A Mother's Love: Brooke's Adoption Story
Some families are built by birth, others by choice. For Brooke, adoption was never a second-best option—it was simply the way her family was meant to grow. With two biological children and three adopted sons, she and her husband have experienced the full spectrum of parenthood: joy, heartbreak, patience, and faith.
This is her story.
A Dream of a Big Family
Brooke always envisioned a bustling household. She imagined six children, laughter spilling from every room, a house filled with chaos and love. After having two children naturally, she assumed there would be more. Pregnancy had been easy, and she felt lucky.
But life has a way of rewriting our plans.
During the birth of her daughter, an emergency hysterectomy changed everything. The dream of carrying more children ended in an instant.
Yet, the desire for a big family remained.
So, she and her husband turned toward adoption. “We could have explored surrogacy,” she shared, “but we felt that adoption was the right path for us. There are children who need families, and we need them.”
The Heart Knows No Difference
Brooke is familiar with the hesitation some people feel about adoption. She’s heard comments from those who fear they wouldn’t feel the same bond with an adopted child.
But to her, love isn’t about DNA.
“It doesn’t matter where they come from,” she said firmly. “They’re your kids if you raise them.”
She’s seen it firsthand, not just in her own family but in others. One father she met was uncertain about adoption—until the moment he held his child for the first time. Then, every doubt disappeared.
The Call That Changed Everything—Twice
Adoption isn’t always a straightforward process. It comes with waiting, uncertainty, and, sometimes, heartbreak.
By the time Brooke and her husband decided to adopt their third child, they had already walked this road. They were preparing for another long process, expecting months of paperwork and waiting lists.
Then the phone rang.
It was their adoption agency. Their son’s birth mother—whom they had already built a relationship with—was pregnant again. She wanted them to adopt this child, too.
No waiting. No searching. Just a perfect, unexpected match.
“It was an honor,” Brooke said. “To know she trusted us enough to raise another one of her children… that meant everything.”
The Emotional Weight of Adoption
Adoption doesn’t just affect the adoptive family. Birth parents walk their own path of grief, love, and sacrifice.
Brooke has witnessed this deeply.
“You don’t fully understand what these birth moms go through,” she explained. “Not until you’re standing there, watching one place her child in your arms.”
That moment—both beautiful and heartbreaking—stays with her. The gratitude she feels for each of her children’s birth mothers is immense.
Open Adoption: Balancing Boundaries and Connection
For Brooke’s family, maintaining a connection with birth parents has been important but also carefully considered.
They communicate through the OurHeartsConnect.com system, which their adoption agency set up. This system ensures safety and privacy while still allowing their children to know where they came from.
Her son had the chance to meet his birth mother. He had questions, excitement, and curiosity—until the moment actually arrived. Then, he hesitated and stiffened when she hugged him, unsure of his emotions.
But even after that initial awkwardness, he still talks about the meeting. He knows his birth mother is part of his story, but he also knows who his mom is.
Adoption in the LDS Community: A Missed Opportunity?
Brooke is an active member of the LDS church, where family is considered sacred. But despite strong doctrinal support for adoption, she’s noticed a surprising hesitancy among church members.
“I’m always amazed at how few actually consider adoption,” she admitted. “The idea of family is central to our faith. And yet, people hesitate.”
She believes part of the issue is control—people have a vision of how their family should grow, and when things don’t go as planned, they struggle to accept alternative paths.
“But God’s plan isn’t always our plan,” she said. “And if we’re willing to trust, we might just find that His version of our family is even better than the one we imagined.”
Advice for Those Considering Adoption
Brooke doesn’t sugarcoat the adoption process. It’s not easy. It requires patience, faith, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.
But she believes wholeheartedly that it’s worth it.
“For anyone wondering if adoption is right for them, my advice is simple—just take the first step,” she said. “You won’t know for sure until you’re on the path, but I can tell you this: you will never regret it.”
Her family is proof of that.
