Kendall & Matthew Barnett – Our Adoption Journey

How We Got Here

Hello! We are Kendall and Matthew Barnett, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to share our hearts and story with you. We have been happily married since January 14, 2023, and from the very beginning of our marriage, we have dreamed of building a loving, faith-filled family together.

Our home is full of laughter, warmth, and the joyful energy of our five beloved dogs — Ripp, Moose, Sadie, Max, and Lucy — who are truly part of our family and keep life fun and lively.

Kendall is a master's degree prepared nurse with a significant background in pediatrics, and Matt is an assistant parts manager. We both love our jobs very much but deeply value maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We make it a priority to step away from work, be present with one another, and invest in our home and family life.

January 2023

We tied the knot and began dreaming about our family.

May 2023

We experienced the heartbreaking loss of our precious baby girl, Kenleigh Ryan, at just 20 weeks pregnant. Losing her changed us deeply. Through that grief, we leaned on each other and on our faith in God to carry us forward.

2023 – 2025

We walked the difficult road of infertility, pursuing multiple fertility treatments while holding onto hope for the family we long to grow.

Jan – Mar 2026

After much prayer, reflection, and trust in God's plan for our lives, we felt our hearts being led toward adoption. We believe with all our hearts that family is built through love, and we are incredibly excited and honored to begin this journey.

Today

We are officially home study approved! This is a huge milestone in our adoption journey, and we are now an approved waiting family. We trust in God's perfect timing and can't wait to welcome our little one home.

How We Spend Our Days

When we are not working, we love making memories together. We have a boat and enjoy spending sunny days at the lake, and we absolutely love trips to the beach whenever we can get away as well. We also enjoy a little adventure — riding dirt bikes, exploring trails in our side-by-side, and spending peaceful time fishing together are some of our favorite ways to be outdoors.

One of our favorite traditions is taking a trip to Gatlinburg every year, which gives us special time to slow down and spend lots of quality time together. We also enjoy hanging out with our nieces, nephews, and siblings.

Our home is one filled with love, stability, laughter, and deep commitment. We look forward to nurturing a child's dreams, supporting their unique personality, and providing a safe, joyful, and faith-centered environment where they can thrive.

Our Five Best Friends

Our five dogs are a big part of our family and bring so much joy and personality into our home. Each one is loved dearly and adds their own special spark to our days. They are all very much part of the family and can't wait to have a little best friend to grow up with. We know for certain our future child will have the best guard dogs.

Ripp

Our fun-loving buddy who is always ready for playtime and keeps everyone smiling

Moose

Our gentle big guy with the sweetest heart and best cuddles

Sadie

Our loyal girl who loves snuggling all day every day

Max

Our happy-go-lucky boy who brings energy and excitement wherever he goes

Lucy

Our playful princess and the newest member of our crew, already so loved

The Parents We Hope to Be

We hope to be parents who lead with love, patience, and faith. Our greatest desire is to create a home where a child feels completely safe, deeply valued, and endlessly supported in becoming who God created them to be.

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Curiosity & Dreams

Encourage curiosity, creativity, and big dreams at every age.

♡

Unconditional Love

Provide consistency, stability, and unconditional love.

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Every Milestone

Celebrate milestones — both big and small.

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Kindness & Values

Teach kindness, compassion, and strong values.

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Always Present

Be present, involved, and supportive every step of the way.

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Joyful Home

Bedtime stories, lake days, beach trips, school events, family traditions, and all the beautiful everyday moments that make up childhood.

Our Hearts Are Ready

Our hearts and home are ready, and we are trusting God's perfect timing for the child meant to join our family.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about us and our story. We are praying for everyone connected to this journey and trusting that God is writing something beautiful for all of us.

If you'd like to reach out, share our story, or just say hello — we would love to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Help Us Bring Our Baby Home

The adoption process is beautiful — and costly. If you feel led to support our journey financially, any amount is a tremendous blessing and brings us one step closer to welcoming our child home. We are so grateful for your generosity and love.

Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Kendall & Matthew