Huxley’s Family

We are Andrew and Suzannah. We have four beautiful children: 

Bodhi, Rhett, Rhenly and Huxley. 

Three boys and a girl. The youngest of which came to us through adoption.

I think God placed the desire to adopt in both Andrew and I’s hearts at an early age.

From the beginning of our marriage, adoption had been a conversation, not because we couldn’t have biological children, but because we truly just had a heart for adoption.

It was also early on that Down syndrome adoption became part of the conversation. We both knew that if we ever adopted, it would be a child with Down syndrome. We would talk about it on and off and always came to the conclusion that we didn’t think it would be possible for us to adopt (almost entirely because of the financial side of adoption). However, it wasn’t something that left our minds, especially mine. I would bring it up to Andrew so often that one day he finally told me flat out “I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to adopt. You need to stop talking about it”. Although at the time it felt harsh I understand why he said it. The idea of adoption consumed my day to day thoughts and because he felt like it wasn’t a possibility, I think he was trying to get me to let go of the dream so I could heal and move on. 

Although it didn’t work initially, one day I decided I needed to let go of the dream. I gave it to God and asked Him to help me move on and have joy even if adoption wasn’t what He had for us. I also asked that if it was something He did have for us, that Andrew would be the one to bring it up when it was time.  Then I never mentioned it. Not one time. For the next two years the conversation became nonexistent. 

Until one Sunday morning when a little boy with Down syndrome visited our church. After interacting with him, Andrew and I were walking down the hall toward our class when Andrew broke the silence with the words, “I think we should look into adoption a little bit more”. I was stunned. This was it. This was the moment I had doubted would come but never gave up hoping for.  After receiving more information about the process, fundraising options and grant opportunities we both felt like God was saying “yes”.

In January of 2024, after nearly six years of  praying and “talking” about adopting, we finally began the process. We got on the NDSAN’s registry in April of 2024. I had this picture in my mind that we would wait a couple months to be matched and have our baby home within the year. That however was not the case. We immediately began receiving email after email of potential adoption situations. We prayed over each one and said yes to nearly all of them. We received the news time and again that another family had been chosen. Although I was happy for the families chosen, every “no” was still painful. 

It began to wear on me and caused me to doubt if this was really something God had led us to. But God quickly silenced those doubts. A song came on the radio at the very moment of my brokenness and doubts. It was a reminder to “take Him at His word” and remember that “if He said it, He’ll complete it”. In that moment I felt like it was a direct word from God.  Every no was hard but I can truly say that I had thankfulness for them after that moment. 

Thankfulness that we have a God who guides and protects us from things that we can’t see. Thankfulness for His perfect timing and His gift of patience, trust and joy even in hard seasons. And thankfulness that we have a God who tells us no, so he can tell us yes to something even greater. January 21st 2026 we received an email about a baby boy with Down syndrome who was due the beginning of April. I hate to say it but the first thing that stood out to me was the cost. Out of all the emails we had received, it was the one with the most expensive adoption costs. Andrew was on a job out of town so I sent him a text message with the details of the email. Like with every email we received, we prayed about it before making a decision.  Each time I began to pray about whether or not we should say yes to this email in particular, I felt like God was interrupting my prayer with:  “I told you to adopt. Trust me”

I felt like it was a clear answer but I didn’t know how Andrew was feeling.  I called Andrew the day before we were supposed to give an answer to the email and asked what he was thinking. He said, “every time I start to pray, I feel like He keeps interrupting me and saying, ‘I told you to adopt’ ”. Needless to say, we immediately replied with a yes.

Sunday, February 1st 2026 we went to church as usual, came home and I checked my phone. I had a missed call from Stephanie Thompson. I immediately got a rush of adrenaline/excitement. I knew what a phone call meant but didn’t want to get my hopes up. We called her back right away and received the best news! We had been chosen! And oh the tears we cried that day! It was finally happening!

Before our son was born we had the opportunity to fly down to Florida to meet his lovely birth family and begin the process of building a relationship with them. A little less than a month later on March 27th we received a text from his birth mama that he was here! We were in Florida the next day and brought him home just one short week later! He has made our time of waiting more than worth it and has brought so much joy into our lives! I’m forever thankful for all the “no’s” because he was the “yes” God had in store for us!

Thank you God.

As for our initial concern about the financial burden of adoption (the thing that almost stopped us from adopting), that has been one area where we’ve seen God‘s hand the most. We’ve had friends and family, along with strangers, who have shown up for us, organized fundraising and given gifts. Through all these things and more, God has shown us that, what feels too big for us is never too big for him. 

Something we’ve learned during the process of adopting our son has been this: If God tells you to do something, do it. He will work out the details and He will make a way. 

There’s nothing too big for our God.