We have BIG news!

We are adopting a child!

It's been a difficult road pursing a family, as we struggled with infertility for years. At times it felt like maybe the door was closed to us becoming parents, but it wasn't! Through it all, the dream of expanding our family remained, and our hearts were opened to adoption. There are so many children who need good, loving homes, and it's our desire to parent such children with love, laughter, and with the knowledge of Jesus. It is because of Jesus, after all, that we have been adopted into God's family and can have a relationship with God as our good father. We also count it a privilege to honor the courage and sacrifice of an expectant mother looking for a safe and loving home for her child. It's impossible for us to know the impact of this decision on her, but we hope she'll be loved and encouraged through it all.

We will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in August 2021, and we are more than ready to add another Lillpop to this family! We've had the privilege of building a strong foundation and layers to our marriage, we've experienced a rich life serving overseas for 8 years. In this new chapter, we look forward with joy to seeing one another in the roles of mom and dad.

We have an amazing community of friends and family that has been with us so far, and we're asking you to keep it up, or join in if you're new to our story. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but in our case it also takes a village to bring the child to the village! We boldly ask you to pray for us, the expectant mother, and our future child in this process. We boldly ask for your financial generosity to bring this baby home!

The cost of domestic infant adoption in the US can range from $20,000-$50,000. That's a lot of money, and a big range! These costs are associated with the state approval process, lawyers, some potential support or medical bills for the birth mother (depending on the state and agency)post-placement appointments, ect. These costs are spread out across the months of the process, and not all are predictable, fixed expenses. That is why we're seeking to raise at least $30,000 to help offset these costs. 

Thank you for being a part of our family's story! We were created for community and it's amazing to us to think of all the people who are coming together to celebrate and care for the new baby we will one day call our own. Please keep us, the expectant mother we don't yet know, and this little baby, in your prayers!

__________________________________

Read below for more of our story and journey to adoption and reason for our hope!  

We've been together since we were teenagers. Chris and I were married in 2006, studied together at Moody Bible Institute, and then spent almost 8 years serving and equipping young leaders in Poland. We complement each other well, make a great team, and truly enjoy working together. It's been our desire to start a family for many years.

Around 2015, a couple years after our international move, we finally began looking into why that wasn't happening naturally, and we were both diagnosed with causes of infertility.

In 2017 Kelly underwent a procedure to hopefully help, but unfortunately it did not.

In 2018 we tried a first round of fertility treatment which was difficult for both us us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It was unsuccessful, and we grieved what felt like the loss of a dream.

In 2019 we did a second round of treatments, which ended in the loss of of miracle. We grieved our miscarriage amidst a very busy summer of ministry.

in January 2020 we decided to postpone a third round of treatment, and soon after some big changes began taking place in our lives. We decided to move back to the US and take on new jobs, and we felt in our hearts a stirring for a new road in pursuing a family- adoption. With the dream of being parents and raising a family still rooted within us, our hearts had healed enough from the pain of infertility and loss to joyfully embrace a new path.

In the fall of 2020 we relocated back to the US to continue serving with the same organization but in different capacities, and in March 2021 officially began the adoption process!

Through all the years, tears, doctor's appointments, pain, and prayers, God has been faithful. Jesus drew near to us in it all, and we now know Him and His love in deeper ways than before. Numerous people have prayed for us and loved us and stood with us, even when we didn't know how to let them. We have been broken and healed and through it all had reason to hope because of Jesus and the life we have in Him, no matter our circumstances. I'm still amazed sometimes at the light and hope we feel as we enter this adoption process, knowing the depth of pain and darkness we felt during those years of infertility. Our God is a God of redemption, and we cannot wait to see the story unfold and meet the little miracles God has chosen to be a part of our family forever.