SUCCESS STORIES

Knowing we wanted to adopt was a given….it wasn’t even a conversation for us. The minute we found out that IVF was the only way we would ever conceive, we just knew that we would grow our family through adoption. It was about 5-6 months between knowing adoption was our chosen path and finding Everlasting….I always refer to it as “Finding Everlasting” because I knew from the first phone call that it wasn’t a choice. God’s plan for us always included Ceal, Carol, Sheila & Brittany. Prior to that call, there were lots of other “calls”, lots of packets came to our house, lots of questions asked and answered and at least 3 close-to-nervous breakdowns. Adoption is expensive, that’s no secret, and deciding who to trust is overwhelming! Practically speaking, there’s only so much money, but, at the beginning of this journey all you can think about is that you are trusting someone with every single desire, dream and prayer that you are capable of….so you want to pick a good place to land.

I remember our “call” with Carol….that February morning. I got to work early so I could just concentrate on the conversation. We conferenced in my husband, and I sat on the floor, later learning that Ben sat in the bathroom, and at the end of that first 90 minute call with Carol, I think we both took a deep breath for the first time in months! That phone call was the beginning of Everlasting blessing our lives forever.

Brittany & Sheila were so wonderful through the entire process of getting our book, web profile and paperwork complete. It’s one of the things that I didn’t realize I would find so helpful, but I know we couldn’t have done it alone. This journey is so emotional, as an adoptive family you are trying to put yourself out there – the tendency is to over share, because we are so attached to every story and every picture and we want everyone to fall in love and pick us! Having professionals to help us navigate that is essential and I think they did an awesome job.

I cried when we got the call that we had been chosen as an Everlasting family, I remember exactly where I was, I hadn’t eaten all day because I knew we couldn’t do it without them. From that day in February until the next phone call on January 30th, if I had a nickel for every time someone said to me “just live your life, you can’t let it consume you”…..we could have paid for this adoption in nickels! While I appreciate the intent, if you are a mom waiting to adopt, it’s the most annoying phrase in the world. I won’t ever utter that phrase to anyone, but I do believe it to be true now.

What I will say (or advise, although I”m not qualified to advise), is this: find a way to make it okay for you and for your partner. I read a blog sometime last summer….I’m paraphrasing, but basically, what I took from it is this:

I believe that this is the path God planned for our family. God knew Everlasting was part of our journey. Brooks was created in his image, to be our son. It wasn’t about the heartache we went through during our journey, it was about Brooks. He is our son. He’s not replaceable or interchangeable. He is our son. He came in God’s time. If you know that, really know it, deep down, then it makes this process easier. You’ll find peace in your wait, knowing that when it’s time….your baby will come.

If you want to build your family through adoption, here are my thoughts:

*You can’t do better than Everlasting, you are in perfect hands!

*Have faith ~ Know that YOUR son or daughter is out there…if this is what’s on your heart, then you have to trust that your child is out there, waiting on you to bring him/her home!

*Don’t feel like you have to listen to anyone but yourself. If your heart is aching to buy a crib, buy a crib and when people tell you that you’re crazy, just use as your “why” story that we had 72 hours notice 🙂

*Don’t apologize to anyone, especially for your feelings. This is a long journey; emotionally, mentally, financially and spiritually….you will find strength when you need it, and on days when there is nothing to do but sit and cry, embrace it and NEVER apologize.

We were incredibly blessed to meet our son just 11 months into our relationship with Everlasting. Ceal called Friday morning around 10:00 am (by the way, you will ALWAYS remember answering the phone and hearing “Hi X, it’s Ceal”) there were still some questions to be answered, but I knew that moment we were bringing home our son. By the afternoon, most of our questions had been answered. Saturday morning we spoke with our birth mom, and everyone in our life rallied to bring home our baby. Monday morning we made the drive to New Orleans, and the minute my husband held him, he smiled and we knew. This was the baby God made for us to love. Benjamin Brooks was born on January 16th, 2015 in New Orleans. He had a rough couple of weeks, but thankfully once we were able to bring him home all that was forgotten.

We are settling into being a family; Brooks is already so loved and spoiled. His dad just stares at him in awe of this wonderful little dude that is now his best friend. I stare in awe of the treasure God entrusted to me.

Our story was perfect…for us. Your story is perfect….even if you don’t know the ending. Know that your Everlasting family is bigger than you will ever know!!! We’re all praying for you and for your sweet baby. Motherhood has made me realize that I will never, ever, ever be able to repay people for what they have done for us….all I can do is pay it forward. There are no words to adequately convey the debt of gratitude we have for Ceal, Carol, Sheila and Brittany and the rest of the team…..they helped us find our son.

