Less than two years ago, we found ourselves in a hospital room holding our 4-month-old baby boy, while also holding the hand of a woman who was giving birth to another baby boy—who would also become our son. In an unexpected blessing, we adopted two baby boys, only four months apart, and had the incredible privilege of welcoming them both into the world. We feel endlessly grateful for the open adoptions we share with their birth families and the regular, loving contact we maintain with them—it has made our family even richer in love and connection.
Last year brought another beautiful twist. Our youngest child’s biological brother, Sean, wanted to visit for just ten days—but those ten days turned into an entire summer. By the end of it, he had tried out for the football team and asked his mom if he could stay with us for the school year. She agreed, knowing he could make his own choice. After seven months of living with us, Sean reconnected with his biological father and went to live with him in January. Even now, we stay in touch through calls, texts, and FaceTime every few weeks, and we love him dearly. He’s already planning to visit us again next summer, and we can’t wait.
As life settled into its usual rhythm with our four children, we continued dreaming of growing our family further—this time, hoping for a daughter to complete our crew of six. We always planned to begin the adoption process again in the coming year. Our connections with our children’s birth moms are strong—they truly feel like family. But then, one week ago, we received a message unlike any we had ever received before.
Ellis’ birth mom, a single mother for nearly 15 years, has faced more challenges than most can imagine. Without help or family nearby, she has always prioritized her children above all else. This time, however, she was the one in need. Struggling with unreliable childcare, she didn’t want to leave her 5-year-old with just anyone. After careful thought and love, she asked if we could take her little girl for a while so she could get back on her feet and provide a stable future for herself and her children.
We received her message at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and by 8 a.m., we had booked a one-way ticket for her daughter to fly to Utah. By sheer coincidence, my father—who only travels once a year for work—was already flying out to St. Louis that week and would be just ten minutes away from their home. Thursday evening, he took an Uber to their apartment, where he met our son’s birth mom and siblings for the first time. They greeted him warmly, and together, they FaceTimed us as they headed to the airport. Before long, my 61-year-old dad was flying halfway across the country with a bubbly, talkative little girl on her very first flight—her first time ever leaving St. Louis.
They arrived at our home at 2 a.m., delayed but safe. With open arms and joyful hearts, we welcomed Ellis’ biological sister, Skylar, into our family. And it seemed Ellis sensed her presence immediately. For a child who loves his sleep, he woke within minutes. Though they had only ever seen each other through pictures and FaceTime, the moment they met in person, they shared the sweetest, most natural embrace. They just knew—the love and connection between siblings transcended the months apart.
In just 72 hours, Skylar has completely captured our hearts. She has brought a new kind of light into our home—a world of ribbons, curls, unicorns, and sequins that our boys rarely see. She still won’t believe me when I say black is my favorite color and that I don’t own a single pink article of clothing!
We don’t know how long she will stay with us, but we do know this: she is family. We would do anything for her, her mom, and Ellis’ biological siblings. We are so grateful for this time she has with her older brother and for the love that already radiates between them. We continue to FaceTime her mom daily, grateful she can take this time to improve her life and provide for her children. It takes incredible courage to ask for help, especially when options seem exhausted. This is why we are endlessly thankful for open adoption—it allows love to grow, support to flourish, and families to expand in the most unexpected, beautiful ways.
