to as a newborn.

Worth the Wait

Those first days with Jack were tough, not because he was a difficult baby, but emotionally. We were terrified to bond with him after having been hurt so deeply in the past, so we couldn’t help but guard our hearts. We went through the parenting motions until three days later. We got the call that the paperwork was signed and Jack was officially ours! We both burst into tears knowing that our long, emotional journey had all been worth it.

Everyone’s adoption journey is different, and ours is no exception. After working with multiple expectant mothers, many of whom we spoke with intimately and built relationships with, we ultimately ended up connecting with a birthmother who requested a closed adoption. The only contact we have is through a private Instagram account where we upload pictures of Jack every so often for his birthparents to see. Nevertheless, we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts for the selfless decision she and her partner made that day and that we have the opportunity to love Jack and share him with the world. We know he was the baby meant for us. We wouldn’t change a thing about the long wait or the heartache if it meant that Jack wouldn’t be our son.

Megan & Jordan

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

An Unexpected Journey

We always knew we wanted to have a family, so we were thrilled when we were blessed with our son, August. After finding immense joy in parenthood, we started trying for additional children. The following year, we welcomed our daughter, Eleanor. Sadly, just a short 29 days after our daughter was born, she passed away unexpectedly. We were absolutely shattered.

Having multiple children was our dream, but we weren’t sure we would be able to get pregnant again. We started looking into both IVF and adoption and our research led us to Angel Adoption. We weren’t necessarily ready to adopt right away, but we were told placement could take anywhere from one to two years or more, so it felt right for us to start the process sooner rather than later. We joined Angel’s program about four months after losing Eleanor, and we prepared ourselves for a long journey.

A Destined Match

From day one, it felt as though Eleanor had a hand in our adoption. To our surprise, only two months after joining Angel’s program, our profile was selected by an expectant mother for the first and only time. We texted with her that evening. She was pregnant with a baby girl and she lived only an hour away from us. The expectant mother and the expectant father were making an adoption plan together, and despite being so young, they were both truly amazing.

After spending a month of texting every day with the expectant mother, we met her and the expectant father in person for lunch. Both August and Jordan’s mother (aka Grandma) joined us, and it was the best afternoon. Conversion flowed naturally. When it came time to leave, the expectant mother said that our time together really reaffirmed their decision to select us. When we asked what had initially drawn the two of them to us, she told us they had looked at a lot of profiles, but our story about Eleanor stood out to them. They also wanted their daughter to be raised with an adventurous spirit, and they thought we seemed like an adventurous family. That meant so much to us and we felt deeply honored to have been chosen by them.

Welcoming Evelyn

The expectant mother was due just after the new year, and although we weren’t sure she would make it to her due date, the doctor ended up scheduling an induction on the original due date.

Because of the scheduled induction and how close we lived, we were easily able to make it to the hospital for the birth. The expectant mother delivered via C-section, and she allowed us to wait in the recovery room where we’d eventually meet our newest family member. We finally welcomed our beautiful daughter, Evelyn, to the world just after she was born. She was absolutely perfect, and we were totally in love the moment we met her.

Family Time at the Hospital

Evelyn’s birthparents had requested she stay in their room with them. While this made us nervous that they may change their minds, we wanted to support their birth plan. After the tough year that we’d had, we still felt as though we were protecting ourselves. We spent the first three days visiting with Evelyn and her birthparents. As our visits with them got longer, they began to open up more and more about their lives and why they chose adoption. It made us feel so good that they trusted us enough to share their story and to place Evelyn with our family.

Four days after Evelyn was born, her birth parents signed their consents and we signed ours. On Evelyn’s last full day in the hospital, we spent the entire day with her and her birth parents as one big family. It was a truly special day that we’ll always hold near to our hearts. Evelyn’s birthmother had requested that we all leave the hospital together. While this was very emotional for all of us, we were so glad she suggested it. We gave lots of hugs and promises to stay in touch.

Our Completed Family

Our adoption journey went much quicker than we expected, but we wouldn’t change a thing. At times, we struggled with the guilt of moving forward so quickly after Eleanor passed away, but we know in our minds and our hearts that Eleanor brought us to Evelyn. Both of our daughters were meant to bless our family in their own special ways.

