It was Megan's birthday, and she was explaining that her favorite foods are potato salad and burritos, the same dishes her mother yearned for when she was pregnant with her. So Megan was curious about the strange combinations I'd craved.

Although it's true I packed on a few pounds before and after Aaron's birth, it's not because of him.

"I was never pregnant," I told Megan. "Aaron is adopted."

"He's adopted?!" Megan, and her cousin Kaylee, 9, gasped in unison. They eyed Aaron closely, glanced at my husband, Jeff, across the room, then looked back at me to see if I was joking.

"Who's his real mom?" Kaylee asked, suspiciously.

"I am," I said, explaining that one's real parents are the people who care for you, love you and watch over you each day.

I then told them that the woman who gave birth to Aaron wanted him to be adopted because she was young, unmarried and unable to take care of him. She loved him so much that she wanted him to be part of a family where he would have a real mother and a real father who would strive to give him everything he needed.

I quickly realized I had given the girls too much information.

"How could she have a baby if she wasn't married?" they wondered aloud. Just then, Kaylee's mom came to my rescue, announcing that the birthday burgers were ready. Whew!

Read more from the article written by Linda Stewart Ball writer for the Dallas Morning News.

My story involves local adoption as a foster parent. I am single, 49 and all I ever wanted was to be a mom and a wife. Alas, neither was to be, I found I was infertile at 39 and then had to have a hysterectomy. I checked into foreign adoption, but after exhausting my savings on fertility treatments for 3 years I gave up and turned to mothering my cats!

Two years ago a friend talked me into going to foster parent classes with her. As I was a critical care nurse, they were anxious to get me going to take in medically fragile children. One month after classes, I was called to pick up a 4 month old little girl whose teenaged parents were overwhelmed with her medical problems stemming from being over 3 months premature. She was to go home after a few weeks of teaching her mother to care for her, but she never came to visit!

As time went on my life centered around this darling creature who started to blossom into a very personable baby. Though delayed developmentally and being given a poor prognosis on how she would be, I started hoping I could keep her. I didn't care if she never sat or walked or talked, I fell in love with the package I picked up that January day.

As time wore on, parental rights were terminated and I was approved and the adoption was final in November of 2004. Needless to say, my Ariana Elizabeth walks, talks and is sharp as a tack. She is beautiful, with grey eyes and a headfull of bouncing brown curls, and people constantly stop to admire her. I had the chance to adopt her baby brother who was born last year, but felt selfish, after all she was lost in the foster system and he deserved a family. I found the perfect one for him and we see each other frequently as they live next to my nieces family! I didn't go into this to adopt, but it just worked out that way, I feel it was God's plan.

I am telling this story to encourage those who cannot go the foreign adoption route to look into foster/adopt, there are babies out there you just have to be willing to take a chance. All adoptive parents, I feel are a special group of parents and to read all your stories just makes me relive my own adoption journey and how glad I am that it all worked out this way. I couldn't have made a more wonderful child myself. My love to your family and all adoptive families out there!

I went from being a single career oriented perfectionist who now steps over toys and has juice stains on her sweatshirt! I have learned to look at all the little things in life I either took for granted or never saw before! I have an energy and a zest for life I never had before, even in my 20's! I learned that you cannot give up on anyone, if I accepted my childs diagnosis she would still be sitting in a stroller with her head propped up. I have worked hard to get her where she is and am proud of myself for following through on this. I found an inner strength and deeper faith that had been laying dormant.

Bob and Dorothy met and married later in life. Soon thereafter, they had the desire to start a family and suffered a miscarriage. Rather that pursuing their dream of a family through fertility treatments, they began the process of international adoption. Initially, they wanted one child, however, they decided to stay open to the possibility of siblings.

In May 2002, they received a referral for two sweet little boys, Dima and Toly, then three and one years old, respectively. By Labor Day 2002, Bob and Dorothy were on the plane to St. Petersburg, Russia to meet their boys. They were able to return in late October to complete the adoption process and bring their sons home.