Stephen and I decided to adopt because we always wanted to be parents, but, after 3.5 years of intense infertility treatment, felt that we were being called to a different route to parenthood. From start to finish, it took 24 months to adopt Jacob Aiden. The experience was hard at first because of the frustration of filling out what felt like reams of paperwork, feeling as if we needed everbody else’s approval to become parents, feeling as if it was never going to happen…but, now weeks away from finalization, I can appreciate that, while a lot of what you go through to adopt is extremely hard and maybe over the top, it is worth it to see your child.

One of the main reasons we chose Everlasting Adoptions versus other facilitators/agencies was our feeling that they had a deep respect for all the people involved in the adoption process. Some other places I spoke to seemed to be frustrated at having “another couple” wanting to adopt because they needed more birthmoms, and others seemed to have a lack of sympathy for the birthmothers. We did not experience this negativity from any of the staff at Everlasting, and felt as if they were truly trying to help birthmoms and adoptive parents find a happy ending without judging them in the process. Everlasting’s staff was always there to help us; I was amazed at how easy it was to reach Carol whenever I had a question (something we did not experience with our attorney, home study agency, and social workers!) Overall, we had a good experience with Everlasting, and would utilize them again for a domestic infant adoption.

There’s a few things I’ve learned through this process, one of which, is try to stay hopeful throughout the wait! Stephen and I tried to do some things we knew would be harder after a baby, like taking a weekend vacation, going out to a movie, and outdoor stuff, like hiking and tennis, to try and appreciate the time alone together, since you tend to focus on wanting the future to come faster! I would advise prospective parents to keep an open heart and mind; you never know what is meant to be. We were fortunate to have a wonderful birthmother who wanted us to be involved even before our son’s birth, and feel blessed to be able to share pics and updates with her now, something about which we were initially concerned.

Jacob is such a blessing in our lives and we’ve enjoyed every minute with him! Even those 2 am feedings! Sometimes the pain of not having a child makes you appreciate the one you finally have that much more.

Stephen, Lindsey, and Jacob

It has always been our dream to have a family of our own. After three miscarriages, Jim and I decided to adopt. We talked to family, friends and another couple going through the adoption process themselves. After researching our options we made the decision to go with Everlasting Adoptions.

The process was long and stressful. We didn’t talk much about the wait, because it was painful. Then after two years, Jim and I were matched to our birth mom two days before our contract was up. Before we were matched, we had come to the conclusion that our dream may not come true or we would have to look at other options. When Ceal called, the extreme excitement and joy we experienced was beyond description. The staff at Everlasting had recommended Jim and me to the birth mom after she struggled to make a decision. From that point on it has been the best days of our lives. Our daughter, Abby, has been with us for over four months now and we have finalized the adoption! We couldn’t imagine life without her.

To the families that our waiting to adopt or checking out their options, we think they should definitely consider Everlasting Adoptions. They were kind, understanding and quick to answer any questions we had. Also, be patient! They say things happen for a reason, we definitely are believers of that now!

From the time we were dating, we both agreed that we wanted to have children. About a year after we were married, we learned that we would not be able to conceive. I was devastated, but James continued to be strong and kept a positive attitude for me. At that very moment, we both agreed that adoption would be the best thing for us.

Our adoption journey began about 22 months ago. We gathered information and researched several adoption agencies, but we both decided to try Everlasting Adoptions, and we’re so glad we did. The whole Everlasting team, especially Ceal, were very supportive, encouraging, and very patient. Ceal worked very hard to find us matches but with lots of prayer and patience, God made a way for us to be matched with a very special young lady, the birthmother of our little “Angel”. We’ve had a journey full of ups and downs. One of our matches actually let us hear, over the phone, the baby being born. We rushed to get there, stayed with the baby overnight in the hospital, but when it was time for us to leave, with the baby, she changed her mind. With another match, we arrived in town, and went to the hospital, only to be told that she was not registered there. We couldn’t contact her, so we went home. A day later, the birthmother contacted us and told us to come get the baby. We, once again, booked our flight, and rushed to get there. We met the attorney at the hospital, but the birthmother never showed up. We contacted the birthfather, only to find out the he had changed his mind. So, once again, we packed up and went home. Both times, we were devastated. It had gotten to the point where I went into each match expecting NOT to adopt, expecting for the birthmother to change her mind at the last minute, and through it all, Ceal was ALWAYS there with some encouraging words. There were times when I told my husband I just didn’t want to do this anymore. My husband, along with Ceal, encouraged me not to give up. I decided to try ‘one more time’. We were matched with a birthmother who was having twins. We were shocked, but still excited and trying to prepare for two babies instead of one. The birthmother delivered early, but never contacted us. I was pretty much through with everything, but received a call from Ceal, the day before Thanksgiving, with the match that changed our lives. I truly believe that God’s plan was for us to be matched with this particular birthmother. We didn’t know each other long, but we were a blessing to each other from the first time we spoke on the phone.

