In this episode, we have an adoption story from across the pond. Earl and Rebecca Robinson stop by and give you a breakdown of what an adoption in the UK looks like. Key Links  Earl’s book Our Road to Adoption: Softcover &amp; Kindle&nbsp;  ---- In particular, two common themes that run parallel throughout this story are patience and trust in God. They faced a lot of waiting, uncertainty, and confusion, Earl and Rebecca needed to trust in God as much as they could. Wow, the results definitely speak for themselves! God blessed them repeatedly with the gift of children, and to this day their decision to stick with adoption despite the difficulties is a great example of just how beautiful adoption can be. In This Episode of ADOPTION NOW  Information on working with U.S. adoption agencies while living in the UK. How long it takes to become a long term resident of the UK. The importance of patience and determination in adoption. How to adopt in the UK. Information on Earl and Rebecca’s home studies and adoption training. What a matching panel is. The exhilaration of getting the call for a match! How waiting led to a complete family.  ---- Follow us on Twitter @Adoption_now Like the show on Facebook Keep up with our journey on Instagram @adoptionnow ADOPTION NOW is produced and distributed by Simpler Media

Our Road to Adoption: Earl and Rebecca’s Story from the UK [S5E15]

Our guests today on ADOPTION NOW are Aaron and Kelli Couch. They have been married for 25 years, serve as pastors in the Denver area, and have planted 2 churches. They have 3 biological children and one child they adopted from China. On today's episode, April Fallon and her husband Noah talk with Aaron and Kelli about adoption in the church and their experience with international adoption.&nbsp;  This episode addresses the relationship between the church and adoptive/foster families as well as some common mistakes churches make when supporting a family going through adoption or foster care. It also touches on what God says about adoption and how to love a child that has endured trauma.  These topics are discussed as Aaron and Kelli share about their adoption experience. They talk about what it was like to travel to China and adopt a baby the same day that 73 other babies were being adopted!! They share what it was like to say yes to a special needs baby and how she responded to them during the first few days they were together.  Aaron and Kelli give a unique perspective on how to love a child that is not born to you biologically. They unpack the questions they had before bringing Ellie home, including their concerns about adopting a child with special needs. Ellie was born with Microtia and Aural Atresia. She did not have ears, and her paperwork stated that she was "stubborn and liked loud places." It was their oldest daughter, Karter, that knew this baby was meant to be her sister, and they had to go get her. Ellie was 19 months when they brought her home. It wasn't a comfortable journey at first, but over time, Ellie did attach.  Aaron said at first Ellie would not even look at him, but he decided…  "I am going to love this child because this child is worthy of being loved; that doesn't mean they are going to love me back well."  Adoption is a never-ending journey that takes commitment and dedication, and it can take time for a child to trust their new parents. When choosing to adopt, it is best not to "missionary adopt." April says,  "Don't adopt out of the kindness of your heart, adopt because you want to parent a child and you're in it for the long run. Adoption is a journey forever."  Noah shares about his experience as a dad and the fears he had not only becoming a father but becoming a father through adoption. Aaron and Noah agree that that the child you bring home is meant to be with you and you love them more than you ever thought possible. They become your child, and you love them as your own because they are yours.  Kelli opens up about what Ellie was like as a little girl and how the siblings got along together. She is now 14 years old, and through many surgeries, they have reconstructed her ears, and she can hear. Ellie completed the Couch family, and they needed her just as much as she needed them.   &nbsp;  Follow us on Twitter @Adoption_now Like the show on Facebook Keep up with our journey on Instagram @adoptionnow  Don't forget you can watch the episode on  YOUTUBE!

Adoption in the Church: Aaron and Kelli's Story

Author, Adrian Collins, is a returning guest on ADOPTION NOW. Last year she and her husband came on to share their journey as birth parents and adoptive parents. Together they have 5 children, three biological sons, one adopted son, and one daughter relinquished at birth and later re-adopted back into the family. You can hear that full episode&nbsp;here. Today she speaks on a topic that has she has never publicly opened up about and that has not been discussed on ADOPTION NOW until this episode: Abortion vs. Adoption.  What is it like to have an abortion? What is it like to choose adoption? What is the grief process like with both choices?  Adrian shares about getting pregnant as a teenager and feeling trapped and overwhelmed. She did not think she had any choices and did not feel the support from her family. Abortion seemed like the easy way out. It seemed it was a way that could solve the problem fast and bring the least amount of shame. What she learned was quite different.&nbsp; "I knew God was there, I knew I was forgiven I just couldn't accept it for myself."&nbsp; This episode is a look into what a woman goes through on the journey of an unplanned pregnancy. Adrian shares from the heart in this very candid and raw interview.&nbsp;  Follow us on&nbsp;Twitter @Adoption_now Like the show on&nbsp;Facebook Keep up with our journey on&nbsp;Instagram @adoptionnow  Don't forget you can watch the episode on&nbsp;YOUTUBE! &nbsp; Listen to other episodes at&nbsp;adoptionnowpodcast.com

Abortion vs. Adoption: Adrian Collins Shares Her Experience [S5E16]

Noah and April say goodbye to season 5 and give some inside scoop behind the scenes of ADOPTION NOW.&nbsp; It has been 3.5 years of story-telling, and 120 episodes later, the couple has learned so much about adoption and foster care. They started the show telling their adoption journey, saying yes to 6 placements but only finalized on 3 children. They knew all to well of the heartbreak the adoption road can bring, but also the amazing joy of seeing God connect you to your forever child.&nbsp; The show started as a local radio program in Denver, Colorado. It soon became a national podcast and then quickly gained international listenership. As the show grew, so did Noah and April’s family. They got a call two years after the launch of ADOPTION NOW about a full biological sibling to their last daughter. They welcomed baby Maliyah in March 2017!&nbsp; The show went from telling stories from the adoptive parent’s perspective to sharing the stories from adoptees and birth parents. The topics ranged from international adoption, foster to adopt, private infant adoption and embryo adoption. Hearing stories started to create an adoption community that would ultimately changed Noah and April’s life forever.&nbsp; On this episode they speak from the heart about the journey they have had with ADOPTION NOW and the much needed break they need at this time. Don’t miss this episode as they bring on a special guest, AJ, their 9 year old son, who shares his thoughts on adoption.&nbsp; As the show ends…the couple signs of with… “See you soon!” &nbsp;  Follow us on&nbsp;Twitter @Adoption_now Like the show on&nbsp;Facebook Keep up with our journey on&nbsp;Instagram @adoptionnow  Don't forget you can watch the episode on&nbsp;YOUTUBE! &nbsp; Listen to other episodes at&nbsp;adoptionnowpodcast.com

ADOPTION NOW - Telling Your Adoption Story