“It's pretty amazing to think how much all of our lives have changed. We went from a couple with no children to parents of two busy preschool boys in one year. Life around our house is very different, but for the better. It's been so neat to see the boys' excitement to experience things. Toly especially has blossomed from the little toddler who wouldn't even look us in the face at the baby home to a little boy full of personality. It's especially neat to watch the boys interact with each other and see their relationship develop. We feel blessed that God has entrusted these precious boys to us.”

While Bob and Dorothy were busy preparing to bring their sons home, Dorothy’s brother, David, and his wife, Brenda, began their own journey. David and Brenda married early in life and had children when they were young. Now grown, their children have families of their own. Even as grandparents, David and Brenda longed to extend their family through adoption.

David and Brenda started the adoption process with the Republic of China in June of 2002 because they wanted a girl and China allowed for older parents to adopt (David was 49 and Brenda was 45.) By October 31, 2002, they had completed and submitted their dossier. About that time, China implemented a quota process, which produced extended delays for referrals.

Due to the longer referral process, they decided to take a different route and re-started the process with Russia using a different agency, Tree of Life based in Oregon since the agency they were using did not have a Russian program. The
couple completed their paper work and their dossier was translated and they were completely registered in Russia by December 3, 2002.

"Being experienced parents we know that a child brings joy and laughter into the home. But we also know that it is challenging, to say the least. We knew there would be times when patience would be required, sometimes heartache, as well as a huge responsibility. However, our desire was strong to have another child. We knew in our hearts that we had more than enough love and blessings from God to share with a child. Since David and I could no longer have biological children together; adoption made our dream possible.”

On May 28, 2003, David and Brenda were at their adoption hearing in Moscow, Russia. They bring home their beautiful daughter on June 17, 2003.

Now the brother and sister from America (David and Dorothy) share another bond - being parents of children from Russia!

Location of Adoption: Australia

I have always wanted a baby but I found out that I would never get pregnant. This broke my heart into a million pieces. I've always wanted to be a mother and knowing that I was never going to get that chance was like my world being bombed and every thing went black and gloomy.

One day when I was at the shops I saw an old friend Jamie. He had a little boy in his arms I said who's baby is this. He said mine. I was confused because Jamie was unable to have children most probably why we got along so well because we had an understanding of one another. He told me he adopted little Alexander Emanuel. He was gorgeous and when I was holding Xander ( as they call him) I realised how much I wanted to be a mother and that maybe we could look into adoption. If it ended up as good as what Jamie and Laurie had, then its worth a try. If I could end up having a little boy like Xander, or a little girl, it would be a dream come true.

I was thinking about all the things that I needed to think about. My partner, Lucas, always told me that if thats what I really wanted then its fine he was ok with it too as he has always wanted to be a father. A year went by and I stayed close with Jamie and Laurie and I watched Xander grow a little more every time I saw him. I laughed and played but inside I was screaming. I wanted a baby so bad and I had been to so many agency's and i'd even put my profile on the internet but still no baby.

I knew that my baby was out there some where waiting for me. I just had to find it. A couple more months went by and I was beginning to think that it was no use. That I was never going to be a mother, but Lucas told me to never give up that if I truly believed that our baby was out there that it would happen.

One day I got a phone call , that phone call will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was the happiest day of my whole life. It was a friend, Hannah. She told me that she knew someone who had a baby. The baby was 3 months old it was a little girl and the mother was looking for a family to adopt her. I jumped up and down screaming for joy. This was my chance to be a mother I was thinking to myself. When Lucas came home I ran up to him and I said I think I've found our baby. He was so happy as well and we were so excited. The next week, we might be meeting our child for the very first time.