I prayed to God for a Christmas miracle, and what a miracle he blessed us with! We now have our daughter and words cannot express how happy and blessed we are. So to the waiting families, please don’t give up and make sure you ask GOD to take control and lead you to the “perfect match”. Our adoption counselor, Ceal, and the Everlasting Adoption staff, “THANK YOU” is just not enough, for everything you’ve done for us. Ceal was not only our adoption counselor, she has become a lifetime friend and “auntie”!! Without Ceal, and the staff, none of this would be happening. Our experience, with Everlasting Adoptions, is one we’ll never forget. Everlasting Adoptions made our dreams come true, by helping us grow our ‘family’. If I had to rate Everlasting on a scale from 1 to 10, my vote would definitely be a 10!!!

As we celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary, we have been blessed with the gift of life. We adopted our first child, who was already one month old, when Ceal at Everlasting called us to inform us of our miracle.

We took custody of our daughter on December 20, 2014, within three days of being called. Our daughter, Laila Grace is a true Christmas miracle!

The staff at Everlasting is a composite of a lawyer, social worker and recruiter therefore you’re in fantastic hands! We have worked with other agencies, and Everlasting is absolutely outstanding because they are your family! Like family, they are with you through good and bad.

We have wanted to adopt in addition to having biological children. However, after nine miscarriages, we thought we’d never be parents. Now, we are parents thanks to God and Everlasting’s work as the brilliant conduit.

Everlasting’s accessibility, guidance and professionalism are second to none. We have our Christmas miracle in Laila Grace. Thank you Everlasting Adoptions; you made our dreams come true!

Hi Carol & Team!

We wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and again say a sincere thank you for helping us grow our family through adoption. We are so blessed to be able to celebrate the holidays this year with our two beautiful daughters. Thank you all for helping make our dream come true!

We decided to adopt for a few different reasons. Anne and her brother were adopted, as was Tory’s sister, so adoption has always been a wonderful part of our lives. We always knew we wanted to adopt, and when we realized we couldn’t conceive naturally, we were even more motivated to move forward with adoption.

We evaluated several different agencies before selecting Everlasting Adoptions. Having been through an adoption journey once before, we knew we wanted to work with people who understood how difficult that process can be for adoptive parents. We did not want to be just another name on a list. We found the environment we were looking for with Carol and the team at Everlasting.

Our experience with Everlasting was very, very positive. The birth mother did not contact Everlasting until she was already nine months pregnant and about ready to deliver. Carol was extremely supportive to the birth mother, the birth mother’s support system, and of course to us. Carol and the team were on the phone nearly 24/7 working to connect all of us in a very short period of time. The flurry of activity that took place over the first 72 hours since we got the call was astounding. Within less than one week of receiving the first call from Carol, we were at the hospital holding our newborn daughter. What a miracle!! Carol continued to follow-up with us throughout the process. It was wonderful to know that the Everlasting team had us in their thoughts and prayers.

We know how hard the waiting can be, so our advice to other prospective adoptive parents is to try just live your lives to the fullest and not get too anxious about how long the process can take. We were very fortunate to have only been waiting seven short months since contacting Everlasting Adoptions. However, we waited much longer our first time with a different agency and know how difficult it can be.

Again, thank you Carol and team for your guidance and support. You not only helped welcome our beautiful daughter Kyla Lynne into our family, but also connected us with an amazing birth mother who means so much to us. Our adoption journey through Everlasting was a very positive experience. Thank you!

Happy Holidays!

Tory & Anne

I decided to adopt a baby because I’ve wanted to be a mother for as long as I can remember. From the time I made the decision to adopt through Everlasting Adoptions to the time I brought home my daughter took a total of 18 months. The staff at Everlasting Adoptions was very instrumental in explaining the process of adoption and a variety of experiences that adoptive parents go through. I found it encouraging that Carol spoke to me about her personal experience of being an adoptive parent. I think it helps to have staff who have walked in my shoes as well as are parents themselves. The staff is more compassionate from that perspective.

I would recommend talking to other adoptive parents about their experiences. It is helpful to know and learn what various people do to prepare for adoption as well as how to nurture a relationship with the birthmother and her family. The birthmother’s familial support for her decision can make or break her decision to follow through with the adoption. If you have the opportunity to meet the birthmother prior to the birth, I would highly recommend doing that.

My experience with Everlasting Adoptions was positive. I appreciated the smaller staff and felt that I could receive more personalized attention versus what I might receive at a larger operation. I appreciated being able to develop a relationship with the birthmother.

