Ashley and John’s Toddler Adoption Journey: Finding the Right Path with Graceful Adoptions
Like many families, our path to adoption was filled with twists and turns. When we first started thinking about growing our family, we faced the emotional and physical challenges of fertility treatments. After much reflection, we decided how far we were willing to go in that process and realized adoption had always been in our hearts. The decision to adopt felt right—but navigating the overwhelming number of options and decisions just to get started felt daunting.
After extensive research, we knew two things: we wanted an ethical adoption process, and we were open to adopting a toddler. That’s how we found Graceful Adoptions —the only agency that checked all our boxes.
From our very first conversation, Graceful Adoptions stood out. They answered our initial questions about the home study process and helped guide us in the right direction. Once we completed our home study and applied to the agency, we were invited for an interview. We were incredibly nervous, but Karen and her team immediately put us at ease. It was clear from their thoughtful questions that they were committed to making high-quality matches that truly worked for both adoptive families and birth families.
When they told us they wanted to work with us, we were overjoyed—because, honestly, we had no backup plan. Graceful Adoptions was the only agency we felt confident in, and we trusted them completely.
Support Every Step of the Way
One of the things that set Graceful Adoptions apart was their unwavering support. They didn’t sugarcoat things—they were upfront about the emotional ups and downs of the process and kept us informed at every step. When we officially went live as a waiting family they reassured us that the waiting would be tough but encouraged us to reach out whenever we needed guidance or reassurance.
So, we decided to keep living our lives and trust the process. Then, six months later the call came. We were in different cities at the time, but we read the email together over the phone and responded with a resounding “heck yes” in just 12 minutes!
Meeting Our Son
Over the next month, we:
✅ Interviewed with his birth mother
✅ Spent a weekend together getting to know each other
✅ Finally, brought home our perfect 4-year-old boy
From the moment we met him, it felt easy, natural, and right—a feeling we can only credit to Graceful Adoptions dedication to making the perfect match, not just for us, but for our child and his first family.
The Beauty of Open Adoption
Open adoption looks different for every family, and for ours, it meant that our son gained us, but didn’t lose them. What started as a plan to send pictures and updates evolved into a relationship where we now share special moments—like celebrating his 5th birthday together.
If we could give any advice to families considering adoption, it would be this:
Be open. We knew we wanted to love a child, but we gained so much more.
Embrace connection. Our son’s first family is a part of our daily life—whether through conversations, play, or shared memories.
Trust the process. Adoption is about love, not loss. Graceful Adoptions helped us build a family in ways we never imagined.
Our son is a happy, thriving little boy, and we honestly can’t remember a time when we didn’t know and love him. We will be forever grateful to Graceful Adoptions for helping us expand our family—not just in size, but in love and connection.
