The Journey of Adoption: Kristen Minor

Today’s conversation centers around a personal story about a big
life event that requires you to navigate a host of emotions
within every member of the family. That life event is adoption,
and our hope is that as Kristen Minor shares her story, you will
find comfort and wisdom for your own journey. You’ll hear how she
and her husband, Matt, came to the decision to adopt through
prayer on a trip to Costa Rica, what fears they experienced along
the way, and how they found a sense of peace through the
realization that God is in control. Kristen tells the story of
how they came to meet their child, Gipsy, through donating the
proceeds from their worship band’s music to a children’s home in
Costa Rica. She gets candid about meeting Gipsy, feeling
overwhelmed with fear, and the two signs she saw on the road that
confirmed her decision. We touch on the value of community, and
Kristen shares what it was like as a mom to witness her child’s
grief and heartbreak and the open doors of communication between
her and Gipsy, as well as how Kristen’s own experience grieving
her brother helped her to walk alongside her daughter. You’ll
hear how travel has bonded Kristen, Matt, and Gipsy, and how
metalsmithing has become a great mental health space for Kristen.
Next, Kristen shares how she was able to still find hope in her
brother’s death, the message of hope she wants to give listeners,
and how this can only be found in God. We hope you join us to
hear Kristen’s story of hope today. 




Key Points From This Episode:


An introduction to Kristen Minor, photographer, metalsmith,
wife, and mom in San Antonio.

How she and her husband chose adoption through prayer on a
trip to Costa Rica.

The fear they experienced going into adopting an older child
with a complicated past.

How the realization that God was in control helped them to
overcome fear and say yes.

The story of how Kristen and Matt met their child, Gipsy,
through donating the proceeds from their worship band’s music to
a children’s home in Costa Rica. 

A trip to the beach with Gipsy in Costa Rica where Kristen
felt kindred with her.

How Kristen told the story of meeting Gipsy to Matt and how
he met her for the first time.

The process of being approved as eligible parents, and seeing
Gipsy’s file.

The two signs that she saw on the road to San Antonio that
confirmed her decision. 

How valuable it is to find people who have been in your
shoes.

What it was like as a mom to witness her child’s grief and
heartbreak.

The open doors of communication, reminding Gipsy that it’s
not her fault without villainizing her parents. 

How Kristen’s own experience grieving her brother helped her
walk through Gipsy’s grief.

How Matt and Kristen’s father built an overland vehicle that
the family has traveled with.

How travel has bonded the family and created lasting lifelong
memories.

How Kristen got into metalsmithing and how it became a great
mental health tool.

How Kristen was able to still find hope in her brother’s
death and the message of hope she wants to give listeners, that
can only be found in God.






Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


Whale Ok
Whale Ok on Instagram
Bugs on my Face


Mosaics of Mercy