Steven & Matthew

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Embracing the Journey

We always knew we wanted to start a family. Early in our relationship, we deliberated between surrogacy and adoption. After thorough exploration and heartfelt discussions, adoption clearly stood out to us as the path we were meant to take. With our decision set, we embarked on a journey filled with anticipation and a fair share of nerves.

We were excited but also had countless questions and a bit of doubt about the uncertainty ahead. Despite these feelings, the support from our friends and family was overwhelming; everyone around us was thrilled and fully supportive of our decision to adopt, further affirming that it was the right choice for us. Actually, it turned out that the last conversation the two of us had with Steven’s grandmother before she passed away was about our adoption plans. She had been so excited and hopeful for us, and having that memory with her is truly special.

Early Challenges & Opportunities

Our adoption journey was not without its disappointments. The first time we were chosen by an expectant mother, the situation did not work out. After that, we communicated with a few other expectant mothers, none of which were matches for various reasons. We were, however, surprised by how quickly opportunities arose, underscoring the unpredictable nature of adoption.

Throughout our wait, keeping our family involved and updated on our experiences and feelings really helped alleviate some of the pressure. We found immense comfort in the unwavering support and excitement of our families, which helped make the lengthy process more bearable.

The turning point came in July when we were chosen by an expectant mother who was just four months along in her pregnancy. The expectant mother and father both had backgrounds in art and felt a strong connection with us due to those shared interests. Our initial conversation with the expectant mother was comfortable and natural, and our relationship quickly grew into a genuine friendship that went beyond mere discussions about the adoption.

Meeting Clayton

Our son, Clayton, decided to come early, which brought us to the hospital sooner than we had anticipated. We met the birthfather in the waiting room, where we ended up spending several hours. We took the opportunity of being there with him to have a number of meaningful conversations that deepened our relationship. While Clayton’s birth came sooner than anticipated, he came at just the right time - he shares a birthday with his Grandma Sheila, Steven’s mother, and he was born just two hours before Steven’s birthday.

Holding our tiny son for the first time was surreal. In that moment, we transitioned from being partners to being dads—a profound transformation that was wonderfully joyous and overwhelming at the same time. Despite being born prematurely with respiratory issues, Clayton was a strong little boy, and we relished every moment watching him grow and flourish. The weeks spent with him in the NICU strengthened the bond between the three of us.

Navigating Emotional Highs & Lows

One of the most significant challenges of our adoption journey was the emotional rollercoaster we experienced during the wait for Clayton’s arrival. Every moment of silence from his birthmother stirred anxiety within us, prompting fears of saying or doing something wrong. However, we learned from Angel that expectant mothers often have these same fears about adoptive parents, which helped create a mutual understanding that strengthened our connection.

Our advice for other adoptive parents is to brace themselves for the ups and downs and to embrace every part of their journey, including the inevitable setbacks. Also, we strongly emphasize the importance of having open and honest conversations with the birth parents, no matter how difficult or awkward they may be, to lay a solid foundation for the future. Our journey with Clayton showed us that despite the initial setbacks, things eventually fall into place just as they are meant to be.

Ellen & Bryan

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Starting our Adoption Journey

From the very beginning of our marriage, both of us knew we wanted to start a family. After facing some heartbreaking challenges with infertility, we turned our hearts to adoption. We ended up feeling a deep connection to the process through Angel Adoption. We were drawn to Angel not only because of the owners’ relatable story of overcoming infertility themselves, but also because of the company’s overall compassionate, person-centered approach.

Our journey began amid the uncertainty of a global pandemic, which added unforeseen layers of complexity and anxiety. Despite those challenges, we were filled with excitement and bolstered by an overwhelming amount of support from our friends and family. Those early stages were filled with a mix of excitement and nerves, and we had many questions about what to expect.

Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster

Our path to parenthood was anything but straightforward. With the first expectant mother who chose us, we made the very difficult decision to walk away from the opportunity because the situation just wasn't right for us. That choice, while painful, was a testament to our commitment to ensuring the best outcome for everyone involved, especially the child. We did worry whether or not we would ever be chosen again, but we were determined to do what we truly felt was best and we held on to hope as we moved forward.

Over the next year, we were lucky to have been chosen by several more expectant mothers. Unfortunately, each situation ended with the expectant mother choosing to parent or other circumstances that prevented the placement from happening. These repeated heartbreaks tested our resolve to keep moving forward, and sharing news of each potential adoption with our families also became increasingly difficult.

