My wife Sherry and I were called to adopt five children over seven years, to add to our three biological children.  God called us to adopt from China, South Korea, and Vietnam. During each adoption, we felt as a family that we could do more. As I write this now, our youngest child is a Senior in High School, and our family is as close as could be. Although we shared some ups and downs, they are typical family ups and downs and not related to adoption in any way.  

We started by researching international adoptions, looked to our local church for support, and got connected with others seeking to adopt. Eventually, after learning about the one-child policy in China (a national policy that set a limit on the number of births parents could have), we applied and were added to a waitlist to adopt a baby girl from China. We were overjoyed.   

After eight months of waiting, we finally got a photo and the first glimpse of our baby girl, Mia.

Little did we know that Mia was only the beginning of our adoption journey. We adopted twin boys named Logan and Levi, who had special needs from Korea. A few years later, we learned adoptions were closing in Vietnam, and it was there that we adopted Zane, our seventh child, a five-month-old. Finally, we adopted a four-year-old girl from China named Isabella. 

  After joining Save the Storks several years ago, I began meeting men and women who chose abortion over parenting or adoption and feel the pain from that decision for the rest of their lives. They know they are forgiven by God, but the pain remains.    

God revealed to me just how special those moms that chose life, really are.

For example:  Mia was my first adopted child from China. The story that was shared with us is one of true bravery. Her birth mother risked everything by carrying Mia to birth, going through labor, and then placing her in a basket inside a public bathroom stall for somebody to find quickly. I can only imagine what she felt as she said goodbye to Mia one last time. Tears of hope but sadness must have poured down her face.   

All the mothers who chose life for our adopted children are our true heroes. They demonstrated unconditional love at its greatest measure.

Not one Mother’s Day goes by where my family doesn’t recognize the sacrifices those women made so that their child could live. 

Our story is not a typical one, now with eight children, but we are just like any other large family with ups and downs, traditions, celebrations, and lots of love to go around. Certainly, not everyone is equipped or prepared to choose adoption, but for our family, the motto is “go big or go home.” We felt our decisions to adopt was a calling for our family and that each child was handpicked for us by God.   

Our family is full of joy and happiness thanks be to God, and the mothers that chose life! 

All the mothers who chose life for our adopted children are our true heroes.

Life’s About Choice