Jones Family Adoption

Prior to jumping into the world of pursuing adoption last fall, there had been many conversations in our household since 2021 about the possibility of adoption and what it might look like. Truthfully, until last year, there were parts of adoption that we didn’t feel prepared to accept and experience. It wasn’t until last summer that we felt like God was getting our attention and asking us to trust Him.

We were also nervous to start the process as I didn’t have any close connections to people who have pursued adoption in the same fashion we intend to – “private domestic infant adoption”. This means that we work with agencies in the US that provide support directly to expectant moms considering adoption. I use those words intentially because until parental rights are relinquished, it is really only a plan and a mother reserves the right to change her mind and choose to parent.

Now, back to November 2025… 

We signed with our adoption consultant who ultimately vets and helps connect us to trusted and ethical agencies. We also contacted a local licensed social worker to begin the homestudy process. The homestudy process included providing a million (ok, maybe not that many) documents relating to our health, social, medical, and family history. Our provider also visited our home twice to do a safety review of our home, interview us individually and as a couple, and provide general information and education about adoption. Excluding a few delays outside our control, this was a pretty painless process and we wrapped that up in Feburary. Also during this time, we were working to complete required training assigned from our consultants. Additionally, we were also juggling completing our profile book. This profile book is a compilation of photos and information about us, our home, community, family, friends, etc. This profile is what an expectant mother looks at to aid her in choosing the family she would like to parent her child. 

After about 3.5 months, we finally “went live” and became a waiting family in mid-late February. This is a condensed version of what this current stage looks like: 

– Our consultants email us a case for a potential match opportunity. There is a deadline to respond by, and we have to respond sometimes as quickly as within the hour, and sometimes we have a few hours to review and respond. Our response is to indicate whether or not we would like our profile shown to a expectant mother. 

– If we choose not to present, there is nothing to do and we wait for the next case. If we choose to present, our consultant provides our profile to the agency. 

– The agency representing the expectant mother then shows all the profiles to her. We do not have visibility to this part of the process and how it is handled, but they do get to decide to show her as many or little profiles as what they determine to be beneficial to her. 

– If she chooses a different family, we receive an email that a family was chosen and we are released to present on future cases. If she chooses us, our consultant will call us and tell us that we have matched! 

We were told we would see on average about one case a week. We first went live during a busy few weeks and had the chance to present on multiple cases. This past week, we didn’t present on any cases, so it truly can ebb and flow. We have had a few ask how long we expect to wait, and our answer is we really don’t know! Often times, families match within a year, but sometimes it takes longer than that. The other common question we get is how much time will we have between matching and placement, and that also varies widely. In some cases, the mother may be in her late second trimester or early third trimester, or she might only have a month left. We have also seen drop cases where the baby is already born so you travel within days of matching! The agencies we are working with are based out of GA, FL, and AZ, so most likely we will be traveling to one of these states. 

I * think * this long winded update catches us up to where we are currently… a waiting family actively seeing and presenting on cases. I imagine it is one of those things where we really don’t have an update to share, until we do. My intention is to come back here and update periodically, or when there is something specific to share. 

We are so thankful for continued prayers, and also ask that you please keep in mind the expectant mothers considering adoption as well. We get a small glimpse into their situations, and they are making an unimaginably difficult consideration in very difficult positions themselves. 

Until next time,

Audrey

(Audrey here)

Wow – Josh and I are completely overwhelmed with gratitude at being on the receiving end of an incredible amount of generosity. 

When starting the process of adopting last fall, one of the first conversations had was around the cost of adoption and how we might be able to piece together the funds…realistically a portion and we expected to finance a portion as well. It isn’t uncommon for prospective adoptive families to fundraise, and there are many different ways to go about it. I remember telling our parents that I really did NOT want to fundraise so we didn’t plan to…HA! 

There are quite a few Christian organizations providing really great financial support for families like us in the way of grants, matching grants, and zero or low interest loans. I counted us out immediately telling Josh, “why would we qualify for anything?!” Not because we are financially set, but we have been blessed with wonderful jobs and I assumed that support might only be awarded to families in greater need. Thankfully, Josh didn’t listen to me and spent a few weeks working on the applications for these opportunities. We were overjoyed to find out we were awarded a matching grant, and really in that moment things changed for me. It is incredibly humbling, and uncomfortable really, to be on the receiving end of so much love and generosity from those around us. We have been blessed tremendously by the support, and I am also being reminded of what a great opportunity this is to be stretched and grow… and I definitely feel the growing pains 🙂 

Again, we are just so thankful for your support in whatever way the Lord leads you. We are blessed with many loved ones checking in and asking how we are doing, what they can be praying for, and what additional support we might need. I intend to post updates to this page as we progress in the process. 

With love, 

Audrey