A Turning Point

Just as our contract time was ending, we lost contact with another potential birthmother. Angel Adoption generously extended our contract time. This gesture of support came at a critical time as we were feeling burnt out by the feeling burnt out by the emotional demands of the adoption process and had been considering taking a break from it altogether.

The call that changed everything came quite unexpectedly. We were on a weekend getaway, trying to recharge and find peace amid disappointment. Angel called to let us know that an expectant mother who was carrying a baby boy had chosen us and wanted to connect with us immediately. We spent the next three months communicating and building a relationship with her. Her apparent certainty about her adoption plans and her openness in communication were a stark contrast to all our previous experiences and rekindled our hope.

Meeting Lucas & His Birth Family

Our communication with the expectant mother was still going very well when we learned her due date was pushed up. Then, just three days later, we found out she was being induced that same day! Having made no prior arrangements, we found ourselves rushing to the hospital with an overwhelming mix of excitement and nervousness.

When we arrived, the wonderful hospital staff was incredibly accommodating and gave us a private room. We had enough time before the induction to be able to meet the expectant mother and father and spend some quality time with them. The natural and heartfelt conversations we had with them before our son’s birth felt like the culmination of a long-held dream.

Shortly after our son, Lucas, was born, the hospital staff rolled him into our room to meet us. The moment we met him, we knew it was always supposed to be him. The feelings we felt were indescribable. We were able to hold him skin-to-skin, and the instant connection we felt totally and completely affirmed our arduous journey. Everything we had experienced — all of the difficult waiting and the emotional ups and downs — had brought us to this incredible moment.

The birthmother graciously included the name we had chosen for him on the birth certificate. It was a profound gesture that showed her trust and respect for us as Lucas's parents. We couldn’t be more grateful for her gift. We maintain an open adoption with Lucas's birthmother and communicate with her frequently. This ongoing relationship is important to us because we want Lucas to understand the depth of love that went into his adoption.

Overcoming Challenges

The biggest challenges were managing the emotional ups and downs and maintaining faith that the right opportunity would come. Therapy played a crucial role in helping her cope, providing a space to process feelings and stay hopeful.

We encourage other prospective adoptive parents to trust the process, lean on support systems, and stay grounded in the belief that everything happens for a reason. While the journey can be daunting, the joy and fulfillment at its conclusion are beyond compare.

Tracy

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

New Beginnings

The path to the adoption of my son, Mateo, is a profound story of loss, resilience, and renewed hope. I had always dreamed of having a bigger family, but life's unpredictable turns placed those dreams on hold when I faced the unimaginable tragedy of losing my husband and my youngest child in quick succession. I was heartbroken, to say the least.

After taking plenty of time to grieve and heal, with the support of my oldest child, I decided it was time to welcome new life into our family through adoption. We knew we had two angels looking over us as we embarked on this journey.

I chose to work with Angel Adoption because of their personable approach. Other agencies felt cold and uncaring, but with Angel Adoption, I felt a sense of genuine compassion and understanding that reassured me during such a vulnerable time.

Starting the Adoption Journey

As I began my adoption journey, I was relatively unfamiliar with what the process would entail. Determined to keep stress at bay, I embraced the mindset, “If it is meant to be, it will happen.” This mantra helped me navigate the complexities of the process and the overall emotional roller coaster of adoption with a sense of peace. It especially helped me get through the most challenging part of the process for me, which was the home study. It was tedious and emotionally draining; however, seeing it through to the end brought great relief and a sense of accomplishment.

Initially, my friends and family were skeptical about my plan, thinking my choice to adopt was simply a response to my grief. However, as they began to see the true joy and excitement that the prospect of adopting brought me and I continued to demonstrate a solid commitment to the process, they rallied in excitement and loving support. My six-year-old was especially eager to welcome a new sibling to our family.

A Magnetic Connection

The best word to describe my connection with my son’s expectant mother is “magnetic.” We shared an instant bond that was so strong and wonderful. As we discussed potential names, we discovered the serendipitous connection of both having chosen the name Elijah. The expectant mother would have named him Elijah, and that was the name I picked for his middle name!

More and more special “little things” like this popped up throughout our relationship, which only served as further proof to us that our connection was meant to be. Now, Mateo’s expectant mother is now like a little sister to me, and I could not have asked for a better person to go through this process with.

