Our Family Adoption Story

 

After being married for three years my wife, and myself, realized that we wanted to have more children. My wife already had a son from a previous marriage, and I had none of my own. We have discussed foster parenting, and adoption, for quite awhile but never really looked into it. So, one day we finally decided to fill out an application for foster parenting through the Children’s Home of Lubbock. After about six months of foster parenting we were talking to our case manager and we happen to mention that we were interested in adoption. She looked at and said “I have two kids that will be perfect for you!”

It was in mid November of 2008 that we met Devin and Alexia for the first time. They were sibling and at first they were very reluctant of us. Both children have been in the foster care system for most of their short lives and have been in many homes. They were told many times by many people that they were going to be adopted but it never happen. So, why were we going to be any different?

Devin has ADHD which gave him only one speed, FAST! It was nothing to for him to go from one activity to another. Often time he would not be paying attention to what he was doing and run into a door, or table. He always laughs and seemed to be happy. Devin did hold to some half-dollar coins that he got as an allowance. To him this was a security blanket. Like some children would hold teddy bears for security for Devin it was coins.

Alexia was different! She seemed very reserved, and protective of Devin. She love the fact that we were spend time with them but was very uncertain of us. You cold tell by her actions that she believed that we were not going to adopt her, and her brother.

We had a few visits with Devin, and Alexia, At the Children’s Home before we started taking them on day trips. As the visitation continue they began to open up more. Eventually we started to have overnight visits at our home. We celebrated their birthdays with family and friends. Finally we set the date that Devin, and Alexia, would move in.

It was the last day before school got out for the Christmas vacation. We picked them up at the Children’s Home and loaded all their belongings into the car. When we got home Alexia asked my wife “When do we have to be back at the Children’s Home?”

“Well, we are hoping that you get to stay here forever!” my wife said. Alexia smile and walked off.

The next morning was my birthday. We were all up and getting for the day ahead. My wife, and stepson brought me my birthday gifts to open. As I began to open them Devin began to cry and ran to his bedroom. A few minutes later he came out with a wadded up paper towel and said “Happy Birthday!”

As I opened the gift that Devin gave to I discovered that the gift were the half-dollar coins that he always held onto. I looked at him and he had the biggest smile that I had ever seen. It was hard not to hold back the tears. We decided at that moment that Devin, and Alexia, were going to stay with us no matter what!

In the state of Texas you have to foster a child for six months before the adoption. So, six months later on July 31,2009 we adopted Devin, and Alexia.

I am going to be very honest about one thing. I is not an easy road to go from foster parent too parents. The children you adopt will test you to see if you are really going to adopt them! But, you must remember that what child you choose to adopt has already gone through a hell on earth that they should never have gone through to begin with. That is why you MUST go through parenting classes, and family counseling.

Adopt is a wonderful thing to do if you can’t have children, or if you just want to add to the family. If you want to enrich your life then by all means become a foster parent, and if possible adopt a child!