The gift of family is an indescribable bond.
There is something so valuable about this special kind love that comes in all shapes and sizes. There are a few unique ways to expand this close circle, and one of those methods is through adoption.
With National Adoption Day Nov. 21, it's the perfect time to highlight several celebrities who have chosen this life-changing process.
In 2017, country star Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, adopted a special member of their family from Uganda—affectionately, an 18-month-old baby girl named Will Gray Akins.
"The word 'adopted' doesn't even make sense in my head anymore really," the "Die A Happy Man" singer said in an interview with People. "I know that it happened and I remember it very vividly, but it kind of feels like she has just always been here. Even though Willa Gray comes from [a] whole different part of the world, she's ours and it feels like she never wasn't."
Several other stars have also grown their families this way, including Angelina Jolie, Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis and Hoda Kotb to name a few.
Now more than ever, it's so important to be grateful for family and our loved ones. To see all of the celebrities who have expanded their special families through adoption, keep scrolling below!
The "Die a Happy Man" singer and his wife Lauren Akins adopted their daughter, Willa Gray Akins, from Uganda in 2017.
The House of Cards star and her partner JJ Feild revealed in June 2018 that they adopted a baby boy named Raynor. "It's the most incredible thing we've experienced," she shared on Instagram.
The Today co-anchor adopted a daughter named Haley Joy in February 2017.
The Real Housewives of Dallas star adopted a baby boy named Bruin Charles in 2018.
The singer recently adopted two 18-year old boys in 2019. Although she keeps it quite private, she is loving the process of learning how to be a mom!
The fitness guru and partner Heidi Rhoades adopted a daughter named Lukensia from Haiti in 2012 when she was 2 years old. Heidi also gave birth to the couple's son, Phoenix, in 2012.
The Oscar winner first adopted son Louis in 2010 from New Orleans. She continued to spread the love and expanded her family in 2015 by adopting a daughter named Laila from the Louisiana foster care system.
The Law & Order: SVU actress and hubby Peter Hermann adopted two children in 2011, a girl named Amaya and a boy named Andrew. The couple also share one biological son, August.
His X-Men character, Wolverine, may have claws of steel, but the actor proved he has a heart of gold when he and wife Deborra-Lee Furness adopted son Oscar and daughter Ava in 2000 and 2005, respectively.
The How to Get Away With Murder star and hubby Julius Tennon adopted daughter Genesis in 2011.
The Mad Max: Fury Road star is a proud mom to two children. She adopted son Jackson from South Africa in 2012 and daughter August joined the family in 2015.
The superstar couple have three adopted children: son Maddox from Cambodia, son Pax from Vietnam and daughter Zahara from Ethiopia. Brad and Angie also have three biological children: daughter Shiloh and fraternal twins Vivienne and Knox.
Just like her Sex and the City character, Charlotte York, the actress adopted a baby girl, Gemma Rose, in 2011.
After having two girls, Lola and Sam, with ex-husband Charlie Sheen, the blonde beauty decided to add one more daughter to her brood and adopted Eloise Joni in 2011.
The 27 Dresses actress and husband Josh Kelley adopted baby girl Nancy Leigh from South Korea in 2009. The couple later welcomed another daughter, Adalaide Marie, into the family in 2012.
You could say it was true love when the actress met daughter Daisy True, who she adopted from China in 2006. Meg also has a biological son named Jack with ex-husband Dennis Quaid.
The Ally McBeal star adopted son Liam in 2001 as a single mother when he was just a newborn baby. She and husband Harrison Ford, whom she married in 2010, now both share parenting duties.
The basic instinct of motherhood led the blonde beauty to adopt three boys. She welcomed son Roan in 2000 with ex-husband Phil Bronstein. After their divorce in 2004, sons Laird and Quinn were adopted in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
The songstress became a mother to son Wyatt in 2007 and son Levi in 2010. The trio has been making beautiful music together ever since.
The Weeds star provided some solid roots for her daughter Caroline, who was adopted from Ethiopia in 2007. The Emmy winner also has a biological son named William with actor Billy Crudup.
The "Material Girl" is a mom to biological kids Lourdes and Rocco and adopted son David, who joined the family in 2006 from Malawi.
The Scream Queens actress has two adopted children with husband Christopher Guest: daughter Annie and son Tom.
The Nashville star adopted son Eyob from Ethiopia in 2011.
The divorced couple shares two adopted kids: daughter Isabella and son Connor.
The singer-songwriter and ex-wife Brenda Harvey informally adopted daughter Nicole Richie in 1983 when she was 2 years old. They made the process official when she was 9.
The Sound of Music actress and deceased-husband Blake Edwards adopted two daughters, Amy and Joanna, in 1974 and 1975, respectively.
The Nurse Jackie star is a mother to two adopted kids. She welcomed son Anderson into the family in 2005 and daughter Macy in 2008.
The Scottish actor and wife Eve Mavrakis have four daughters together. They adopted daughter Jamiyan in 2006 from Mongolia, where the actor worked on the documentary series, Long Way Around. The also adopted daughter Anouk in 2011.
The Oscar winner and hubby Andrew Upton have four children together. The couple share three biological sons named Dashiell, Roman and Ignatius and an adopted daughter named Edith.
The My Big Fat Greek Wedding star and husband Ian Gomez adopted their daughter, Ilaria, in 2008.