For this family, adoption was never just a decision, it was a calling rooted deeply in their faith. As parents of ten children, with seven currently living at home, their journey into foster care and adoption began with a desire to serve and follow where they felt God was leading them.
While many families at their stage of life are becoming empty nesters, they felt called to grow their family in a different way. They entered foster care with the hope of adopting, knowing it would come with both challenges and rewards.
Their journey has been anything but simple. Over time, they have fostered nine children, eventually adopting two girls who first came into their home as infants. Along the way, they experienced the emotional ups and downs that often come with foster care, including the uncertainty of reunification with biological families. Even with these challenges, they remained committed, building respectful relationships with their children’s birth mothers and navigating the complexities of the system together as a family.
Like many adoptive families, they faced unique challenges. Both of their adopted daughters were exposed to drugs and alcohol in utero, requiring early intervention and ongoing therapy. With the help of occupational therapy and in-home services, they have seen incredible growth in their daughters’ development, especially in emotional regulation and attachment. One of the most meaningful milestones came when their once-quiet infant began to cry and express emotions. This was a powerful sign that their child finally felt safe and secure.
Through it all, their family has grown not just in size, but in love and understanding. Their biological children have embraced their adopted siblings fully, often forgetting they were ever anything but family. Both describe adoption as both a “hard gift” and one that is “so worth it,” teaching them patience, selflessness, and the true meaning of unconditional love.
For this family, success in adoption is not measured by ease or perfection. It is found in the small, everyday moments, the laughter, the growth, and the opportunity to serve. They often reflect on where their children might be today if they had not opened their home, and that perspective continues to affirm their journey.
Their advice to others considering adoption is simple and heartfelt: don’t wait until you feel ready. “If everyone waited until they were ready, it would never happen,” they share. While acknowledging that adoption is one of the hardest things they’ve done, they are quick to add that it is also one of the most meaningful.
They also emphasize the importance of support, from church communities to local resources, and encourage families to ask for help when needed. Adoption is not meant to be done alone, and there is strength in leaning on others.
At the center of their story is a deep belief that love grows through giving. Their journey reflects a powerful truth: family is not defined by biology, but by commitment, compassion, and the willingness to open your heart and home.