From an Empty Car Seat to a Full House: Shawn and Shannon’s Incredible Story [S5E3]

Do you have questions about the adoption process and what to expect on the journey? This episode is for you! Kathryn P. Pidgeon is an attorney that has practiced exclusively in the field of adoption for the past 33 years. She has participated in over 3,000 adoptions in her career and she shares some of her experiences!  She shares her passion on how to encourage and lift up families who are building a family through adoption. Kathryn tells us how she got into adoption law and how important it is to assist in a caring, ethical way.  In this episode Noah and April talk on how they wished they had known Kathryn when they were in the midst of their wild adoption stories! Finding the right attorney is so important, listen to this episode to find out why!

30 Juni 202237min

This episode comes to us from Tennessee. Brittany and Jason went on the adoption journey after they experienced undiagnosed infertility. This is the story everyone hopes for when they start the process!!! They were matched quickly and became parents to a baby girl in 2016!  It was when they started the process for the second adoption that they learned of the many challenges that can come up. They decided to match online and though they went through some obstacles the couple brought home their second daughter in June, 2021! She is just celebrating her first birthday! Listen to this episode to hear how this couple build their family through adoption and trusted God lead them.

23 Juni 202236min

Last week, Author Jillana Goble joined the show to talk about her foster care and adoption journey. She shared her experience with open adoption that she has written about in her new book called “A Love-Stretched Life.” On this episode, Jillana joins the show again with the birth mother of her son, Micah. Jennifer Bracken was raised in the foster care system nearly her entire life. After running away several times, she aged out of the system and found herself pregnant at 18. By 19 she had two children and child welfare was involved. Jennifer shares her way through addiction and recovery. This episode shows us how open adoption can change not only the child’s life, but also the birth mother’s life. Jillana never stopped believing in Jennifer, who has now been sober for 6 years! Today Jillana and Jennifer speak together, sharing their story to state caseworkers, giving them a picture of an uncommon collaboration. Their message is that building a bridge between the biological mother and adoptive mother can multiply the love, and not divide.

16 Juni 202231min

Luke and Jillana Goble are parents to five children ranging in age from preteen to young adult. They fostered children and eventually ended up adopting. In 2019, Jillana published No Sugar-Coating, a book with practical suggestions on fostering children. Now she has released a new book entitled A Love-Stretched Life: Wrangling Hope, Embracing the Unexpected & Discovering the Meaning of Family.  In this episode we talk about how they reconnected with a child that was in their home for some time, and he has now rejoined their family as an adult! This interview shows us that when showing true love in fostering, you can still plant seeds that last a lifetime, even when the child does not stay in your home permanently. We also talk about the wonderful and often complicated relationships between birth parents and adoptive parents. If you like this episode check out next week, when we bring the birth mother of Jillana’s son on for an interview!

2 Juni 202234min

Aubrey and Eric Mueller are from the Midwest and always knew they would adopt. After having two biological sons, they decided to pursue domestic infant adoption. The adventure begins as they are matched several times, and even connected to a notorious scammer that was on the TV show, Dr. Phil! Finally, after four years, they welcomed their third child and only baby girl into their family — along with her incredible birth family! All the trials were worth it, as they found their darling daughter. But wait…listen to this episode to hear how another unexpected surprise happens!

19 Maj 202254min

This story comes to us from Australia!!! After a ten-year journey of failed IVF treatments, 9 miscarriages, 2 ectopic pregnancies, and unsuccessful attempts at surrogacy, Kaisey and Ashley share how their two incredible children came into their home through adoption. Noah and I have waited a long time to interview this couple and though we have never met them, this episode sounds like we have been friends forever! It’s very exciting to know that ADOPTION NOW is reaching other countries and bringing together like-hearted people who want to share their story in hopes it may inspire you in your journey!!

12 Maj 202239min

Tiffany and Jeff live in a small Midwest town. They always knew they would adopt but had no idea the journey God would take them on. We often ask ourselves, where is the beauty from these ASHES?? The way that Tiffany speaks on the deep loss and sorrow that propels their family into action is profound. God is in the midst, and those that can see through the confusion and walk into His plan are blessed in ways that are beyond this world. It is not often that a story leaves me absolutely speechless like this one did. When you listen, you will understand how beautiful this adoption story is from the DRC!

5 Maj 202231min

Diane is an adult adoptee and the author of the award-winning memoir, Fixing the Fates. She is also the host of “Dropping In,” a show on VoiceAmerica.com. In this episode, Diane speaks on the magic of being an adoptee and how she feels “lucky” to have grown up in the home she did. She was adopted from a German orphanage and traveled with her new grandmother to the United States. When Diane searches to find the truth about her story, she learns about her biological mother’s love for her!!! (It's amazing - grab your Kleenex box)  This interview is so heart-warming, and Diane's outlook is…adoptees are SO special!!  In fact, she feels they have heroic qualities. They often have the ability to activate the creative side of their brain and are very resilient and courageous. Many switch from logical thinking to the intuitive side, which is a great gift to them and those around them. You must listen to this episode if you are in the adoption community, it is so encouraging and gives insight into the adoptees’ super powers and giftings! “If it is…it is as it was meant to be.”

28 Apr 202237min