Carol Soelberg Blog
'This is Our Family': Finding Joy through Adoption
September 11 , 2007
Critical to securing a safe future for families is having or adopting children and raising them responsibly. United Families International is very supportive of families who adopt children. There are many families around the world who have found great joy by adopting children domestically and internationally. As a pro-life organization, we also encourage adoption as a solution to crisis pregnancies. Every child is indeed wanted by someone, and every child can bring joy to a family. There is no such thing as an unwanted child.
At the end of this email, you will find practical information about domestic or international adoption. Please enjoy a summary of three families whose adoption stories will warm your heart and bring hope and inspiration into our lives. And learn of the joy that they have encountered because of it. You will find more about families who have adopted in our October issue of The Family Times monthly newsletter. If you are not receiving the monthly newsletter in the mail, please click on our online contribution page and donate a minimum of $25 to become a UFI member.
The Breinholt Family
Leroy and Kelly Breinholt, Gordon and Marijo Johnson, and Jeff and Anna Drake will all tell you that they were just ordinary families living ordinary lives until the miracle of adoption was given to them.
LeRoy and Kelly were not looking to adopt. But that changed in 2003 when International Family Services took several Russian orphans on a tour to the United States. That's when Robert attracted the Breinholt family's attention, who live in Gilbert, Arizona. They met seven-year-old, Robby, a Russian boy, and their lives changed.
“As soon as I heard about this boy with blonde hair and green eyes who loves soccer and anything with wheels, we felt that this boy belonged in our home,” Kelly said . “My four boys played soccer and they had quads (recreational vehicles), so he fit right into our family.”
Robby's adoption was finalized nine months later. Kelly said, “Adoption has been a wonderful experience. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I would encourage others to do it.”
The Johnson Family
In 2003, Marijo and Gordon Johnson fell in love again; this time with a baby girl they named, Alexis. Alexis was born in the Marshall Islands and has been a part of the Johnson family since that time. They all reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Alexis recently celebrated her fourth birthday with a trip to Disneyland with her parents, grandparents and little brother. Her family adores her and loves to watch Alexis in dance class and other activities.
“I am so happy we adopted,” Marijo said of the experience with Alexis. “This is our family.”
The Drake Family
The Drake family lives in Lafayette, Indiana. They gained custody of Leah the day after she was born in 2005, in Clovis, California. They were able to take her home a week later.
Jeff said, “There are really no words to describe the joy Leah has brought to our lives. She is the child we waited for. There is no question that she is meant to be with our family. She brightens every day of our lives in some way, and we are so grateful that her birth parents have entrusted us with the serious and wonderful responsibility of being her parents.”
There are many children throughout the world that are in need of a loving home and family. You can make a huge difference in their lives, should you be interested in adopting. The future of civilization rests in the arms of capable mothers and fathers who anchor a marriage and rear children, born or adopted, responsibly.
Keys to Adoption
Who is Eligible to Adopt: Laws vary from state to state and nation to nation, but generally most married people who can provide a stable home, those who pass a background check showing no criminal background and a credit check showing the financial ability to support a child. In most states, it is not legal to discriminate against single people adopting, though some placement workers have been known to make it more difficult for single people to find children. Read more
How to Choose an Adoption Agency: Gather as much information as possible about adoption, agencies and state requirements. Explore the range of available options and the various programs. If your options seem limited, don't rule out any possibility without thoroughly researching it. Spend at least two to three months investigating all alternatives before deciding what is right for you. Armed with this information, begin evaluating agencies. Find out which agencies offer the kind of programs you are looking for. Many agencies offer periodic informational meetings. Attend meetings, ask questions and be prepared to answer questions. Do your homework and research the agencies. Talk to parents who have already adopted children. See Adoption.com
International or Domestic Adoption: Talk to parents who have done this. There are books available on the topic as well. Domestic adoptions are some times easier because there are no language barriers to overcome. But language barriers are frequent with international adoptions, in which you must rely on your agency and their interpreters for a lot of information. Russia, China and other nations require the adoption to take place on their soil. Here's a source on international adoption
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