The next Wednesday, we met the mother . She was a nice women but she was only 18. She hadn't named the baby yet. She said she wanted her mum and dad to name her. I felt quite sorry for this poor women. She had been caring for this baby and she couldn't even name her. Then I met her. My precious daughter. when our eyes met I knew that this was my baby. This was the little girl I'd been searching for. We adopted our beautiful Bethany. We loved her the first time we saw her and we will always love her. Bethany is the light of our lives and we are so happy to have this precious little girl.

The adoption experience has blessed our lives because it is the reason we have a daughter. It is the reason why I have met the baby girl I've always wanted. I have my lifes dream come true. Bethany is the light of my life. The whole room lights up when she smiles. We have a family now and Bethany is my soul. I've always felt like I had me and Lucas but something was always missing. Now I finally have the other piece. My precious little girl.

I think if I met any other baby it wouldn't have been the same as it is with Bethany. Somewhere out there, there is a baby waiting for you as well, if you are waiting to adopt. Dont give up !!!! If we did, we wouldn't have Bethany now. so don't give up and one day you might be blessed like we are.

I have adopted two little sisters from Cleveland Ohio. They were 2 & 3 at the time and now they are 6 & 7. They came from a family of seven children, three girls and four boys. I do not know where any of the brothers at located, but I keep a very close tabs with their older sister who recently turned 18 and is still in foster care. I wanted to adopted her, but she refused because of her concerns for one of her brothers, who is wandering around in the same state performing alleged criminal mischief at the age of 17. She basically did not want to leave the state because of this.

She always expressed that she knew her little sisters were in good hands and she did not have to worry about them. This is truly a Casey Foundation Family to Family case. Adopted or not, I consider her my daughter as well. We call and text each other frequently and I know when she is happy, sad or is not doing well. The agency in Cleveland would call me on a regular basis regardng her behavior and such. She is only in 10th grade, but a very smart young lady. I love her equally as her sister's and my own three daughters. I even involved her in the decision to adopted my next two little sisters from NC.

I am in the process of adopting two little sisters 4 & 5. I always wondered at times was I crazy or just lonely?. I figured it could be both and then a blessing on top of that.

All my girls keep me laughing. Our home is filled with love and respect for one another. This may seem crazy to someone who has never had a house full of women, but it is different everyday. I believe its my purpose to raise these angels that GOD has placed before me, in addition to raising my biological children. Two of them have mental diagnosis, but only God has the Cure.
I write this to say, I would adopt again and again.

Both sets of sisters are our blessings and we wouldn't do it any other way. GOD Bless. Every child is special! Adopting has made us stronger. We are closer to GOD as well.

She takes steps if her hands are held. Vladdy helped her walk. It was so cute. He would play with her a little while. She is very quiet, although having Vladdy for a brother, we wonder how long that will last.

March 3, 2004
Our visit today with Inna was wonderful! She was still tentative but only for a little while. We spent almost three hours with her today. She quickly started to play with the toys we had brought.

She keeps a sharp eye on Vladdy and constantly is on the lookout for him. While he didn't seem to notice today, I am sure he will when he is older he will be somewhat annoyed. She wanted to be where he was playing.

David got her to laugh and giggle. I got a great picture of the two of them playing on the floor. She is really a beautiful little girl!

The people in the orphanage keep coming by to see Vladdy. The physical therapist took him to her office to give him some candy. Not sure if he remembers some of them, although he remembered the caregiver today. She was his favorite when he lived there.

I will never forget these words, "You can't not have children because of health issues." I was 20 years old, my husband was 21 and all we had ever wanted since we met was a family. We were married young and wanted to start our family young. We bought our first house, our first family car and now all we needed was a baby. After a year of trying, still nothing, and we turned to doctors - that's when we heard the news.

So, after a week of checking into adoption, my husband and I decided that was our hope for our family!! We told our family on June 14, 2003 that we were going to adopt a child. We had no idea where to even start, so I called a local lawyer and he told me to tell everyone I knew and that it would come back to me in an odd way. So, I mass emailed people  and told everyone I knew that we were looking to adopt a child.

