Who are they?
Our family came together seven years ago, over a few months in 2002. Now in August 2009, our children have started grades 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9; they have spent seven years making friends through school and their church youth groups.
On May 1, 2002 we met our first foster placement, Anthony (26 months) and his sister Bianca (11 months). They bonded with us quickly. In fact the next week, when the placement caseworker came by with some paperwork, Anthony slammed the door in her face—he wasn't going anywhere else!
Angella met Anthony and Bianca’s siblings Evie, JT, and Tamica (eight, five, and four) during weekly CPS family visits, along with three more older siblings and lots of cousins. When Bianca turned one at the end of May, we had a big party and invited Evie, JT, and Tamica, plus two of their cousins who lived in the same foster home. This was the first time that Mike got to meet them. CPS caseworkers told us that we could adopt all five together, and after much prayer and pondering, we agreed. We didn’t know how we would deal with all the responsibilities of a large family, but we stepped out on faith and have seen seeing God providing ever since.
Our kids had missed a lot of school before going into foster care the previous November. Then, they had to change schools twice. The older three moved into our house on Aug.13, just in time for the school year that started the next day. Later we became an official family on Adoption Day in early 2003.
People’s Questions
Occasionally, because the kids are Hispanic and we are not, we get some interesting questions. Shortly after they arrived, we took the children to church, where a lady came up to Tamica, speaking Spanish. Tamica, five at the time, looked at her like she was crazy. The lady asked "Don't you speak Spanish?" "Sure, I do! Uno, dos, tres...I learned that in Spanish class!" Our kids had heard Spanish in their birth home, but none of them spoke more than a few words. Another question we hear often is, "Where are they from?" implying they are from another country. When we say "Fort Worth," people are often surprised. We rarely get this question when only one parent is with any of the kids. It is usually when both of us are together. People seem to think the missing spouse is Hispanic.
The most surprising compliment Angella ever got was when she took Tamica to get her haircut, and the hairdresser said, "You sure can tell she’s yours! She looks just like you!" Wow!
Cultural Heritage
We have several Hispanic friends, including most members of our soccer teams. (Our family likes soccer!) We try to participate in Hispanic cultural events and activities, and Fort Worth is a great place for that. The area has many festivals and events available.
We also have some traditions of our own. We celebrate Adoption Day each year and try to take trips to fun and interesting places. The seven of us have been to 16 states in 6 years. Pretty good for kids who had never left Fort Worth before.
Our kids also celebrate some of our families' cultural activities and holidays. Angella is part Swedish, and we celebrate St. Lucia's Day. Mike is part Irish and Scottish and attended a private school that has a Scottish influence. He likes to take the kids to local Scottish and Irish Festivals.
By now, they are no different from us--they are just our kids. We sometimes get surprised when we have to deal with issues about race, such as filling out school papers, because we don't usually think about it that much. I guess that is being truly family.
Family in Focus
