Our Journey to Parenthood

Thomas Nashville, Tennessee

This feels so surreal but we found out on September 6th that we’ve been chosen by an expectant mama and she is due 9/18! We will be traveling to Texas next week and hopefully, becoming parents to this precious baby. After two years, we can’t believe it’s really happening!

With that said, it has been quite a journey to get to this point- filled with lots of prayers, tears and heartbreak.Thank you for those prayers! Please keep praying because there are still a lot of moving parts to this story. One component is that we are required to remain in Texas for two to three weeks while our paperwork is processed by a judge and the court systems. Please pray that everything goes smoothly so we can return to Nashville after those few weeks. Another part is the financial piece.  Adoption is sadly, extremely costly so we are so thankful for organizations like Lifesong for Orphans and their platform that helps eleviate some of the financial barriers and burdens. Adam and I applied for a financial grant and we 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  encouraged by this financial assistance!

In full transparency, adoption is 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. Please pray for expectant mom, J, over the next couple of weeks. We can't imagine what she is feeling right now but we're honoroed we get to walk alongside her. Our hope is that our adoption journey brings glory to the Lord.

 

Thank you for your prayers and support. Let’s bring home this beautiful baby!

 

-Adam and Lauren


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
Raised to date by 27 people
 of  $16,000
181 days left

My Story

This feels so surreal but we found out on September 6th that we’ve been chosen by an expectant mama and she is due 9/18! We will be traveling to Texas next week and hopefully, becoming parents to this precious baby. After two years, we can’t believe it’s really happening!

With that said, it has been quite a journey to get to this point- filled with lots of prayers, tears and heartbreak.Thank you for those prayers! Please keep praying because there are still a lot of moving parts to this story. One component is that we are required to remain in Texas for two to three weeks while our paperwork is processed by a judge and the court systems. Please pray that everything goes smoothly so we can return to Nashville after those few weeks. Another part is the financial piece.  Adoption is sadly, extremely costly so we are so thankful for organizations like Lifesong for Orphans and their platform that helps eleviate some of the financial barriers and burdens. Adam and I applied for a financial grant and we 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  encouraged by this financial assistance!

In full transparency, adoption is 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. Please pray for expectant mom, J, over the next couple of weeks. We can't imagine what she is feeling right now but we're honoroed we get to walk alongside her. Our hope is that our adoption journey brings glory to the Lord.

 

Thank you for your prayers and support. Let’s bring home this beautiful baby!

 

-Adam and Lauren


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

Not the outcome we were hoping for.

September 19, 2023

Adam and I arrived in Galveston, Texas this past weekend full of more joy and excitement than we could ever convey in words! We were finally going to become parents!! We spent the last two weeks, getting to know expectant mom “J”, all about her and also why she chose us as the parents for her baby girl, as we prepared to be a part of her scheduled birth on Monday. 

We were set to meet her and the counselor, Eugenia, from our adoption agency, Legacy, for a lunch Sunday. We were told to wait for a text from Eugenia to know when to enter the restaurant. But the text never came. After waiting about 20 minutes, we reached out to the counselor and then got a phone call from the agency that can only be described as having the wind knocked out if you. J had changed her mind about adoption.

Transparently, we are crushed in spirit. But, we’re so happy for J- she will be an amazing mama to her baby girl. We’re taking a little time to grieve this situation and what could have been but we are picking up the pieces and preparing our hearts to continue down this road and patiently wait to be chosen again, hopefully with a different outcome.

Adam and I have now experienced two failed/disrupted matches thus far on the journey and each time the door slams shut, it takes much from us spiritually, mentally and financially (we’ve lost $18,000 so far.) These donations have brought us to tears. They’ve given us the strength to press onward, knowing we aren’t alone and have many people encouraging us! 

We can’t wait for the day when we send out a very different update, holding a precious child in our hands. We’re clinging onto hope! 

Adam and Lauren Thomas 

 

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Comments

$500

Gwen

Sep 20, 2023

“Can’t wait to meet the perfect baby chosen for you and Adam and our family! Love you guys!”

$3,000

John and Karen

Sep 20, 2023

“We love you both!”

$1,500

Randall

Sep 20, 2023

“We love and support you guys through this tumultuous journey, don't be discouraged your "Our" baby is depending on it.”

$500

Mattie

Sep 20, 2023

$1,000

Rick and Lindsey

Sep 19, 2023

“We love you guys!”

$200

Hidden

Sep 19, 2023

$200

David

Sep 17, 2023

$300

Carolyn

Sep 16, 2023

“Keeping you and your dear family in my prayers. Ephesians 3:30-21”

$250

Neal

Sep 16, 2023

“You will be amazing parents ! Blessings, Neal and Morgendee”

$100

Sandra

Sep 16, 2023

“Our dear Heavenly Father Bless you and Lauren and your new baby”

$1,000

Robby and Taylor

Sep 15, 2023

“May God Bless you and your family.”

$500

EVan

Sep 15, 2023

$250

Josh & Mary

Sep 15, 2023

$500

Wardwell

Sep 14, 2023

“Our God is an awesome God!!! My heart is filled with so much gratitude and praises to HIM and so much joy for both of you and your families!!!”

$500

mark

Sep 14, 2023

“Congratulations”

$100

Pam

Sep 14, 2023

“Thinking of y’all, and excited for you!”

$100

Hidden

Sep 13, 2023

“Congratulations my friend! This is your sweet girl!”

$1,000

Eddie

Sep 13, 2023

$256

Phillip

Sep 13, 2023

“Excited for your family!”

$100

Hidden

Sep 13, 2023

“May the Lord Bless and Keep You!”

$200

Marty & Jennifer

Sep 12, 2023

“Sending prayers for your beautiful journey! What a blessed baby to join your family”

$1,000

Britt & Noah

Sep 12, 2023

“What a joy to pray for and eagerly anticipate your baby and growing family! Love, Britt & Noah Riner”

$100

Jen & Danny

Sep 12, 2023

“Much Love to you both ❤️”

$100

Don

Sep 12, 2023

“Good luck. You are in our prayers. Don and Theresa”

$50

Katie

Sep 11, 2023

$100

Abby

Sep 11, 2023

$100

Sam &Libby

Sep 9, 2023