On July 4th weekend, our whole family was at our family lake house and the phone rang. A lady from the town where we first lived asked for me. At first, I was worried that something had happened to some close friends from that town and she said, "Are you sitting down?" I told her that she was scaring me. She said, "I have a friend that knows this lady in California and she is pregnant and wants to put the baby up for adoption. My friend told her about you and your husband - here is her number!!" So, I called our daughter's birthmother on July 3rd, 2003 and to my surprise, she told me that our daughter was due July 27!!!!

I was in shock. We, once again, had no idea where to start. So, we found a lawyer close to where our daughter would be born and started the homestudy, FBI background checks, fingerprints and the whole nine yards. On July 27th, the birthmother called us and said, "Still no sign of labor" - and thank God, cause we needed more time to finish up the homestudy!! She called us back on August 6th and said she was going to the hospital. On Aug 7, 2003 at 12:34, our daughter was born.

We lived in Oklahoma and went to Calfornia. We were there for a couple weeks waiting on Interstate Compact to go through, then we headed back to Oklahoma so our whole family could meet our daughter. On May 1, 2004 our lawyer called to tell us to be back at court to finalize our daughter adoption. We went back to California and finalized her adoption. What a great day it was!! She is our miracle baby and means everything to us. She just turned one last week and is doing great!!!! Adoption is such a wonderful thing for everyone that is touched by it!!!

Location of Adoptions: KOREA, KAZAHKSTAN, GUATEMALA
Timeframe of Adoption: 1997, 2001, 2003

As you see, I have 3 adoption stories with three groups in each. My first group of three came from Korea, 7 years ago. My second three came from Kazakhstan, 3 years ago. My third group came from Guatemala, one year ago. All my children are between the ages of 8 - 14.

I believe in older children adoption and hope to adopt more from Africa in a year or so. I work full time and so does my husband, but we have the time of our life. Older adopted international children are what they call the "bomb". They are just incredible. I wish everyone considering adoption could come meet my kids and they would start their adoption tomorrow. I live in Georgia, in an area where many international people are and my kids are loved and respected.

Adoption is my life, it gives me purpose and fills me with joy and love. I recently saw a tag that says it all "too blessed to be stressed" and that says alot with 9 adopted kids at home. We also are blessed with 3 biological children and one granddaughter.

Well, our story is a story of Gods hand at work. We had tried to have a biological child for a long time and went through all the inferlity treatment with all the ups and downs and all the questions why us why cant we have a child? After moving through this part of our journey and accepting Gods will we than began to feel a leading toward adoption and we were directed to a christian program in Oklahoma that not only found homes for babies, but minstered to the birth moms both those putting their child for adoption and those choosing to parent. What an awsome ministry!!!!

We put our life book togather and sent it in excited to see what God had for us. While we waited our excitement to get a baby was interupted abruptly with news that I had breast cancer and needed to immediatly have surgery and chemo and our lives seemed to really spin out of control. We were suppose to go to an orientation meeting in Tulsa and hear all kind of speakers from birth moms to adoptees and couples who had adopted and I had to call them and share with them my diagnosis. Expecting them to say so sorry we cannot allow you to adopt and sorry about your news, I got quite a different response. The gal on the other end listened to my story and said you need to come anyway and let us minster to you. God will use this weekend.

She also said lets wait and see what the outcome is, before we decide if adoption is for you. I was shocked and cryed as she sweetly said let me pray with you right now for Gods leading and healing in my life. God is so wonderful!!!!!!!! A real peace came over my soul and I was just reassured He was in control.

My husband and I did go to the meeting and it was awesome. God did speak to me as I sat there - I had such a peace that it was going to be okay. We pulled our book <out of the program> until I got through my surgery and almost through all my chemo treatments.

