HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is the 25th anniversary of the day that we stood in the courtroom and told Judge Mason that we wanted these 4 kids to be our forever kids; and the kids said they wanted to be our forever kids. At that time the kids were 10, 11, 12, and 14 and our 3 biological kids were 11, 15 and 16. The two youngest had been with us for over 4 years as foster kids and the two oldest lived nearby so we had known them all along. We were moving from the area and asked to take the two boys with us and the answer was: Do we have a deal for you! We were fortunate to be able to adopt their older brother and sister, too.

Twenty-five years ago we were given no training, no services, and no advice. We were naive and thought if we loved our kids, everything would work out. Well, basically, it has. We have made it, with the family still intact. But I can't help but wonder how things could have been different had we, and the kids too, been given some help, some education, some advice! Had there been counseling for anger issues, services for learning problems, support groups for me and my husband, or any number of other services for the family, I wonder if things could have gone smoother. I wonder if the problems could have been avoided, or addressed and worked on.

But let me be clear about this. Even knowing what we know now, even going through what we'd gone through, I would not change one thing about any of our seven kids. Each is completely different from the other, each has strengths and weaknesses all their own. And I could not love anyone of them any more than I do. And I thank God that He gave us each of our kids. I love you all dearly!