Six Under Six -- A Journey of Faith and Family

By Lisa Brown, The Catholic Foundation

Tim and Shelly Haylett never set out to adopt. Their hearts were drawn to fostering, and over the years, they opened their home to more than 50 children. Shelly's passion for caring for others was shaped by her grandparents, who welcomed many international students into their home. Tim, too, felt called to help children, knowing he wanted to give as much or more than he had been given from his father.

After one particularly difficult foster placement, they took a six-week break to reflect and pray. "It was a hard foster, and we needed time to re-evaluate," Shelly recalled. Then, on Good Friday of 2021 , everything became clear. They realized that adoption—not just fostering—was what was best for the children. "We had such peace after making the decision," they recalled. That very afternoon, at 3:30 p.m.,Troy was born—a sign that they were stepping into God's plan for their family.

From that moment, the Holy Spirit went to work clearing obstacles. Today, they are a family of six, all under the age of six . Their twin daughters, Mia and Mya, are biological sisters to Troy. Olivea, Oliver, and Olive are also biological siblings. Olive is currently in the process of being adopted, with a hopeful completion date of March 2025. They welcomed each child as an infant or toddler, three directly from the hospital. "I love the adventures of life! I've never been on an adventure more thrilling than the one we are on right now!" Tim shared.

Faith Strengthened Through Parenthood

Shelly's journey has transformed her faith in ways she never expected. "I am so much humbler now than I was before," she admitted. "Before the kids, I thought I could handle it all. But my faith has become my rock and foundation." Raising six young children has taught her to surrender and trust in God's plan . Tim would often remind her, "Stop swimming upstream—just get on the leaf." Over time, she learned to lean on her faith rather than her own strength, finding peace in God's guidance, and has found herself on the leaf.

Tim's faith has also deepened through this journey. A convert to Catholicism in 2002 , he has fallen in love with the richness, depth, and foundation of the faith . Watching their church family embrace their children has been incredibly moving. "We are so blessed at St. Anthony's , where we are surrounded by faithful, intelligent, and deeply spiritual people who inspire us," Tim said.

Their children have also been the source of many unexpected blessings . "We've noticed that anyone who comes into contact with them—whether it's our extended family, friends, or even their biological families—has experienced blessings in their lives," Tim shared. "God is working through these children in ways we never imagined."

A Legacy of Love and Stewardship

With their growing family, Tim and Shelly updated their trust , feeling called to include their church family, St. Anthony's in Hillsdale. "St. Anthony's has been such a blessing to us," they said, expressing deep gratitude for the prayers, support, and helping hands during Mass. As Tim said, "they are so much a part of our present, it only made sense to make them a part of our future."

For Tim, this decision wasn't about giving away money—it was about stewardship. "It's not our money—we are just stewards of it. Once you reach a point where you're not attached to the money, it really frees you," he explained. Their faith is woven so deeply into their lives that he describes the Church as another child—an integral part of their family. Since making this decision and notifying The Catholic Foundation , they have experienced an immediate and wonderful sense of peace .

But Tim and Shelly's goal isn't to create an easy life for their children —it's to give them the tools to create their own path. Their hope is to raise resilient, faith-filled individuals who will grow to serve others, just as they have been blessed by the generosity of those around them.

By naming St. Anthony's in their trust and notifying The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Lansing, they became members of the Immaculate Conception Legacy Society —a group honoring those who leave future gifts to any Catholic organization in the Diocese of Lansing.

Legacy Society Benefits Include:

• Monthly Mass at St. Mary Cathedral for members' intentions
• Personal thank you from Bishop Boyea
• Invitation to Mass and luncheon with Bishop Boyea on or near the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• Access to special events (e.g., Seminarian Mass & lunch, St. Joseph Shrine Pilgrimage)
• Peace of mind knowing their gift will be honored as intended
• The opportunity to inspire others to support the Catholic faith with a legacy of their own

For more information about estate planning or joining the Immaculate Conception Legacy Society , please contact Lisa Brown at The Catholic Foundation at 517-253-8738.