The Call & the Birth

When I received the call that the expectant mother was in labor, it was an emotional whirlwind. I rushed to the hospital. I was so grateful that she allowed me to be by her side as she gave birth and also to engage in skin-to-skin contact with Mateo immediately after he was born. The reality of meeting Mateo was surreal. I felt a profound sense of destiny, a confirmation that everything in this tumultuous journey had led to this perfect moment.

Joy is Waiting

My story is a beautiful testament to the transformative power of love and adoption. It illustrates how opening one's heart and home can bring healing and complete a family in the most unexpected and wonderful ways.

My advice to prospective adoptive parents revolves around resilience and faith: Don’t get discouraged. Trust that it will all work out the way it's meant to and everything will happen the way it’s supposed to happen. Stay confident and see everything through. What is waiting for you at the end of this journey is joy!

Tara & Mitch

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Choosing the Right Path with Angel Adoption

From a very young age, Tara knew that pregnancy might not be a part of her future due to medical complications. However, adoption was a concept close to her heart, having seen its beautiful impact firsthand in her family. Her stepfather had adopted her, and her cousin was also adopted. This deeply personal connection to adoption shaped her and her husband Mitch's outlook on family—they knew early in their marriage that biology was not the essence of parental love.

When the time came to grow their family, Tara and Mitch chose to work with Angel Adoption. They were referred by someone who had a positive experience with the agency, and the affordable cost compared to other agencies made the decision even easier. What truly resonated with them was Angel Adoption’s humanistic approach, which aligned with their values and desires for the process.

Embarking on the Adoption Journey

Despite their excitement, Tara and Mitch braced for a long journey; they were under the impression that finding a match could take years. However, life had a pleasant surprise in store for them—they were chosen by a birthmother just three months into their journey! The rapid progression from hopeful candidates to soon-to-be parents was exhilarating.

Their friends and family were thrilled about their decision to adopt, diving into research to support Tara and Mitch throughout the process. This collective enthusiasm and support were pivotal as they navigated the emotional journey of adoption.

Knowing the birthmother chose three families to communicate with added more nerves for them moving forward. They chose to believe that whatever was meant to happen would happen and enjoyed their time getting to know her. When they got the news that she was no longer going to be communicating with the other families they were flooded with happiness and joy.

Forming a Bond with the Birthmother

Meeting the birthmother for the first time was a pivotal moment. Tara and Mitch traveled to meet her, partaking in significant milestones like a 3-D ultrasound. They even celebrated her mother's birthday together, which helped ease the nervousness of the first meeting and solidified a burgeoning bond. The time they spent with the birthmother's family in those early days laid a strong foundation for a lasting relationship.

When the call came that the birthmother was having contractions, Tara was able to be in the delivery room, sharing this profound moment with the birthmother’s mother. The experience of meeting their son, Jasper, for the first time was beyond words—Tara describes it as "unreal" and a moment of "pure bliss." The birthmother’s initial skin-to-skin contact followed by Tara holding Jasper solidified their new reality: Jasper was their son. There are times when things do not feel real and they forget they will get to be Jasper’s parents forever.

Their relationship with Jasper’s birthmother remains open, though communication has naturally decreased over time. This dynamic is respected by all parties, understanding that the birthmother's experience as an adoptee herself influenced her wishes for Jasper’s future—to be there for him and answer any questions he might have as he grows up.

Challenges Along the Way

One of the biggest challenges was the inherent lack of control over many aspects of the process, from the information shared by the birthmother to having no control over her choices during pregnancy. Tara and Mitch learned to trust the process and embrace the unknown, focusing on what they could influence—their readiness and emotional resilience.

Tara’s key piece of advice for others considering adoption is to seek support from those who have been through it. She stresses the importance of controlling one’s mindset and letting go of what cannot be controlled. Strong support from a partner and the broader community is crucial. They remain so thankful to Jasper’s birthmother and are so glad to have her as part of their family.

Amara & Patrick

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

The Road to Adoption

After struggling with infertility for six years and undergoing multiple unsuccessful IVF treatments, my partner and I realized that adoption was the path we were meant to take to fulfill our dreams of parenthood. We had always felt drawn to adoption, and despite the challenges we faced along the way, we remained determined that it was the way we would build our family.

