Our journey to parenthood

Thomas Nashville, Tennessee

Hello, we are Adam and Lauren Thomas and we are so excited to partner with Lifesong as we prepare to adopt our first child! We  are thrilled to share  that we applied for financial grants and have been awarded an $8,000 matching grant, courtesy of our church, Church of the City, and from Lifesong. So, if we reach $8,000 in donations, those monies are matched! We are so humbled and encouraged by this.

 

We want to share a little about us and  be open and  vulnerable throughout this process. Adoption a wonderful thing but it comes with many hard truths. Adoption is despair and hope, some  parts beautiful and some parts ugly, it’s tragic and redemptive. Our Joy will come from someone else’s sorrow. And we are learning to sit in the uncomfortable parts of these dichotomies. Our hope is that our adoption journey brings glory to the Lord. 

A little about us:

( By Lauren)

I learned at 30 years old that having biological children would most likely require lots and lots of fertility treatments. I was advised to freeze eggs, have surgery, etc but I never had a peace about it, so I didnt. Instead, I sensed a tugging on  my heart to learn more about adoption. Since my dad is adopted, that was my starting point! 

Years later, on my third date with Adam, I asked him how he felt about adoption. My heart literally burst when I learned that he also believed adoption was a calling and that he could answer it. It was amazing to see God weave adoption into our story and in my life, brought beauty from ashes.


A little about the journey: 

By Adam: 
We started the adoption process in August 2021 after praying about it for a year. We began saving up, completed our home study in November, and then we were derailed by Lauren’s car accident on Thanksgiving. In the spirit of full transparency, this setback took a toll on us, not only physically but financially and spiritually. We depleted our adoption savings when Lauren was unable to drive or work. After months of physical therapy and endless doctors appointments, we felt  tired and defeated and we knew the adoption journey had only begun. However, that season of life forced us to reevaluate and we came out of stronger and more certain that we were on the right path! 

 

A little about where we are now: 

Currently, we are an “active” family, meaning we are waiting to be chosen by a mother considering adoption and be “matched.” She will be given around 50 profile books of families, including ours, and make a choice about the best fit for her child. We could  be chosen by the 5th mom who sees our book, the 50th  mom or not at all- every adoption journey looks different. 


While we will most likely be matched with a newborn, we are open and approved to adopt a child up to three years old, a young sibling set or twins. 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about our adoption journey. And thank you for your support whether it’s sharing this post, through prayer, advice or financial support- we appreciate it so much! They say it takes a village and we are overwhelmed by how amazing ours is. 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are specific prayer requests, disclosure of costs and donation tax information. 


Specific prayers

We kindly ask that you join us in praying for all the  mothers out there contemplating adoption. We pray peace, strength, discernment, wisdom and joy over her. We pray she knows her worth in Christ and that the decision to parent or place her child, is hers alone and that she feels full confidence as she makes it. 

 

We ask for prayers in financial provision and discernment. There is a risk of losing money in adoption- meaning you are matched with a birth mother for a duration of time and then she chooses to parent. We would still be on the hook for thousands of dollars. (this is hard to explain but feel free to reach out if you have any questions. It’s one of the scarier parts of adoption.)

Here is a breakdown of costs:

 

Costs: $9,100 Home study, adoption classes, resource materials,consultant fees, local/state/fbi background checks, dr physicals, fingerprinting, profile books, obtaining certified copies, using certified mail. We have paid all these fees already. 

 

$30,000-70,000- these monies  are directly wired to the agency we match with. The range varies so much based on medical circumstances, age of child, unique circumstances, etc but we’ve seen many cases already within this range. These cover agency fees, Administrative fees, some legal fees, first mother pre-and post care, counseling, housing if needed. We have started saving again and have a portion of these funds set aside. 

 

$3,000- 5,000 travel fees: we could be matched with a baby anywhere in the United States. These fees will vary depending on whether we can travel by car or by plane, whether we have family or friends nearby we can stay with or have to stay in a hotel and whether or not we can bring groceries and snacks with us or will have to purchase them there daily. Our travel time away from home will be anywhere between 7 and 21 days, depending on how quickly the Interstate compact of the placement of children (ICPC) processes our paperwork. 

 

$1,000-3,500- attorney fees for the finalization of our adoption will sure occur six months to a year after we bring home our baby. Some agencies cover some of these fees and some don’t cover any. 

We ask for prayer as we navigate the emotions of the journey. With each potential birth mother case, we will put our YES out there and we will likely be rejected many times. We have no timeline and the uncertainty can feel heavy. This is one of the hard parts of adoption and we pray that we lean on each other in this season and take our anxieties, hurts, wishes to the Lord. 

 

 

STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Thomas 10071”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.

Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

  • In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
  • Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
  • *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card
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My Story

Hello, we are Adam and Lauren Thomas and we are so excited to partner with Lifesong as we prepare to adopt our first child! We  are thrilled to share  that we applied for financial grants and have been awarded an $8,000 matching grant, courtesy of our church, Church of the City, and from Lifesong. So, if we reach $8,000 in donations, those monies are matched! We are so humbled and encouraged by this.

 

We want to share a little about us and  be open and  vulnerable throughout this process. Adoption a wonderful thing but it comes with many hard truths. Adoption is despair and hope, some  parts beautiful and some parts ugly, it’s tragic and redemptive. Our Joy will come from someone else’s sorrow. And we are learning to sit in the uncomfortable parts of these dichotomies. Our hope is that our adoption journey brings glory to the Lord. 

A little about us:

( By Lauren)

I learned at 30 years old that having biological children would most likely require lots and lots of fertility treatments. I was advised to freeze eggs, have surgery, etc but I never had a peace about it, so I didnt. Instead, I sensed a tugging on  my heart to learn more about adoption. Since my dad is adopted, that was my starting point! 

Years later, on my third date with Adam, I asked him how he felt about adoption. My heart literally burst when I learned that he also believed adoption was a calling and that he could answer it. It was amazing to see God weave adoption into our story and in my life, brought beauty from ashes.


A little about the journey: 

By Adam: 
We started the adoption process in August 2021 after praying about it for a year. We began saving up, completed our home study in November, and then we were derailed by Lauren’s car accident on Thanksgiving. In the spirit of full transparency, this setback took a toll on us, not only physically but financially and spiritually. We depleted our adoption savings when Lauren was unable to drive or work. After months of physical therapy and endless doctors appointments, we felt  tired and defeated and we knew the adoption journey had only begun. However, that season of life forced us to reevaluate and we came out of stronger and more certain that we were on the right path! 

 

A little about where we are now: 

Currently, we are an “active” family, meaning we are waiting to be chosen by a mother considering adoption and be “matched.” She will be given around 50 profile books of families, including ours, and make a choice about the best fit for her child. We could  be chosen by the 5th mom who sees our book, the 50th  mom or not at all- every adoption journey looks different. 


While we will most likely be matched with a newborn, we are open and approved to adopt a child up to three years old, a young sibling set or twins. 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about our adoption journey. And thank you for your support whether it’s sharing this post, through prayer, advice or financial support- we appreciate it so much! They say it takes a village and we are overwhelmed by how amazing ours is. 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are specific prayer requests, disclosure of costs and donation tax information. 


Specific prayers

We kindly ask that you join us in praying for all the  mothers out there contemplating adoption. We pray peace, strength, discernment, wisdom and joy over her. We pray she knows her worth in Christ and that the decision to parent or place her child, is hers alone and that she feels full confidence as she makes it. 

 

We ask for prayers in financial provision and discernment. There is a risk of losing money in adoption- meaning you are matched with a birth mother for a duration of time and then she chooses to parent. We would still be on the hook for thousands of dollars. (this is hard to explain but feel free to reach out if you have any questions. It’s one of the scarier parts of adoption.)

Here is a breakdown of costs:

 

Costs: $9,100 Home study, adoption classes, resource materials,consultant fees, local/state/fbi background checks, dr physicals, fingerprinting, profile books, obtaining certified copies, using certified mail. We have paid all these fees already. 

 

$30,000-70,000- these monies  are directly wired to the agency we match with. The range varies so much based on medical circumstances, age of child, unique circumstances, etc but we’ve seen many cases already within this range. These cover agency fees, Administrative fees, some legal fees, first mother pre-and post care, counseling, housing if needed. We have started saving again and have a portion of these funds set aside. 

 

$3,000- 5,000 travel fees: we could be matched with a baby anywhere in the United States. These fees will vary depending on whether we can travel by car or by plane, whether we have family or friends nearby we can stay with or have to stay in a hotel and whether or not we can bring groceries and snacks with us or will have to purchase them there daily. Our travel time away from home will be anywhere between 7 and 21 days, depending on how quickly the Interstate compact of the placement of children (ICPC) processes our paperwork. 

 

$1,000-3,500- attorney fees for the finalization of our adoption will sure occur six months to a year after we bring home our baby. Some agencies cover some of these fees and some don’t cover any. 

We ask for prayer as we navigate the emotions of the journey. With each potential birth mother case, we will put our YES out there and we will likely be rejected many times. We have no timeline and the uncertainty can feel heavy. This is one of the hard parts of adoption and we pray that we lean on each other in this season and take our anxieties, hurts, wishes to the Lord. 

 

 

STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Thomas 10071”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.

Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

  • In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
  • Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
  • *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card
Read more

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