Willis Adoption Story
Trusting God in the Trials of Adoption
For Rena and Kurt Willis, the path to adoption has been one of faith, endurance, and unexpected heartache. After praying and waiting for years, the couple felt deeply called to bring a child into their home through adoption, believing it to be a reflection of God’s love. However, their journey would prove far more difficult than they had ever anticipated.
Facing the Unexpected
Early in the process, Rena and Kurt were matched with a young boy. After preparing their hearts and home to welcome him, and after months of communications back and forth, the birth mother ultimately decided to parent Tucker herself. “We were very surprised,” Kurt shared, describing the weight of that unexpected decision. “We’d met with her several times and everything seemed that she wanted to move forward.” Despite the heartache, they chose trust God’s plan for both Tucker and their family.
After that, the waiting continued. Kurt and Rena were required to update their paperwork multiple times as they watched adoption fees continue to rise. The emotional toll was compounded by the financial strain, as each new requirement brought a fresh wave of unexpected expenses. “It’s mind-boggling how expensive this process is when there are so many children needing families,” Rena shared. But the couple held onto hope, praying that God would bring the right child into their lives at the right time.
Months passed, and the uncertainty was deeply challenging. They remained on a waiting list, presenting their profile to multiple birth mothers but seeing no matches. In one communication, Rena mentioned how her daughter had pointed out a child at the park who looked like Tucker, and that afterward she had started praying daily for a baby sister. Moments like these affirmed Rena and Kurt’s resolve to stay the course, and they continued to press forward hoping that one day they would be able to welcome a child into their home. They continued to pray for God to make a way.
Matched Again
In February, an email arrived that would change everything. The Willis family had been matched once again, this time with a newborn baby girl named Lilian, who had just been born in Delaware. The match came as a shock, requiring immediate action: they needed to be in Delaware within hours and provide $31,000 in fees at the time of signing. The situation was urgent, and the emotional weight was enormous. Rena recalled, “It was like we had been praying for so long, and then, in a single moment, everything was happening at once. We didn’t know how it would all come together.”
Kurt and Rena packed up their car and drove to Delaware, relying on the Lord and the support of friends and family to pull them through. With the generosity of donors and a grant from the Omnah Foundation, the couple managed to meet the initial financial requirements. Still, the journey had only just begun.
Walking Forward in Faith
Lilian’s arrival was met with both joy and exhaustion as she struggled with sleep regression. With frequent wake-ups and only brief stretches of rest, Rena and Kurt found themselves adjusting to parenthood with Lilian while navigating post-placement social work visits. Rena expressed her gratitude to those who continued to pray for them, noting that each prayer felt like a lifeline through the challenges. “Every step was a reminder that we needed God’s help—and that He was providing it, sometimes in ways we didn’t even see at the time.”
Today, the Willis family remains grateful for the miracles they’ve witnessed along the way. Lilian has already captured their hearts, and they are ever grateful for God’s continued faithfulness.
*Alternate names have been used for safety and to protect privacy.