One night, when I was feeling low, I said to my husband Ken, maybe God just does not want us to be parents. Lo and behold, the next day we got a call from Cheryl, the director of the ministry. She said, "I don't know where you are as far as putting your book back in, but I just wanted to let us know that someone who wanted to remain unnamed had paid half of your adoption fees. We took that as a "YES, I <God> do want you to adopt"!

We were shocked and elated! My progress and future looked good as far as the doctors were concerned, so we put out book back in <the program> and about 2 weeks later, we got a call - late one night - that a birth mother had chosen us and wanted to talk to us right then! We were so scared to death and excited beyond words. We called her and clicked with each other immediately.

I had one concern. I really wanted to tell her about my cancer before we met so she would have time to back out if she wanted to. So, I called her and told her. To my amazement, she said, "It doesn't bother me. My aunt had breast cancer and is perfectly fine today." And that was that.

Silly me. God tells us to be anxious in nothing, He is in control - I should get it by now. I'll bet He just shakes his head.

Our journey then took another path as we went through the entire pregnancy with our birthmother. I went to all her doctor appts with her, it was amazing and a little awkward, but it got better. I was at the delivery of our sweet baby, who until she came out was suppose to be a he. Jackson, in fact, but instead her name is Zoe Noel. She is beautiful and wonderful and a true blessing from GOD!!!! She is exactly what my dreams of having a child were and now I know why we were biologically unable to have a child because, Zoe was waiting on us! I can this day and always say that if I could not have had her (this child), I would not have wanted to biologically have any child!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHE IS OUR CHILD from God and Oh how good He is! And how much He loves each one of us. We just have to travel the road of our life and wait on Him - always seeking His face. Know that He is there and in total control no matter the outcome. Never loose hope or faith because of obstacles that come your way - just keep looking up!!!!!!

God Bless,
Angie

My husband and I adopted two children, ages 5 and 6, true brother and sister in 2002. A friend called us and asked if we were interested in adoption. These two children had been taken away from their birth parents and were staying with an aunt in the area. We met them and spent time with them during the following 3 months.

We believe God sent these children to us. He sent us so many messages that this was His perfect will for our lives - we could not ignore the fact that these children were created for us. We struggled with the decision, knowing it was a HUGE step. God would confirm for us that this was His will by events that would occur in our lives every week. Some examples of this include: people would come to me out of the blue and tell us adoptive success stories every week, the money for the adoption fell into our lap, and the two children look just like us!

It has now been two years. They are adjusting well. They are precious children and I feel like they have been mine all along.

Our lives are more active now. We are full of life and new experiences every day. We have the honor of raising two children for the glory of God. We are His stewards taking care of two of His most prized possessions. We are humbled and in awe. Every experience we get to see again through the eyes of children.

My husband, Clint, and I had shared our desires with each other to adopt before we were even married. We both wanted a bunch of kids and we felt strongly it was in the Lord's plan for adoption to be part of our family equation.

We had 2 biological children, Bailey & Graham, within the first 3 years of our marriage and decided we were finished with "phase 1" of our family. When our kids were 6 & 8 years old, we felt the time was right to pursue adoption, "phase 2". Because we didn't have a lot of money at the time, we chose the cheapest route possible, which was TDPRS (Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services). After almost 9 months of classes, home studies and more we were finally approved.

Several months later a precious one year old baby girl came into our home and hearts. We were immediately in love! We decided to call her Faith. We were told everything looked really good for us to be able to adopt her up until the last 2 months ( we had her almost a year). She ended up going to live with her aunt and uncle permanently soon after that. We were heartbroken, but knew Faith would be loved and cared for in her new home. We still have some contact with her family today - 3 years later.

About 5 months before Faith went to live with her aunt, we received a phone call from someone we barely knew asking us if we'd be interested in adopting a baby that would be born soon. It was kind of a "friend of a friend" situation. We, of course, said yes. We heard nothing more of that situation for several months and thought maybe the birth mom had changed her mind.