We chose to work with Angel Adoption because of their reputation for providing compassionate and supportive services to hopeful adoptive parents like us. From the moment we connected with them, we were sure that we were in good hands as we embarked on our adoption journey.

All the Emotions

As we began our adoption journey, we experienced a whirlwind of emotions. All at the same time, we were scared of the unknown, nervous about the process, and excited about the prospect of welcoming a child into our lives. Despite the uncertainties, we held onto hope and remained steadfast in our commitment to becoming parents through adoption.

Our friends and family understood the challenges we had faced with infertility. They were incredibly supportive of our decision to adopt and cheered us on every step of the way. Their unwavering support gave us the strength and encouragement we needed to persevere through the ups and downs of the adoption process.

Long Road

Our journey to parenthood was not without its challenges. We encountered setbacks and disappointments along the way, but each experience only strengthened our resolve to continue pursuing our dreams of adoption. Despite facing adversity, we remained resilient, knowing that our journey would ultimately lead us to the child meant to be ours.

It’s hard going through your journey and not knowing if you will be picked again or if you just talked with the last expectant mother that would ever choose you. We stayed hopeful and leaned on each other through those thoughts and knew that what was waiting for us at the end of the wait would be amazing!

We navigated two opportunities before we found The One. The courageous woman who chose us was six months pregnant. Building a relationship with her was a joyous and meaningful experience, and we cherished the opportunity to get to know her and her story.

Our Family

We wanted to be present for the birth, and the birthmother knew she would be induced due to her experience with her other children. We made sure to arrive in her state a few days before her due date. When the call finally came that Breanna would be induced, we rushed to her side, filled with anticipation and excitement. Meeting our baby girl for the first time was a moment of pure joy and disbelief—it was a surreal experience that we will never forget.

Our relationship with our daughter’s birthmother continues to thrive, and she remains an important part of our lives and our daughter's life. We stay in touch regularly, sharing updates and milestones, and cherishing the bond we share as extended family. She is a part of our family forever.

The adoption process presented us with many challenges, from the uncertainties of the wait to the fear of potential disruptions. However, with the support of our loved ones and our unwavering determination, we navigated through the obstacles and emerged stronger than ever.

As we reflect on our adoption journey, we are filled with gratitude for the gift of parenthood and the love that fills our home each day. While the road to adoption may be long and arduous, it is a journey worth taking, filled with endless love, hope, and blessings.

Looking to the future, we are excited for all of the amazing moments to come with our daughter, knowing that our hearts have an infinite capacity for love. Our advice to other adoptive parents is simple—lean on your support system, remain resilient in the face of challenges, and never lose sight of the beautiful journey that lies ahead. Adoption is a testament to the power of love, and with patience and perseverance, dreams really do come true.

Kiki & Del

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

The Journey Begins

As a same-sex couple, we knew early in our relationship that our path to motherhood would have to be done in an “alternative” way. Kiki had dreamed of adoption since she was young, despite the daunting stories we’d heard. It was our conversation with Angel Adoption that shifted our fears to confidence, assuring us that adoption was our destined path to parenthood. When we shared the news with our friends and family, everyone was over the moon to support us on our journey!

Waiting for the Right One

Not long after joining Angel’s program, our profile was chosen by an expectant mother for the first time. It was surreal how quickly it was happening. During that first opportunity, we tried to reach out to her about once a week, but the communication was very on and off. It eventually led to the expectant mother stopping communication altogether with both us and Angel.

After that first opportunity, a woman reached out to us via our personal Facebook page. She claimed to represent an agency and had an adoption opportunity for us. It all felt sketchy from the beginning. After doing some digging, we found this woman was not at all associated with any agency and was attempting to scam us. We are grateful we were on high alert and didn’t send her any money or our home study as she had requested.

We spent about a year waiting for our next opportunity. We did our best to stay busy by working on house projects and trying not to obsess over the wait. Our patience paid off when another expectant mother reached out to us directly, this time through our home study agency’s website. She shared with us her back story and that she was early in her pregnancy. We were being extra careful after the Facebook scam, so we got in touch with Angel immediately and their birthmother coordinators spoke with her before we did.

After that, we spoke with her every single day until our daughter was born. She lived about six hours from us. She had other children and had placed another child for adoption a few years prior. We were able to FaceTime into every doctor appointment that she had and felt looped in through her entire pregnancy. The expectant mother’s boyfriend was also involved in the adoption process and we got to chat with him during those months as well.

