“I Had Always Wanted to Be a Dad…”
“Our journey to parenthood began 11 years ago. After roughly two years into our marriage, we decided it was time to start a family. I had always wanted to be a dad -- for whatever reason it was always on my heart.
However, five years had passed without any success. Stress and heartache had set in, and I had found myself growing bitter and cynical. At the peak of my frustration, I recall leaving a youth soccer tournament, tears in my eyes after being around dads all day who were enjoying watching their kids play, cheering them on, hugging them after the game. This is the dream I wanted, that I feel God gave me. Why would He give me this dream if it wasn’t going to happen?... How could someone like Caroline not get the chance to be a mom?
It was around this time that Caroline first brought up the idea of adoption. Selfishly, I didn’t embrace it, wondering why we couldn’t just conceive our own child naturally. Ashamed to admit it now, I was against the idea -- and I know that caused pain for Caroline.
However, I’ll never forget a life-changing moment that happened just a few months later. I was at work, and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks -- what if we were MEANT to adopt? Forget about MY plan -- what if this is part of GOD’S plan, and His will for us is to adopt? For years I was so headstrong on things to happen when and how I wanted them. It’s like God had finally hit me over the head, saying, ‘THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU… I’m going to fulfill My promise, and your dream, in an even bigger way, changing the lives of others as well.’
Caroline and I talked, and shortly thereafter, signed with an agency out of Columbus and had officially begun our adoption journey. Feeling like we were finally on the right track and pursuing God’s plan, I grew closer to Him than ever before. I felt He put Romans 12:12 on my heart — ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ However, ANOTHER four years had passed with still no luck, going through two different agencies and several case rejections.
Nearing the point of giving up, we were introduced to Spirit of Faith Adoptions one day through an old friend who knew someone involved. Intrigued by going back to a local Christian-based agency, we decided to give it one more shot.
We were immediately put at ease with SOFA and really felt we made the right choice. We could quickly see that God was at the center of everything they did, and we knew we were where we were supposed to be.
Not long after, we got the call we’d been waiting for… A young woman had walked into a pregnancy center, where the Director of the facility was an adoptive mother herself through SOFA, and was able to guide her towards choosing adoption. The woman, eight months pregnant, liked our profile book and wanted to meet with us. Upon meeting her, our heart instantly gravitated to her. We were in awe at the calmness and maturity she showed at her age in dealing with such a drastic decision- making the ultimate sacrifice to choose life and what she thought was best for the baby. My eyes were opened that day to what the birth moms truly go through and what it takes to make that kind of selfless act. It was no longer just about us.
Less than a month later, on January 6th, 2024 Grayson Theodore was born, and our dream had been fulfilled. We were parents.
As for the birth mom -- she requested to see us before checking out of the hospital. Unsure as to what she wanted and of course thinking the worst -- we were a little worried. However, we soon found out all she wanted was to see how happy we were… this poor girl who had just gone through such a traumatic and emotional process, was thinking of US.
The name ‘Theodore’ means ‘gift from God,’ and it couldn’t be more true. The joy and light that Grayson has brought to our families is indescribable. Where there once was a void, God filled it in a way only He could. Though there was pain and heartache along the way, He saw us through it all, bringing us closer to Him, and ultimately blessing us with the greatest, most perfect gift we could ever imagine. We couldn’t have made it to this point without His grace and guidance to bring us to SOFA and their amazing organization.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine the two extremes -- comparing what we have today with what could have been if the birth mom did not make the decision she had, especially when considering the worst-case scenario. In the end, I know God has even bigger plans than just our family’s happiness in this -- and He’s using this scenario to touch many hearts as well, fulfilling His perfect plan.”
