We met the Michaels at an adoption retreat and had an instant connection. We absolutely love their spirits and can’t wait to see their family grow some more. So here is their story…as always, in their own words!
After 9 years of marriage, 3 college degrees, 5+ years of infertility, and 1 incredible adoption journey to our precious daughter Ellie… the Michael family is growing again!
Robert and Lauren met in late 2008 when Lauren was a full-time hairstylist and Robert was a full-time grad student at Middle Tennessee State University. Robert’s roommate at the time was also one of Lauren’s coworkers, so we met in passing a few times (enough times for Lauren to develop a HUGE crush!) before finally hitting it off at a wine-tasting event hosted by the salon where Lauren worked. When we officially started dating in Jan. 2009, we agreed it was best to take things slow… but just 6 months later, we were engaged to be married!
Life got busy for awhile —we had our wedding, moved to a new apartment, adopted a puppy; Robert got his Master’s and started his PhD; Lauren went back to school — but soon enough we had the itch to add a sweet baby to our little family. We assumed, as most people do, that it would happen quickly and easily for us. We started trying, but no pink lines. No success. But no worries, right? These things take time.
As time stretched on, life kept moving. Robert graduated with his PhD and Lauren with her Bachelor’s. We tried to “relax,” we tried vitamins. Robert accepted a job at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and we moved to Memphis, TN. We went to doctor, then to the specialist. Years marched on, but no positive tests. We bought a house with room for a child we weren’t sure we would ever meet.
We endured needle pokes and uncomfortable tests, countless appointments and drained finances. With each new piece of our puzzle that came into focus, the picture looked bleaker and bleaker. And we suffered alone, too afraid to share our pain with others.
In 2015, we finally made peace with our infertility. We accepted its unwelcome presence in our lives and felt God leading us in a new direction. We readied our home and our hearts for domestic infant adoption, and on October 12, 2016 Ellen Juniko Michael was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Our Ellie is the most joyful child in the world. She has brought so much light and love to our home! What a blessing to be her Mama and Daddy and to watch her grow into a beautiful “big” girl. Giggles, joyful shrieks, and sing-alongs echo the home we once were afraid would remain silent and empty. And as an unexpected bonus, we’ve loved forming relationships with Ellie’s biological family! Open adoption used to frighten us and make us uneasy — how would we ever really feel like Mom and Dad if we had to “share” a child that way? But open adoption is not co-parenting, and what we have learned is that there is always room for more love — more people invested in the well-being of our child, more people embracing their role in Ellie’s story. How fortunate that God’s plans are SO much greater than our own!
But in spite of the fulfillment we’ve gained by becoming Ellie’s parents, there has still always been a piece missing: a sibling for our sweet girl. Long before infertility ever changed the course of growing our family, we always said we wanted at least 2 children. Having Ellie home has only reinforced that desire. Our sweet girl is a natural helper — always lending a hand to help feed the dog or unload the dishwasher. She loves to offer hugs or to hold the hand of a friend. We know she will be such an amazing big sister, and we are ready to give her that chance!
We have updated our adoption home study and completed our mountains of paperwork, so now our new season of waiting begins. No one can say for sure how long it will be before the right match comes along, so we are preparing our hearts for the long haul. But with absolute confidence we can say: it will be 100% worth it. We look forward to the day we’ll become a family of 4!
Our bows:
Fiesta Stripe — the agency we have partnered with for our second adoption is location in San Antonio, Texas. These colorful stripes beautifully captured the spirit of the southwest, where our future child will likely be born.
Pink — Ellie is a GIRLY GIRL through and through! This gorgeous pink is a perfect color for summer and will definitely be Ellie’s favorite of the collection!
Periwinkle Triangles — The agency we have chosen advocates for open adoption relationships (meaning an open exchange of information and communication, often including visits.) They (and we!) believe that openness best honors all sides of the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees.) We selected this fabric because of its prominent triangle pattern, representing our respect for all sides of the adoption triad.
