✨ We’re Opening This Chapter Again… ✨
It honestly feels like it’s been years since we first said “yes” to adoption again… because in many ways, it has been.
We feel like we’ve “started” this journey more times than we can count. Paperwork would begin, and then life would happen. Another obstacle. Another pause. Another restart.
In our hearts, we feel like this journey really began back in 2024. But with John in school and the busyness of life, we just couldn’t fully step into it the way we wanted to. We told ourselves that once he finished, we would sit down and truly begin our home study paperwork.
Then came summer… and if you know us, you know summer is never slow around here. So again, it was pushed back.
We didn’t really start diving into everything until August of 2025.
Because we were living with John’s parents at the time (in a basement apartment with its own entrance), they were part of the process too. That meant all four of us had to complete everything (multiple background checks, physicals, drug screens, immunizations, TB tests, child safety assessments, home inspections… all of it).
And as you can imagine, coordinating all of that, with three adults having to take time off work, was no small task.
By November, we were so close to being done.
But we knew a move was coming, so I reached out to our social worker to ask what we needed to do moving forward… and unfortunately, I misunderstood.
We actually have to start completely over now that we’ve moved.
And while that was hard to hear… we also know the Lord has been in every step of this story.
So here we are.
Starting again.
But this time, with clarity, direction, and peace.
We have spent a lot of time researching and praying, and we feel confident moving forward with a nonprofit organization out of Tupelo, Mississippi. The first step (again) is our home study… and we are ready to begin this journey for the third time, and our first time in Mississippi.
More than anything, we ask for your prayers.
Prayers for patience.
Prayers for endurance.
Prayers for the baby that will one day be part of our family.
And just like our previous adoptions, we are kicking things off with a fundraiser.
This shirt was designed specifically for this journey, and the verse on the back has carried so much meaning for us through this season:
“You did not receive a spirit of fear… but you received the Spirit of adoption, ‘Abba, Father.’” – Romans 8:15
We hope you’ll wear it proudly, not just to support us, but to celebrate what adoption truly represents.
Adoption is something we feel deeply called to, but it also comes with a lot of financial steps: home study fees, agency costs, legal expenses, and travel. Every shirt purchased helps us take one step closer to bringing our baby home.
How You Can Be Part of This Journey
1. Pray
More than anything, we ask for your prayers. Not just for us as we walk through this process, but for our future baby and for their birth mom as well. There are so many unknowns ahead, and we trust the Lord is already writing this story.
2. Spread the Word
We would not have Hazel and Henry if it wasn’t for our community sharing our story and advocating for us when we needed it most. You never know who might see this and be part of bringing our baby home.
3. Support Our Journey
If you feel led to support us in a tangible way, we have set up a Venmo specifically for our adoption: @OliverAdoptionFund
We will also be doing several fundraisers throughout this process, starting with our adoption shirts 🤍
To purchase a shirt, click the link below.
If you have any questions or need help placing an order, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Oliver Adoption Blog 