It is very important to feel like the birthmother is committed to the process. Additionally, it is very important to utilize the legal services of attorneys who specialize in adoption. Adoption laws vary by state, so specialized knowledge in adoptions and application of the law, in each state, is very critical.

I feel very lucky to have Isabella in my life. My dreams of being a mother have finally come true! Thank you Everlasting Adoptions!

Adoption has been something that I was always very open to because we have close friends, neighbors, and extended family who are adopted. We started talking about it seriously a couple of years ago as an option, and as Christians, adoption holds a special place in our hearts. It is a way we can love like Jesus loves us. The more we talked and prayed about it, and went to adoption informational meetings at Church, we just felt led to move forward and start the process. Though it hasn’t been easy, it has been completely worth it, and we look forward to, at some point in the future, adding to our family and adopting again.

 

The process from start to finish took about 22 months which was much longer than I had anticipated. For whatever reason, I thought our journey would be simple and fast without any “speed bumps”. And then reality hit. We now realize that adoption is never simple or easy; it’s a complex issue with a human life at stake. But, if you stay committed and keep your faith, in the grand scheme of things, the wait time is nothing compared to the life you now have!

 

Everyone at Everlasting was great with us. They were completely reachable and in contact, even if it was just to emote and verbalize our feelings. What we loved is that they’ve been through the process themselves so they understand all the feelings and emotions that are a part of the journey. I liked receiving a monthly update email from them, and also being able to text any of the ladies at a moment’s notice. That made us feel like we weren’t alone or forgotten in the process.

 

Our advice to other prospective adoptive parents is to be patient! Maybe it will happen right away for you, but be patient in the wait if it doesn’t. Keep living your life and enjoying today while hoping for tomorrow. Also, be prepared as much as possible for a roller coaster of emotions. It isn’t always a smooth process and there are risks and fears, so go into it not expecting perfection but being realistic. And know most of all, every tear, every fear, every moment waiting and hoping is completely WORTH IT.

I would rate my overall experience with Everlasting an 8.5 out of 10. I would rank it higher maybe if we were placed faster, but, we really feel, for the price, Everlasting was a great value, truly affordable. The women were very personable and easy to work with.

Sara and Jason

We had always talked about adopting when we had completed our biological family, but the more we talked about it, the more we thought, “why not START our family with adoption?” The process took about 17 months, and although the wait was excruciating, it was really encouraging to hear from Sheila and Ceal from Everlasting. Once we were matched, Ceal was diligent in checking in with us AND our birth mom, making sure everything was moving forward smoothly. There were moments of uncertainty and complication, but the Everlasting staff was extremely encouraging and helpful. We had a wonderful experience with Everlasting and will likely use them again in the future! Once we had our little one in our arms, Ceal sent congratulations and a kiss from “Auntie” Ceal! One piece of advice we would offer prospective adoptive parents is try not to obsess over the wait (easier said than done). Live your life in the meantime – vacation, travel, date your spouse, etc. And most importantly, DON’T LOSE FAITH that your little one WILL make it to you at the right time!

Love,
Katie and Merrick

Sean and I discussed adoption from the first time we started talking about family planning. We did want to try to have a baby the “old fashioned way” first, but after numerous miscarriages, and failed IVF rounds, we found out, definitively, that we cannot have a child naturally.

From the time we signed up with Everlasting Adoptions until our beautiful baby son, Austin, was born, and we were able to bring him home, took about 16 months. The process was filled with ups and downs. Sean and I were initially placed with a birthmother this past summer. We established a great relationship with the birthparents and were present for the birth. The day we were to take the baby home with us, the birthparents decided to keep the baby. Sean and I were devastated, and were not sure we wanted to proceed with the adoption process. We took some time to heal, and realized in our hearts that we wanted to be parents more than ever. Shortly after we decided to proceed, we were matched with an Angel; Austin’s birthmother.

We would like to give some advice to other prospective adoptive parents. I think the biggest thing we would say, is to proceed with some caution after being placed with a birthmother. Don’t get overly excited (ie; telling the whole world about the pending adoption, decorating the nursery, throwing showers etc….) Wait until you bring the baby home to tell everybody else (other than close friends and family), throw the showers, and decorate the nursery. That way you can do everything with your baby, and it will make the experience just that much more special!

The staff at Everlasting Adoptions – namely Ceal – was an integral part in our adoption journey. Ceal introduced our birthmother to us, and helped guide both sides through the emotional process, offering guidance and advice. Ceal honestly made the adoption possible!!! Ceal became a lifetime friend not only to the birthmother, but to Sean and myself as well!

Out of 10 Stars, I would give Everlasting a 10….we have our beautiful baby boy Austin, because of Everlasting Adoptions!!!