Domestic Adoption
Family's hearts grow bigger because of their newest daughter
Even before they were married, Chris and Lisa had always said they wanted to adopt children in addition to having biological children. After a few years of unexplained infertility, adoption became the clear way for them to build their family.
Beginning the Adoption Process
Chris and Lisa investigated adoption and adoption agencies quite extensively but always came back to the same name—Adoption Associates, Inc. (AAI). Although Chris and Lisa considered both domestic and international adoption, the couple ultimately decided on domestic adoption because it was important to them to know the medical history of the birth parents and to be able to reach them through the agency if major health problems with their children were to arise in the future. Chris and Lisa also had a special place in their hearts for the many children in the U.S., as well as in Michigan, that are in need of good homes and loving parents.
The First Baby
AAI connected Chris and Lisa with a birth mother, and they met for the first time about two months before baby Skylar was born. Before the meeting, Chris, Lisa and the birth mother were very nervous, but after a little bit of talking, everybody began to feel more comfortable. The day Skylar was born, Chris and Lisa met the birth father and spent the day with both of Skylar’s biological parents. “It was such a rewarding day,” says Lisa. “It’s going to be nice to share that experience and pictures with Skylar some day.” Lisa and Chris took Skylar home with them when she was two days old.
Hearts Grow Bigger
“We had told Skylar that our hearts grow bigger when we adopt another child to make room,” says Lisa. So, when the family was anticipating the arrival of eleven month old Maddison, there was more than just room in their home. There was room in all of their hearts, too. But soon the agency alerted them that the birth parents had reconsidered their adoption decision. Chris and Lisa struggled with heartbreak as did their daughter. “[…] the hardest thing to do was to tell [Skylar] that her baby sister was not coming,” says Lisa. A week or so later, Chris and Lisa received the phone call telling them that Maddison would be their daughter after all, but they kept it a secret. “We didn’t tell Skylar this time until we brought Maddison home and surprised her. Her expression was priceless!” Skylar now tells everyone that her heart got bigger because of her baby sister.
Memories and Blessings
Lisa and Chris now have two loving daughters but still make it a priority to celebrate the girls’ adoption. “We celebrate the girls’ adoption days every year,” says Lisa. “Skylar loves that we sing ‘Happy Adoption Day’ to her. We have each of the girls’ Order of Adoption hung up with their adoption day photos next to it for everyone to see. We are very proud and blessed to be adoptive parents!!”
