Dear Friends & Family,

We are writing to share some exciting news and to ask for your prayers and support as we begin the journey of growing our family through adoption.

While the past year of fertility struggles has been challenging, it has also been full of God’s faithfulness. We’ve experienced deep joy and delight in one another, unity and confidence in our decision-making, and growing trust in God’s good plan for our future. After much prayer, discernment, and considering many factors, we believe the Lord is leading us to adopt, and this continues to be something he is affirming in some amazing and special ways we’d love to share with you sometime.

Early in our relationship, we talked about being open to adoption, so we’ve always imagined it might be the way God makes us parents. But recently he has given us a unique sense of peace that now is the right time to pursue it. We believe this is because he’s already weaving our story together with that of a specific birth mother and baby.

We are beyond grateful to have so many friends and family members from every season of our lives willing to walk alongside us on this journey. First, will you join us in praying? This process can be difficult. Please pray for continued peace and wisdom as we navigate the logistics ahead, for the many pregnant women considering adoption today, and for our future son or daughter. We want a baby. We long to be parents. But more than anything, we want to trust God with our family and surrender this experience for his glory.

Additionally, will you consider giving financially to help make this possible? Unfortunately, private adoption is often very expensive, and our estimated costs total around $50,000 (this total could end up being higher or lower depending on our specific match and the birth mom’s needs). While that number feels daunting, we know if God is leading us to adopt he will provide the means to do so. At the same time, we can’t do this alone. We are deeply moved by the thought of our community near and far coming together to care not only for us, but also for a birth mother and child they’ve never met. We very much view adoption (and fundraising) as a collective ministry to a brave expecting woman who—as a result—will have the opportunity to give her baby the future she knows she can’t provide. Thank you for considering being a part of that.

While any contribution will help, we are also specifically praying for:
• 2 people able & willing to give $5,000
• 8 people able & willing to give $2,500
• 10 people able & willing to give $1,000
• 10 people able & willing to give $500
• 10 people able & willing to give $250
• 25 people able & willing to give $100

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly with any questions you may have, or if you prefer to give via another method (you can also Venmo @melissbarbs and the last four digits are 9897). We are adopting through a reputable Christian adoption attorney in our area that specializes in successful in-house matching and placement services nationwide, and we are happy to share openly about the fees and expenses we anticipate. We have completed all of the required paperwork and documentation and hope to be open to receiving potential matches this summer, as soon as funds allow. We will need about 50% of the total cost in-hand in order to be matched with a birth mom.

We see adoption as a beautiful reflection of our lives as believers. God choosing to love us into relationship with him is the ultimate picture of adoption. Our prayer is that one day our future child would come to know the beauty of that truth—that through this adoption our family would continually be reminded how good God is, how much he can be trusted, and that we love because he first loved us.

With Love & Gratitude,

Anthony + Melissa