The Unexpected Blessing: From Fostering to Adoption
PPictured above: Lawson
Geoff and Carrie Burch never imagined how one phone call would forever change their lives.
One quiet morning, the family was enjoying breakfast when the phone rang. It was Alex, the Area Director of North Alabama at ABCH. "I have a baby for you!" she said.
They had fostered kids of all ages for the past three years, but Geoff and Carrie had recently felt called to care for a baby. "I love babies and had told Alex we were interested in fostering a baby," shared Carrie.
The call finally came that a baby boy, just two days old and coming straight from the hospital, needed a safe, loving home. The Burches immediately said yes to caring for him! The moment they laid eyes on Lawson, they fell in love instantly.
With two kids out of the house and two teenagers still living there, the Burches were only interested in fostering—but God had other plans for their family. As the months passed, it became evident that reunification was no longer an option and baby Lawson likely needed to be adopted. Despite their original intentions to only foster and not adopt, they were slowly changing their minds.
One night, Geoff looked at his wife and said, "We are keeping him." Carrie was thrilled and had fallen in love with sweet Lawson, but she also tried to protect herself from the heartache of potential separation in case Lawson could not stay with them long-term.
Lawson’s birth mother, understanding the depth of love and care that the Burches were able to provide for him, made the heart-wrenching decision to place him up for adoption to ensure Lawson had the safe, loving home he needed to thrive.
On December 19, 2023, Lawson officially became a Burch. "His name is Lawson Matthew-Matthew meaning Gift of God!" said Carrie, reflecting on the blessing God provided their family with this sweet baby boy. The Burches are intentional about staying in contact with his biological mother, sharing pictures with her, and sending her updates regularly. "He will always know how much she loves him," said Carrie.
"Today, Lawson is a silly, smart, and rambunctious two-year-old," Carrie said. "Our entire family loves him and couldn’t imagine life without him." Just a week after his adoption was finalized, Lawson became an uncle! One of the Burches' older children had a baby.
"We often laugh and tell people that we will never be empty nesters,” said Carrie. “We are so thankful that God’s plans are always better than ours!" Fostering through ABCH has profoundly impacted the Burches' journey. The support they received—from Camp of Champions to simply having a listening ear with social workers—was invaluable. The generosity of donors and churches across Alabama equipped them to provide the best care possible for hurting kids in their home. "I know we are being prayed for daily by the staff and ministry partners," said Carrie.
Today, the Burches are grateful for the journey God has taken them on through fostering and adopting. Their journey, filled with unexpected turns, shows the life-changing impact of fostering kids who need a safe, loving home.
To learn more about ways you can help foster kids, visit here.