Our Road to You

Josiah and Whitney

Pensacola, Florida

Our story began with an unexpected meeting. In 2011, Josiah was talking with his parents about balancing work, college, and life when he jokingly said, "The only way I'm going to meet someone is if God drops her in my lap."

Not long afterward, Whitney came running into chapel just before the bell rang. Trying not to spill her coffee while carrying a book bag that was falling apart, she hurried to her empty seat. Just as she arrived, she tripped over a bag and landed face-first in Josiah's lap.

As she gathered herself, Josiah cheerfully said, "Good morning!"

Without missing a beat, Whitney replied, "Oh, shut up."

And that was the beginning of our journey together.

We were married in June 2014 while Josiah completed his master's degrees and Whitney finished her bachelor's degree. We looked forward to building a family together and, in 2017, were thrilled to learn we were expecting our first child. Tragically, we lost the baby at 15 weeks.

Over the next several years, we experienced two more pregnancies and two more heartbreaking losses. Each loss brought grief, questions, and disappointment, but it also strengthened our marriage, our faith, and our commitment to one another.

In 2018, we moved to Kentucky to help start a youth ministry at a small country church. Around that time, we adopted our first rescue dog, Buddy, who quickly became part of the family. Later, we welcomed a second rescue dog, Castiel ("Stiel"), and the two have been inseparable ever since.

Like many families, 2020 brought unexpected challenges. We faced ministry struggles, financial uncertainty, the loss of loved ones, and the emotional weight of a difficult year. Through it all, God faithfully provided for us and guided us to Pensacola, Florida, where we both accepted positions at our alma mater and began a new chapter.

Life seemed to settle into a comfortable rhythm. We purchased our first home, became active in our church, and continued growing in our careers. Then, in late 2022, Whitney was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

The months that followed included surgery, chemotherapy, additional procedures, and a long recovery. Through every step, we were surrounded by an incredible community of family, friends, coworkers, and church members who prayed for us, cared for us, and reminded us that we were not alone.

Today, Whitney is cancer-free, and we are deeply grateful for God's faithfulness through every trial we have faced.

Looking back, we can see how every challenge has shaped us into the people we are today. The losses we experienced taught us compassion. The uncertainty taught us trust. The support we received taught us the importance of community. Most importantly, these experiences strengthened our marriage and prepared our hearts for the journey ahead.

Our dream of becoming parents has never faded. We have so much love to give and a stable, faith-filled home to share. We look forward to providing a child with encouragement, opportunities, laughter, family traditions, outdoor adventures, and unconditional love.

Adoption is not our backup plan—it is the path God has placed before us. We are excited to welcome a child into our family and provide a home where they are cherished, supported, and reminded every day how deeply they are loved.

Adoption is a beautiful gift, and we thank you for taking the time to learn about our story.