Nancy and I had known for years that we might adopt children some day. We have three birth children and would have had more had we not encountered serious health risks for Nancy in two of the three pregnancies. After the third birth, Nancy had her tubes tied.
Nineteen years passed between the birth of our youngest child and the day that we received a foster child into our home. Along the way, we were inspired by couples who had adopted children.
Chris and Maureen lived near us and attended the same church that we did for many years. They adopted three children. They were very open about the fact that their children were adopted and they actively encouraged others to adopt. In our previous experience, most of the adoptive couples that we had known were fairly secretive.
They were very active in the right to life movement. They backed their beliefs with action. Both of them contributed their time to crisis pregnancy centers. It was not unusual for them to have pregnant women that they were helping in some way living in their home. When their house was full, they recruited others to host women who needed help.
We also knew Mary Ann and Ed through our church. They operate a family business that involves long work hours six months out of the year. In spite of that, Mary Ann took newborn foster babies into her care. She nurtured the babies and nursed them through all sorts of physical problems. She kept these children until a couple had been selected to adopt them. Over fifty newborns were blessed by this wonderful woman.
Marilyn set up her house to take in the most seriously ill foster children. This operation requires that nurses be on duty 24 hours a day. Marilyn knows what it feels like to see a child die. She and her husband have also adopted several children.
Rick and Jane adopted three siblings who were living in a foster home and going to our church. Jane had been her adoptive daughter’s Sunday school teacher several years before the adoption. They were the first couple that we had encouraged to adopt. Jane was in the courtroom when our first adoption was finalized.
These wonderful people inspired us. They are all pursuing a Holy calling. We thank each of them for being a part of our lives. A sign hangs in our kitchen that has these words, “Families are Forever.”
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