If someone had told her at 18 that by 28 she’d be a mom to nine babies, she probably would’ve laughed out loud, maybe even rolled her eyes. Nine babies? Married? A house full of sippy cups, bedtime routines, and endless piles of laundry? That was never in the plan. But life has a sneaky way of rewriting plans when you aren’t looking.
It all began on a December afternoon in 2016. Just hours after saying goodbye to three foster children she had poured her heart into for seven months, her phone rang. On the other end was a caseworker asking if she could take in an 11-month-old baby boy who needed a home. She walked into a small office room, saw a blond little boy resting on the caseworker’s shoulder, and the moment he spotted her, he reached out. His big blue eyes seemed to say, “You’re the one.” That slight smile was all it took. Her heart was gone.
This little boy, Toliver, had already lived a lifetime of struggle before his first birthday. Born dependent on meth and heroin, he spent his first Christmas in a NICU, followed by bouncing between foster homes until fate brought him into her arms. At first he kept his guard up, stiff when she hugged him, hesitant when she said “I love you.” But kids, even the hurt ones, eventually notice consistency. Slowly he softened. He called her “mommy.” He let her hug him without pulling away. Healing had begun, for both of them.
There were bittersweet moments too. His birth mom loved him, even if she couldn’t care for him. Before surrendering her rights, she confessed that giving him up was an act of love. She wanted him to have permanency, something she couldn’t give. That honesty and sacrifice stuck. She has always carried gratitude for the woman who chose life for Toliver. Without her, there would be no him.
Funny thing is, adoption was never her plan. She had a good job, a home, a steady life in Virginia. But something felt missing, like wearing shoes a size too small. Her spirit was restless. So she did something wild, something most people would call irresponsible. She packed up, left the comfort, and moved back to her hometown in Georgia. There she signed up for foster parenting classes, her little cottage house suddenly full of anticipation.
Her home was officially approved in May 2016. Since then, nine babies have come through her doors. Some stayed briefly, some longer. Each one left a mark. Each one was prayed for, even after they moved on. She followed up when she could and welcomed them back “home” sometimes because once you’ve mothered a child, even temporarily, your heart doesn’t forget.
On July 25, 2018, surrounded by family, friends, a caseworker, and a judge, Toliver officially became her son. Legally, yes, but he had been her son since he reached out for her in that office room. That was the real adoption day, the instant her life split into before and after. Now she looks around at her life and can hardly believe it. Twenty-eight years old, unmarried, and yet a mom to nine babies. Her friends sometimes tease her about skipping the “normal” path, but she just smiles. There’s no “normal” when it comes to love, and her little family is proof of that.
Fostering and adopting has been messy, beautiful, exhausting, and holy. Some nights she falls into bed wondering if she did enough. Other nights she feels her heart bursting with gratitude. Through it all, she clings to faith and to the support of her family and friends who surround her with love. She never imagined this life, but it has been the greatest joy she’s ever known. And maybe that’s the secret: the best stories are those we never thought we’d be brave enough to live.