Throughout her pregnancy, it felt as though she was treating it more like a surrogacy than an adoption. She spent those six months telling us that it was our baby and our pregnancy. While she never waivered, everyone around us was trying to protect us by reminding us that things could always change.

Meeting Rylee

The expectant mother was due just after the start of the new year; however, we knew she would deliver early based on her past pregnancies. We all continued to press the doctor for an induction date and he wouldn’t provide one. It was really important to all of us that we were present for the birth, so the expectant mother spoke up about how important her birth plan was and that we needed to accommodate drive time. We were finally given an induction day — the week of Christmas! We were so excited about the possibility of spending our first Christmas as a family of three, together.

We drove out the day before the scheduled induction. We knew we wanted our own support system to help while we were at the hospital and settling in, so Del’s mom and sister came with us. At the hospital the following evening, we met the expectant mother, her two youngest children, her oldest daughter, and the expectant father, who joined us. As we all settled in at the hospital, the staff started the expectant mother on her induction medications and we took turns napping and waiting. It was a slow process, and it seemed as though every time we tried to take a break and grab a bite to eat, something big happened.

Our daughter, Rylee, finally arrived. We were so grateful that the expectant mother had given us permission to be in the delivery room with her. Del was able to cut the umbilical cord. We knew it would be an emotional experience, but we never could have imagined how overcome we would feel.

Building New Bonds

We had discussed having Rylee in our own room during the recovery period, but that communication was lost during the nurse changeover, and she was placed in the nursery. We waited for her for about one hour before she was finally brought to us and we were able to hold her for the first time. Our hearts were bursting with joy and love for our daughter and our new family.

While at the hospital, we continued to check in and spend time with Rylee’s birthmother and biological sister. They both had an opportunity to hold her and we took a number of photos together. We knew how fleeting these moments were and we wanted to cherish them.

We were discharged from the hospital two days after Rylee was born and spent our first Christmas as a family of three at our Airbnb. Kiki’s boss was so kind and sent us a full Christmas spread for dinner and we purchased ourselves a mini Christmas tree to celebrate. The ICPC process took longer than usual, but we expected that, given the holiday. When we were finally able to head home, we made the six-hour drive together as a family.

The Biggest Love

We agreed to an open adoption with Rylee’s birth family and have truly enjoyed the communication we’ve had with them thus far. We upload photos for her birthmother to see and we even send photos directly to her oldest biological sister. Rylee’s biological grandmother crocheted Rylee a blanket and outfit and we felt so honored that she gifted those items to us. The love that surrounds Rylee extends well beyond us and our families — it’s clear how much her biological family loves her as well.

Ronnie & Peter

Read Our Story »

How it all began...

Jumping In

Long before we actually started the adoption process, we dreamed of being dads and knew that we wanted to grow our family through adoption. We started having serious conversations about it in early 2023 and then started our research. Angel was the first place we found and spoke with. We instantly knew it was the right place for us.

Within days of our adoptive family profile being completed, we were chosen by an expectant mother. She was early in her pregnancy and we knew that if this worked, we were in it for the long haul. We started communicating with her, but for the duration of our relationship, it unfortunately never felt easy or natural. We lived in fear that she would choose to parent and it never felt like we were building a friendship. When we tried to hire attorney services for her, she never ended up meeting with them. She also started to become more demanding of financial support as we got closer to her due date. We had a gender reveal together and found out it was a boy, and we even planned a baby shower with her, so we wanted to continue to stick with her. However, after her demands got too great, we ultimately decided it wasn’t the healthiest connection for us and we chose to walk away.

Walking away from that first birthmother was an incredibly emotional decision, and not one that we took lightly. We spoke with Angel, our attorneys, our families, and each other at length before making our decision. Even so, we were crushed when it was all said and done. We had wanted that little boy so badly. We had fallen in love with the idea of our family and that loss was something we weren’t sure we could recover from. We had to really reflect on the last four months and decide if we wanted to even continue with adoption.

Trusting the Process

After our disrupted opportunity, we waited about one month before being chosen again. When Angel reached out to us, they said that if this opportunity worked it would be much shorter than the last because this expectant mother was due in less than four weeks!