In the meantime, my husband said his co-worker was telling him about another co-worker whose daughter was pregnant and wanting to give her baby up for adoption. My husband told the co-worker that we would love to adopt the baby, if they needed someone. With two irons in the fire, or so we thought, we decided to just sit back and wait a while. We spent the time concentrating on Faith's transition period with her aunt and family. (TDPRS doesn't usually enforce a transition time for children, but we insisited on a 6-week transition time for Faith because she had been with us for so long).

About 8 weeks before Faith left for good, we got a phone call from the "friend of a friend" contact and she asked us if it was okay to give Courtney, the birth mom, our phone number. We said it was fine and five minutes later she called! I was a nervous wreck and so was she. We talked for about an hour and decided to meet the next week. At that meeting, we talked like old friends for hours and Courtney told me she wanted us to have her baby. (She met the rest of the family at a later time. We also met the baby's birth father who was a very kind and respectful person. We liked him very much!) I was happy but guarded, considering what we were going through with Faith.

Courtney had not been to the doctor, so our first concern was to get her there, whether she decided to give us her baby or not! She was gracious enough to allow me to go with her to her appointments. I was there when she had her sonogram and we found out WE were having a boy! He was due in just a few weeks. It was April 27, 2001 and some friends of ours had just had a baby and we went to visit them. When we got home, we checked our phone messages and discovered our baby had been born too! I was so excited, I thought I'd faint!

I went to the hospital, very scared that Courtney had changed her mind - I was still hurting over Faith leaving 3 days earlier. I walked into the room and Courtney told me to come hold my new son. All the emotions that I'd held in for months came flooding out and Courtney and I laid on the bed together and talked about how beautiful and wonderful our son was! She assured me, she wasn't going to change her mind and I began to let myself enjoy this special time. My husband, the kids and I spent most of the next couple of days at the hospital with Courtney and the baby, Parker. At Courtney's request, we waited until she was released from the hospital to pick Parker up.

When we got there, I almost couldn't believe Parker was there, just waiting for his new family to take him home! It was a magical moment! Courtney chose not to have any contact with us or the baby after that. I know it was so very hard for her to give up her child. We left the door open for Courtney and the birthfather to contact us anytime they felt the need. He has been such a blessing to us and is a little light to all who know him! (I mentioned earlier about the 2 irons in the fire: I later found out that Courtney's dad worked at the same place as my husband - the co-worker who had the pregnant daughter was Courtney's dad!!)

In April 2002, when Parker was almost one, we were already talking about adopting another baby. We decided to take a little trip to Six Flags Over Texas and visit some friends there before we started the adoption process again. Our kids (Bailey - 11, Graham - 10, and Parker - 1) had never been there and were excited about it. About 20 minutes from our destination, we were involved in a horrific car wreck. Bailey and Parker suffered minor injuries and were released from the hospital the next day. Clint, Graham and I were flown (Care Flighted) to a hospital in Ft. Worth. We all suffered numerous life threatening injuries and Graham passed away the next day.

Clint and I spent 2 weeks in the hospital in Ft. Worth and were released to an hospital closer to home where I spent 2 more weeks. I can't even begin to describe the nightmare our life was for the next year. On top of our horrible grief over Graham, we had all the physical disabilities to deal with. We both went through almost a year of intense physical therapy. The Lord was so faithful to bring friends and family to us in droves who took such good care of us!

Today, almost 2 1/2 years later, we are doing well. The brightest part of this is our new son, Griffin. He is now 10 weeks old and the joy of our family! We went through an adoption agency for Griffin and had an equally wonderful adoption experience. I must say, though more expensive, it's much easier to adopt through an agency. They do everything for you! Griffin's birth mom is just wonderful and we have stayed in contact with her. She is very glad to see her son, but also very glad to hand him back to me.

We are already talking about another baby when Griffin turns one and plan to use the same agency. People often ask us if we love our adopted children differently than our biological children and the answer is a big NO!! I forget ( I know it sounds crazy) that I didn't give birth to Parker and Griffin. All our children are a wonderful blessing to us. I thrive on the "kid noise" that resounds through my home daily! It's music to my ears!

