Adoption in Georgia

My Mother tells a story about me at the ripe age of 7. She found me pacing up and down the driveway with my suitcase full of necessities (i.e. dolls, toys, etc) in hand. A family friend happened to be out for a run and stopped me thinking I was planning to run away. He asked: “Carrie, what are you doing?” With the innocence of a 7 year old I simply answered “Mr. Stan don’t you know Jesus is coming? Are you ready?”

And with that I seem to have never stopped asking the same question to all who would listen. As I grew older I realized simply loving people was more effective than words – but when God opened the doors the question remained the same – Are you Ready?

I graduated from Wheaton College with degrees I would never use, but my time at Wheaton furthered my passion for others and a thirst to discover how my talents & passions fit into the body of christ.

My sweet husband, Gil, and I married fresh out of college. Only three months into our marriage when literally I woke him up in the middle of the night to say “God is calling me to go to Law School.” His response was as surprising as my impromptu announcement – He said “me too.” And with that we quit our jobs and went to Mercer University School of Law together. Throughout our time at Mercer I admit I was jealous of Gil. He was focused. He knew his calling was towards Tax law and Estate Planning. For three years I continually asked God “Are you sure I heard you right?” “Why am I here?” His steady voice continued to say “Just wait.”

After Graduation, I worked for a small general practice law firm in Savannah, Georgia. I was blessed with great partners who genuinely loved me, but I was lost – still not knowing why God had called me to practice law.

Within my first year of practice, I had my first Adoption case and a fire inside me started burning. Shortly afterwards The Murray Nellis Law Group was born. I quickly became involved in Juvenile Court cases and saw an opportunity to serve my clients by not only fighting for them inside the courtroom, but by loving them outside the courtroom walls as well. But as many do, I became disillusioned with the Juvenile System that so many times it fails our children and Birthparents. The Lord showed me that through Open Adoption children would have an opportunity for a stable safe upbringing and Birthparents would have the opportunity to reclaim their dignity and know what it means to be truly loved.

And so one thing lead to another – years have gone by and the Lord allowed my law practice to become exclusively centered around Adoption Law.

For years I have had the opportunity to work alongside Vicki, but in 2016, the Lord called us to start Abiding Love Adoption Agency. It is our passion to serve Birthparents and to serve them well by loving them FIRST! I consider it an honor that God chose me to love on such special women and men during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

An Arkansas native, born and raised, home of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Woo Pig Sooie, Arkansas has my heart. It is where I met my husband, Robert, and where we attended church together, became friends, started dating, and married in March 2005. We have five children, four biological and one through the gift of adoption. We have called Savannah, Georgia home since 2018. The moss-covered trees, quaint squares, unique eateries, diversity in culture, the downtown vibes, and the closeness of the ocean won my heart over fairly quickly.

Adoption has always been part of my life from the very beginning.  Being an adoptee and an adoptive parent, adoption has a special place in my heart.  We recently adopted our son from Arizona. Through the experiences, and all they entail, my passion for ethical adoption grew greater. Adoption is such a beautiful thing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s both beautiful and painful.

Being an adoptee, and not knowing anything about my birth family or history, really opened my eyes to Open Adoption when we started pursuing adoption and the desire to build that type of relationship with our son’s birth family. I understand the importance of that for him, and for everyone involved in the adoption triad.

Since starting our adoption journey back in 2020, I began having a strong desire to do something in the adoption field, but I just didn’t know what that was supposed to look like. I pursed several positions, but nothing panned out. I see now that God’s plans were greater, and his timing is perfect. Having previously worked at our family business in Arkansas for over 14 years, to being a stay-at-home mom for four years, to then starting my career here in Savannah in the aviation industry in 2018, I am thrilled to now be serving as the Savannah area Birth Mother Advocate with Abiding Love. I am so thankful for this opportunity to serve and love. I look forward to loving big and serving well. To love our moms and meet them right where they are. To lend a hand, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, to be a friend and mentor. Know you are not alone, and we are in this together.

When I’m not wrangling children or trying to catch up on sleep, you can find me at a local thrift store searching for a good deal. I mean, who doesn’t love a good bargain? I enjoy being with my family watching movies, soaking up the sun at the beach, traveling and being involved as PTO Co-Chair at the twin’s elementary school. Life is busy, and at times a bit chaotic, but when I step back and take a deep breath, I’m reminded of how blessed I am as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, co-worker and now birth mother advocate.

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

I graduated from Winthrop University in 2001 and like most college graduates, wondered “What am I supposed to be doing with my life?” As a Christian, I expected God to “call” me somewhere: a mission field, a pulpit, a classroom…. I had big ideas of where I thought God should use me. God’s ideas were different… He sent me to grad school at the College of Charleston, which is where I met my husband.

Jason was a submariner in the US Navy and once we were married, my call became to support his career, in the process moving to Kingsland, GA, Silverdale, WA, and Charleston, SC. In each of these places I found purpose – a career in social work, working primarily with individuals with developmental disabilities, and in my free time, supporting the spouses of the USS Nebraska as a Family Support Group President and Ombudsman.

After 10 years of active duty service, our family was ready for a change, and Jason decided to separate from the Navy. We had our first son and moved to Augusta, GA where I continued to work with the developmentally disabled population. In 2013, while pregnant with my second child, we made the decision that I would stay at home until our children entered school.

While I loved staying home with my babies, I confess that I always had this feeling that I needed to be doing more. I realize now that was Satan’s work – his attempt to tell me that the work of raising my children was not a holy calling. God has done a great work on me in this past 9 years – three children and a realization that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you are doing the Lord’s work.

While at home with my children, I began serving with a ministry at my church, LILY Moms. Life in the Little Years (LILY Moms) is a faith-based ministry for mothers of preschoolers. There, I found my calling, my other purpose beside being a wife and mother. It was a great honor to serve moms in the trenches – those who are doing the holy work of diapers, nap times and discipline. I realized what an honor it is to love people, and how the small action of listening can make a true difference in someone’s life.

While I was a part of LILY Moms, I met a prospective adoptive mother. I watched her journey from desire, to fundraising, to home studies, and finally to the gift of a precious baby boy. I saw her love and reverence towards another mother who had given her a precious gift. I’ve continued to watch as she strives to honor her son’s Birth Mother and make sure she remains a part of her child’s life.

And that brings me to today. I’ve joined Abiding Love with a desire to serve as a Birth Mother Advocate. I’ve realized that maybe we don’t just get one calling in life. Maybe our calling is little actions, small paths, or big steps that lead to a major difference. God has taken me on a rather circuitous path where I didn’t have one purpose but many purposes. Each job, each life event, each heartbreak has led me on a road to where I am now. I’m honored to be given the opportunity to work with those who have chosen life and love. If you are reading this and are thinking about adoption, I hope you’ll give me an opportunity to support and love you well.