We were hesitant to speak with this expectant mother, but we kept an open mind and heart. After just one conversation, we knew this was it. The conversation felt so different this time. She immediately felt like a friend we had known for ages! She shared with us ultrasound photos, details of her pregnancy, and continued to refer to her baby as "your baby” or “our baby."

As we got within one week of the expectant mother’s due date, her doctor recommended that she be induced the following week. We had our bags packed, our travel plan was in place, and we were ready to leave. As it turns out, we didn’t have to wait until the following week, because in the early hours of Saturday morning she let us know that she was in labor and it was time for us to head her way!

We picked up our rental car, packed our bags, and were on the road within the hour. We knew we had an 18-hour drive ahead of us and wanted to get moving. Only hours into our drive, the expectant mother texted us that our son had been born and we were so disappointed to miss it. We started to get really scared that by us missing those first moments and the first day, she was going to change her mind about her adoption plan. She continued to refer to him as “our son,” but it only curbed our anxiety a little bit.

No Judgment Here

Knowing that our son and his birthmother were still in the hospital being well cared for, we chose to stop at the halfway point of our drive to catch up on sleep. After just a couple hours of sleep, we received a call from a state social worker confirming our adoption plan and asking if we were on our way. The expectant mother had disclosed to us some medical details during our drive that we were unaware of previously, so this call wasn’t a surprise, but we still felt pressure to get moving again.

While the medical news came as a surprise to us, we had already decided we would continue forward with the adoption. Our son’s birthmother was giving us the most wonderful gift and it wasn’t our place to judge her, only to support her and support our son.

The Best Gift

When we finally arrived at the hospital, we met our son’s birthmother and her mother first. They were both so warm and welcoming towards us. Then it was finally time to meet our son, Jackson, for the first time. We were blown away with how perfect he was! We got to spend our time together in the NICU and Jackson’s birthmother shared her time with us and Jackson.

After everyone was discharged from the hospital, we treated Jackson’s birthmother to dinner and spent that evening together. It was amazing to see all of the people that immediately loved Jackson sitting at a table together.

We ended up staying in Jackson’s birth state for ten full days, but we were lucky enough to be in an area where we have friends, so they invited us to stay with them! Between the wonderful hospital staff, Jackson’s amazing birthmother, and our friends, our faith in the process was completely restored. We are so grateful for everyone that surrounded us during our adoption journey and know that without their support, we wouldn’t be the dads we are today to Jackson.

View More Success Stories

the ultimate adoption guide for adoptive parents

Download Your Free Adoption Guide

what's inside...

Growing Your Family

Who we are.

Angel Adoption Success Stories

Adriana & Bradley

Adriana & Bradley

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

A Family Affair

It Only Takes One

Meeting Brody

Getting Stronger in the NICU

Our Family Today

Allison & Dillon

Allison & Dillon

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

How We Decided to Adopt a Baby

Starting Our Adoption Journey

Meeting Juliette

A Surreal and Emotional Experience

Advice for Waiting Families

Christina & Wayne

Christina & Wayne

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

Embracing the Journey of Adoption

Nervous Beginnings to a Heartfelt Connection

A Father's Day to Remember

How Trust Transformed Our Adoption Journey

Katie & Andrew

Katie & Andrew

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

Deciding to Adopt Again

The Path to Oliver

Meeting Oliver & Beyond

Sara & Josh

Sara & Josh

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

The Journey Begins: A Dream of Parenthood

Choosing the Right Path: Why We Chose Angel Adoption

The Waiting Game: A Test of Faith and Patience

A Miracle in the Making: Meeting Our Daughter

A New Beginning: The Blessing of Adoption

Karen & Paul

Karen & Paul

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

How We Decided to Adopt

Choosing Angel Adoption

Our Emotional Journey

A Two-Year Wait

Our New Life

Sara & John

Sara & John

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

Finding Our Way to Angel

A Disheartening End

Stepping Away

Playing the Long Game

A Test Run and a Visit

The Sweetest Lincoln

Instant Love

Pushing Through

Kristopher & Antonia

Kristopher & Antonia

Our Adoption Story

How it all began...

International vs. Domestic Adoption

Chosen so Quickly

Unexpected Heartbreak

Is This Really It?

Worth the Wait

Megan & Jordan

Megan & Jordan

Download Your
Free Adoption Guide