After having 6 miscarriages and undergoing 3 surgeries, my husband and I realized God was leading us to adoption. We'd just moved from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area when, at a summer family reunion, my Aunt (who'd adopted my cousin Jacob 17 years ago) told me about Bethany Christian Services. You can imagine my surprise when one of the first couples we met at our new church the following month had adopted their daughter through Bethany -- using the Atlanta offices!

In the fall of 2001, we applied at Bethany and on our 5th anniversary, we received our acceptance letter. We attended their classes from February - May of 2002; finished our home study and put our profile in their books and on their website in June of 2002. We got a call that a birthmother wanted to meet us in July of 2002. We brought our 2-day-old son home from the hospital in August of 2002!

God has truly blessed us, and we are so grateful for his timing and leading in our lives. Words cannot begin to express...we're able to share Mark's story with strangers and share how wonderful adoption is! Mark Anthony filled our hole in our hearts that we thought might not ever be filled. We're so blessed to be his parents!

My husband and I were married on October 19th and I went to the training the second week of November in 1996. At lunch the first day, a group of women went to lunch together and when I said that I was newly married the ladies asked if we were going to start a family. I am a diabetic and was not going to become pregnant because of complications. I said that my husband and I wanted to adopt. After lunch, one of the women came up to me and asked if I was serious about adoption. I said yes and she said that her daughter was pregnant with twins and was thinking of placing them for adoption. The woman asked if we could go to lunch together the next day and get to know each other. We went to lunch and I told her about myself, my husband, our families and our life. After lunch she asked if she could give her daughter my name and number. It seemed destiny that her daughter was pregnant with twins, as my husband is a twin and my father is a twin.

We were so excited about the prospect of being parents. We thought it would take us years for an adoption to happen. We did not hear from birth mom until the day after Christmas. She said that she was still unsure what she was going to do, but wanted to talk with us. We had a few phone conversations and then didn't hear anything. We saw the birth announcement in the paper and when we didn't hear from birth mom, we thought she had decided to raise the babies.

When we had spoken with birth mom before she didn't know if she was having two girls, two boys or one of each. The birth announcement said that she had one girl and one boy. Again, we thought it must be destiny as my husband and father are both boy/girl twins. Our spirits sunk as the days went by without a word. Then the birth father called us and asked if we could all meet.

We met and talked and we received a picture. Although birth mom was still not sure what she wanted to do, we felt as if it was meant to be and that they were our children after we saw the first picture. Birth mom decided after having the babies at home for two weeks that she would not be able to raise them, so we called our attorney and got the ball rolling.

The twins were born on January 23rd and they came home on February 19th. They came home four months to the day after we were married. We bought a fixer upper house thinking we would have years to fix it up before we were able to adopt children, but God had other plans. We truly feel that our adoption was a miracle. God made us a family and it seems like it is even more fitting as the years go by.

As I mentioned my father is part of a boy/girl twin set, as is my husband. My only sister married a man who is part of a boy/girl twin set and in May they had a set of twins...you guessed it...a boy and a girl. God knew that our family was to be complete with five sets of boy/girl twins and adoption was the only way for that destiny to happen.

My children are the joy of my life! For me, being a mother is the greatest thing in the world. My parents were divorced when I was ten years old and I lived with my father and did not see my mother much when I was growing up. I knew that I wanted to be a mother and give my children all of the things that I felt I had missed. Each day with my children is a blessing and not one day goes by that I don't thank God for bringing them into my life. I can't imagine my life without my children and the opportunity to be a mother!

At lunch, my sister joined the countless people who were always trying to get us to adopt. I had always wanted to adopt, but now I was 40 and didn’t want to do the baby thing and “older kids come with baggage.” Besides my life was great. But I agreed to go look at a picture of some kids who needed adopting. My sister showed me a picture of two kids (siblings) who were in the Buckner Today magazine and that was it, from that moment on my whole life purpose changed.

