Meet the Jones Family

When we began our adoption journey, we weren’t looking for an older child. But as we read through profile after profile, something began to shift. God started to reshape our expectations — and our hearts.

There was one case early on that we became aware of. It was a very severe case with behavioral and psychological issues, and our hearts broke for that child. Reading about the way they would lash out, especially toward parents, forced us to reflect on how similarly — even in our own relationship with God — we’ve rebelled, resisted His goodness, and yet He holds on to us.

That realization changed everything.

Even in my own faith and my love for the Lord, it’s the same thing—that He has saved and is saving me. That when I rebel against Him, He remains the loving Father who doesn’t let go. And as we kept reading these cases, our love just kept growing. What we thought we couldn’t handle, we realized — by God’s grace — we could.

That’s what led us to Eli*.

Adoption Through the Lens of the Gospel

Bringing Eli into our home has drawn us closer to God in ways we didn’t expect.

In this season of life, we are learning patience and selflessness. We’re learning more deeply about the abundant love and mercy of God and His grace toward us — and what it means to extend that to our son.

Just being able to start seeing through the eyes of a parent has been a huge change. It’s helped us understand God’s love for us in a new way. Even when we resist Him, He doesn’t give up on us. And that’s the kind of parent we want to be.

We’ve been talking a lot as a family about Romans 8:28 — “God works all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose.” That doesn’t mean everything will feel good, but we trust that God is working through it all for His glory and for our good.

Eli’s Adjustment and Ongoing Needs

Eli is beginning to adjust to life in our home, but it hasn’t been without difficulty.

In many ways, he acts his age, but in other ways he is still working through some developmental delays.

Physically, Eli is small for his age — just 4’6″ and 67 pounds — and it’s something he’s self-conscious about. We’re praying he can grow appropriately, not just for health, but because we know how much it affects him when he compares himself to other kids.

He also has “blackouts” — spells where he zones out and becomes unresponsive, though he’s still making movements or sounds. We’re establishing care with a pediatrician from our church and are hoping to get a referral to a neurologist. We want answers — especially because he’d love to play sports and, one day, learn to drive.

Counting the Cost with Open Hands

Right now, we’re facing about $20,000 in remaining adoption-related expenses. That includes legal fees, post-placement visits, and the loan we took out at the start of this journey for consulting and our home study.

We’re still trying to figure out if I (mom) will be able to return to work. Even working my base hours would mean long, 10-hour shifts plus a one-hour commute each way. It would be hard to be gone that much while Eli is still adjusting to everything.

We’ve been going 99 miles an hour for so many months. Now, we’re just trying to find a routine, to breathe, and to rest in the Lord.

How You Can Walk With Us

We know that God has called us to this. Eli is not our Plan B — and adoption isn’t God’s Plan B either. He has been faithful every step of the way, and we trust Him to keep providing.

We’re doing everything we can to love our son well, and to raise him in a home centered on Christ. But we can’t do it alone.

Will you partner with us?

Your support helps cover real needs: legal fees, home visits, and the medical care Eli requires. It also lifts a weight from our shoulders so we can focus more fully on being present, loving parents.

Give today to support our family — and help bring more children like Eli into homes where they will be known, loved, and shown the Gospel.

With love and gratitude,
The Jones Family

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