Our Adoption Story!

Andy Ew Photography 

In grace, he leads you where you didn't plan to go in order to produce in you what you couldn't achieve on your own. In these moments, he works to alter the values of your heart so that you let go of your little kingdom of one and give yourself to his kingdom of glory and grace.  
- Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies, Feb. 1st.


This adoption journey started for us in 2005 and began to come to fruition for us in 2018.  Since then we've been working out our timing, filling out LOTS of forms, getting home study approved, and are now finally working on our profile book so that we will be able to be considered by a birth family!

The Lord has called us to adopt a baby with Down syndrome, and we are excited to be working with the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network (NDSAN). This network is based in Cincinnati and is a resource for families who receive a Down syndrome diagnosis. In the United States 60-90% of pregnancies that receive a Down syndrome diagnosis are terminated. This percentage is even greater in other countries. The NDSAN, as well as many families who have a child with Down syndrome, are working to shift the narrative of what it looks like to love and raise a person with Down syndrome. The NDSAN offers education so birth families can understand the joys and challenges that come along with Down syndrome. They also offer a registry of families that are interested in adopting a child with Down syndrome, and we will be one of these families! The NDSAN is not an adoption agency, but rather a consulting network. Once we are matched with a birth family we will then work with the local agency that the birth family has chosen. The NDSAN works with ethical and responsible adoption agencies and has been working in this field for many years. Stephanie, the director, personally walks with families through the process and is there for support and encouragement along the way. Please check out the NDSAN website!

For fundraising we will be working with Woven Papyrus which is a non-profit located in Greensboro NC. They are connected to a church that was planted out of The Summit churches here in the Triangle area. It was started by a group of men who have a heart for adoption and long to see children brought into homes where they will grow up hearing the gospel and knowing Jesus. They will offer support for us for fundraising through helping us build teams of families (that's you!) who are willing to host fundraisers for us to raise money that will go towards our adoption. Some fundraiser ideas might be selling your art, baking pies, car washes, a local neighborhood 5K, serving a widow in your community, or fixing people's bikes or cars! The great thing about Woven Papyrus is they will help organize and support our teams, build our fundraising website, and even help each team think of of what fundraiser might work for them. The best news is that this is all free to us and 100% of donations go towards our adoption! Please check out the Woven Papyrus website too!

Our financial goal will be right around $30,000 - and that feels like a lot.  But it would only take 20 teams to raise $1500 each to fully meet our need!  Right now recruiting fundraising team mates is our first priority, but if you'd just like to give right away, we'll accept that too!  Woven Papyrus will be getting our donation platform set up soon, but go ahead and email us (lindseyawilkins@gmail.com) for more immediate options.

We are so excited to watch God unfold this next chapter of our story and for you to be a part of it with us. Stay tuned for further updates, and please message us if you are interested in being a part of our fundraising team!

Photo by Andy Ew.