I met my wife at her work and immediately showed her the picture. She took one look at the picture and said “These are them.” She had just confirmed what I already knew.

The kids were older, and my wife said “I always said I wanted children walking, talking and potty trained.” We called the number in the magazine and told them which kids we wanted to adopt. They informed us that it did not work that way, but we needed to come to an orientation meeting. We had a conflict on the day of the next meeting, so we frustratingly waited a month and a half for the next orientation.

Over the next months, we got writer's cramp filling out forms and evaluations. We also watched God provide the money in miraculous ways. Finally, we were matched with the very kids that we knew, in the beginning, were meant to be ours. They were 12 and 13 years old at the time. And as to the idea that “older kids come with baggage,” there might be some small truth to that…but then again, so do we!

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And now...The rest of the story. (Sent to us after this couple adopted two more older children from Russia.)

My kids (adopted 2 years earlier) heard that Buckner was bringing 16 children from Russian for a vacation and wanted to keep one in our home. My wife and I talked and agreed we could split vacation days in order to be available and told the kids yes. The people at Buckner were excited that we would be involved. I was very clear to every one, wife, kids and Buckner...WE ARE NOT ADOPTING AGAIN!!!

A friend called and asked if we would like a bunk bed and my son said yes. We now would have a bed for the child and so if it were a girl the kids would switch rooms while she was here. A month before the orphans were to come another friend called and asked if we would like a bunk bed and my daughter said yes. Not long after that Buckner called and asked if we could keep 2 kids a brother and sister sibling group since God had made room we agreed but I reminded them...WE ARE NOT ADOPTING AGAIN!!!

Well we met the kids at the airport since our kids were going to be able to interprate for them. Two days later we met for a picnic with all the other host families and people who might be intrested in adopting some of the children. I talked to many people that day hoping someone would adopt the 2 kids that were staying with us. But even then I had a funny feeling they were supposed to be mine. I reminded God ...WE ARE NOT ADOPTING AGAIN!!!

The kids were here 2 weeks and when they left they took a piece of my heart. My wife and I had never talked about it while they were here but when she and I talked after they left, she said they had a piece of her heart too. But how could we?

We talked to Buckner and they gave us the papers but we said we weren't sure. We had to make sure we did the right thing. We asked God to make it happen if it were to be. We got an unexpected check in the mail. I got a call from someone who met the kids and wanted to help. We got a call from Buckner saying if we were going to adopt them we needed to hurry as the oldest was about to seperated from her brother and they would keep them together if we were serious. God had shown us we were to move forward so we did. Our first 2 kids had agreed to the adoption but we were not sure untill one day our daughter said she would even share her cat. Well with that we knew every thing would work out.

We traveled in November for our first trip. Then by the grace of God we traveled again before Christmas. We spent Christmas Day in Moscow that night in London and made it home the day after christmas. The kids were 11 and 12 with birthdays in January. What a great present we had that year.

God is great and we look to him every day. Our oldest son Pasha is a sophmore and mostly make B's in school he loves baseball and lacross. He is in the robotic club and loves computers. Natasha our oldest daughter is the athlete and plays volleyball, softball, runs crosscountry and track. She is a freshman was inducted into the Beta club in the 5th grade and the Jr. Honor Sociaty in the 8th grade. She is an A B student. Masha is in the 7th grade and is in all regular classes and is keeping up her grades quite well. She made the 7th grade volleyball team. Dima our "little" one is a 6th grader and is doing quite well even the Jr. High principle has heard about him and is excited that he will be there next year. He loves soccar and would play it every day if he could.

Adopting 4 teens/preteens isn't easy but the joys are countless and knowing that God brought us together as a family makes even the tough times worth living. As Natasha told me the other day when I talked about not much money for such a large family "we are rich in Gods love and he is watching out for us."