For Courtney and Marcus, the journey to adoption was filled with waiting, uncertainty and more than a few disappointments. They had been turned down by birth mothers before, including times when they had made it to the final two families.

So when an opportunity to be considered for a baby came through Lutheran Family Service, they tried to keep their expectations in check.

“Why not? Let’s just put our hat in the ring,” Marcus recalled. “Not thinking that we would get it because we’ve been turned down lots of times before.”

This time, however, the story would be different.

A Call They Had Been Waiting For

Courtney and Marcus had been working with Lutheran Family Service for more than two years when they were matched with their first daughter, Selah. They had chosen LFS in part because of its Christian values and the personal care they received throughout the process.

“We liked that LFS had our Christian values and that it was small enough to take care of us and birth moms,” Courtney said.

Their caseworker, Cathy VandeBraak, became an important source of support along the way.

When Courtney and Marcus received word that Selah’s birth mother had narrowed her choice down to two families, they were excited but cautious. They had experienced this before and knew that being a finalist did not necessarily mean they would be chosen.

Then, while Marcus was working at a job site, his phone buzzed.

The message contained an address to the hospital and asked them to provide their information so the paperwork could begin.

“I haven’t even heard from Courtney yet,” Marcus remembered thinking. “Oh my gosh, this is really happening.”

About 30 seconds later, Courtney called. Courtney met Marcus at the job site, packed their bags and together they headed to the hospital.

When they first met Selah, the moment felt almost surreal. “I was just stunned,” Courtney said. “I just remember thinking she is so beautiful and we don’t deserve her.”

Marcus remembers simply staring at their daughter. “They had to tell me that I could go and see her,” he said. “We were just standing there, like, ‘Oh, wait, that’s my baby.’”

They learned how to feed and change her, picked her up, stayed one night and headed home. Their long-awaited journey to parenthood had finally become a reality.

Then God Surprised Them Again

But Selah would not be their only adoption story.

For months, Courtney and Marcus had also been communicating with another expectant mother who had found them through social media. After Selah was born, they met with the woman and learned that she was still considering them as parents for her baby.

The timing was remarkable.

Because Courtney and Marcus had already been in communication with this mother before they matched with Selah, LFS was able to allow them to continue pursuing the opportunity with her.

They matched that same evening.

Their son, Jonah, was born just three months later, in early December.

Looking back, Courtney and Marcus see God’s hand in the unusual order of events.

“If we had matched with Jonah before Selah, we wouldn’t have been able to be shown for Selah’s case,” Courtney explained.

For them, the timing was more than coincidence.

“It was definitely a God thing,” Marcus said.

Provision In The Waiting

God’s provision became another important part of their adoption journey.

Adoption can involve significant expenses, and Courtney and Marcus were able to raise much of their adoption fees through fundraisers and donations.

One particular moment stood out.

On the morning they were scheduled to meet Jonah’s birth mother, Courtney and Marcus received an email informing them that someone had donated a significant amount to their adoption fund.

“It just was crazy that it happened on that day,” Courtney said.

To them, it felt like another reminder that God was providing, not only financially, but throughout the entire journey.

A Family Of Four

Today, Courtney and Marcus are adjusting well to life with two young children who are close enough in age that it sometimes feels a little like having twins.

“They’re learning to play together,” Courtney said. “They’re about the same weight.”

Life is certainly different with two babies, but their home has also been filled with excitement and gratitude.

When Selah came home, family and friends who had been waiting alongside them were eager to celebrate. Jonah brought another round of excitement, especially because Courtney and Marcus had kept his arrival a surprise.

After years of waiting, uncertainty and disappointment, they suddenly had two babies to welcome into their family.

“Your Baby Is Worth It”

Through it all, Courtney and Marcus are especially grateful for the support they received from Cathy and Lutheran Family Service.

They appreciated Cathy’s advocacy and the way she cared not only for them, but also for their children’s birth mothers.

“We knew that she had our best interest at heart,” Courtney said. “She was there to take care of us and our birth moms, and we just really appreciate that personal connection.”

The wait was difficult. The uncertainty was difficult. But looking back, they wouldn’t change the journey.

“We feel very blessed,” Marcus said. “The wait was really hard, but it was totally worth it.”

And for other families who may be somewhere in that same season of waiting, Courtney has a simple message:

“Your baby is worth it. And when you meet them, all of that will just wash away.”

For Courtney and Marcus, God’s timing didn’t look the way they expected. It involved waiting longer than they hoped, hearing “no” more than once, and trusting through uncertainty.

But in the end, their story was one of unexpected blessing: two children, two adoption journeys, and countless reminders of God’s provision along the way.

Considering Adoption?

Every adoption journey is unique, but no one has to walk it alone. Lutheran Family Service is here to provide guidance, support, and compassionate care for hopeful adoptive families, expectant parents, and birth families every step of the way.

Adoption isn’t just a choice—it’s a calling, a relationship, and a powerful reflection of God’s love for us.

“He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.” – Ephesians 1:5

Learn more about Christian adoption through Lutheran Family Service HERE.