Guest Post | Kayla Craig Adoption Story + Shop the Closet's Fundraiser.

Today we have Kayla Craig of Many Sparrows Guest posting about her shop the closet sale that will help raise money for her adoption. I am so glad that i can be apart of letting people know about a great cause, So be sure to check out more about Kayla at the links below. 

Every morning, I stumble out of bed, grab my Coke-bottle glasses, and shuffle my way 
across the hardwood floors into the kitchen. Our four-year-old waits patiently for his 
oatmeal, and his hand always seems to find mine as I make breakfast in the early morning 
hours. I pour myself coffee as our two-year-old, his bedhead just as wild as his little heart, 
comes hustin’ out of his room.
Motherhood, you guys. It’s chaotic and sleep-deprived and sweet and 100 kinds of awesome.
I became a mom in a fashion that only God could create. I was a young, twenty-something 
newlywed learning more about the world, and more about its creator, every day. We were 
stumbly and we weren’t perfect, but we couldn’t help but sense that God was leading us both 
down a path to parenthood that, in the world’s eyes, was a bit unconventional.
My husband and I both started to feel the tug on our hearts for children who didn’t have 
families. We both grew up in safe and loving two-parent homes, and we couldn’t shake the idea 
of little ones not growing up without the structure and nurture a family provides. We knew we 
couldn’t do everything, but we could be open to doing something. We prayed, and asked God to 
lead.
One billion “only-God” stories later, and we were getting off a plane, welcoming our incredible 
one-year-old son into our arms, forever. Joseph joined our family via adoption from West Africa 
(you can learn much more about that here), and our lives have been so radically blessed by his 
presence. We grieve for what he lost with his fist family, but we praise God that he writes 
beautiful stories from brokenness. 
Fast forward two years, and we welcomed a second son into our lives, this time the old-
fashioned way. Asher fits into our family perfectly, and it’s a joy to see my sons grow and learn 
and play and explore life together.
And now, our hearts are open to more. And we continue to believe that God will form our 
family once again through adoption. There are children here and abroad waiting for safe and 
loving homes, and it’s at the core of our heart that we might have the privilege of being a family 
for another little one (or ones). Due to logistics, this time our process will happen in the U.S. 
instead of abroad. We’re not quite sure what this adoption will look like, though we know 
we want to be a family for a waiting child.
Over oatmeal and apple juice in sippie cups, we talk about adding a new brother or sister to the 
mix. “I know, Mommy!” Joseph says, scooping in another mouthful of breakfast. “We’re going to 
have two sisters! And name them Mommy and Daddy!”
So, there’s a tiny glimpse into the big story God is writing. It’s a humbling, profound 
privilege to parent a child or children not born to me, and it’s not something I take lightly.
As we walk into the unknown and trust God that he will form our family in the ways only He can, 
we go through all of the paperwork and processes to ensure everything is done correctly and 
ethically.
We have just completed our home study, the giant 500-billion-page document written by 
a social worker who has poured over every detail of our lives to ensure that we are 
approved to be an adoptive family.
Adoption, as I’m sure you’ve probably heard, can be costly. Social workers, attorneys, 
agencies -- each are compensated to ensure things are handled the right way. We’re a young 
family that has been saving for a second adoption since we completed our first. Every 
Christmas gift, every extra bit, has gone into a special account for “someday.” And someday is 
here!
My husband is a pastor who took on an extra job as a high school speech coach this year, and 
I’m a freelance writer/editor who has taken on extra projects to make this adoption a reality. We 
are also trying to think of creative ways to tackle the fees.


Here’s where the fun part comes in: We’re hosting a GIANT shop-our-closets sale this 
coming Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. 

●I gathered more than 10 of my most stylish friends of all shapes and sizes, and 
together, we cleaned out our closets.
● We have around 200 gently-worn items in quality brands (think J. Crew, Banana 
Republic, Gap, Free People, Anthropologie, Sevenly). Basically, my basement looks like 
an amazing women’s boutique right now. You’re going to want this stuff!
● We’re selling it ALL (think 25+ dresses, 75+ tops, skirts, ethically-made jewelry, scarves, 
heels) in a HUGE Instagram auction-style fundraiser to combat adoption fees.
● To join in on the sale: Follow us at @craigsadopt, and get those bidding fingers ready!
● Each item will have a fairly low starting bid price, though we hope you have fun and bid 
generously! The sale will go on for 24 hours.
● To bid, you must have a PayPal account. If you don’t, go sign up here!
These shop-my-closet sales have become so popular on Instagram, and I love them! (I 
love scoring thrifted treasures -- you can have on-point style on a budget!) 

Think of this sale as us doing the dirty work for you -- all you have to do is sit back and 
bid away -- knowing that 100 percent of all money is going directly to our adoption 
account. You’ll get some crazy-awesome deals, and you’ll be entering into the work God is 
doing to provide waiting little ones a permanent, loving family.

We want others to know that adoption is worth it, because at the end of the journey, 
there’s a child who is going to feel a family’s love and there will be a family whose lives 
are changed by the love of a child.

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