I could say this decision has taken us six months to make, but the truth is, God has been at work every single day for the past 1,063 days to bring us here. I can honestly say He’s been writing my story all along. And now, I am beyond thrilled to share that we are pursuing embryo adoption. When I say this decision came through a lot of prayer, I mean it—every single day from April 1st to July 4th, I prayed fervently. I prayed for clarity, wisdom, and peace. And I wasn’t alone—my entire community was lifting up the same prayers.
When we had our initial follow-up with our reproductive endocrinologist (RE) in early April, I was overwhelmed. For three months straight, I didn’t feel a single ounce of peace about any of our options. It was gut-wrenching. I could have gone to Chris and said, “Let’s do IVF,” because that’s what everyone around me was doing and what our doctor suggested. But if you know me, you know I don’t make decisions unless I have 100% peace from the Holy Spirit. Those four months were long and heavy. Some days, I desperately wanted to move forward, but I couldn’t step into a choice that didn’t bring complete peace.
This decision wasn’t just mine to make—it was ours. I needed Chris’s heart to align with God’s calling for him too. Infertility isn’t a solo journey. We had to walk this together, and that added its own weight. In the last two months, we finally felt ready to move forward. I’ve been undergoing testing, bloodwork, procedures, and praying over which embryos we feel called to choose.
So, what is embryo adoption? I can already hear the questions. Embryo adoption, sometimes called embryo donation, is a path for families like ours: it’s when leftover embryos from IVF cycles are given—usually without compensation—to others for procreative implantation or research. I am such an open book, and I wish more people truly understood all the options available for building a family.
Adoption has been on my heart since I was young. I’ve always wanted it, but facing infertility gave it a new dimension. I never wanted adoption, IVF, or embryo adoption to feel like a last resort. I wanted the overwhelming peace of God guiding our next step—whatever that step may be.
We dream of domestic adoption one day, but realistically, it can cost up to $65,000. That’s not something we could handle financially right now. I do believe if God calls us down that path, He will provide every penny—because where He guides, He provides. For now, though, God has called our hearts to adopt in this season, even if it looks a little different than domestic adoption.
Why embryo adoption? Honestly, I don’t need a list of pros and cons. Chris and I discussed every angle, but ultimately, I needed God to guide my heart. I know if you sat 100 women down, I’d likely be the only one choosing embryo adoption over IVF. And that’s okay. I don’t feel the need to justify our choice, but I wanted to share it—to show God’s goodness and His intimate work in our lives. If you are pursuing IVF or another path, that is your journey, and I celebrate it with you. Comparison steals joy. The key is listening to God’s calling for your own story. For us, He has led us to this path, and we can’t wait to share the journey with you.
A few things to consider about adoption, especially embryo adoption:
- There are an estimated one million frozen embryos in the United States today, frozen and stored since the late 1970s.
- An embryo is an unborn human in the earliest stage of development—roughly two to eight weeks after fertilization.
- The Bible paints a beautiful picture of God’s heart for orphans:
- “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” —2 Corinthians 6:18
- “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” —Romans 8:15
- “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.” —Psalm 68:5
If we had chosen IVF, we estimated we’d have 8–10 embryos. But God has already placed life waiting for us through embryo adoption. You might wonder why peace mattered so much when there’s no guarantee with any of these paths. Even though embryo adoption only has about a 53% chance of success (68% for IVF), God’s peace isn’t about certainty—it’s about knowing He equips you for every step. Even if it doesn’t work, He’s already given me peace to walk this journey. These past three years have been long and refining, but God has revealed more than I could have imagined—and I know He’s not finished. Where He guides, He provides.
We’ve also started a fundraiser for this journey. One round of embryo adoption costs around $12,000. Right now, we’re hosting a puzzle fundraiser, but above all, we covet your prayers. We are praying for the family God has for us, for the right embryos to become evident as we review profiles, for sustained life, for my womb to be ready to carry life to term, and for God to provide financially. I believe in praying specifically and invite you to walk alongside us in prayer.
There are countless decisions within this big decision, and I promise to be transparent as we continue. Chris and I will keep certain details, like transfer and testing days, private, but unlike with our IUIs, I plan to share as much of the embryo adoption process as possible. Over the last two months, I’ve completed initial bloodwork (all normal), been on birth control to stabilize hormones, attended counseling, and had a uterine evaluation—which revealed a polyp that will be removed in mid-October. That surgery will complete all the pre-work to continue the process. The next step is selecting our embryos.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, support, and for following along. This journey is about faith, hope, and God’s goodness—and we are so grateful to share it with you.
