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Family Stories
Making a Decision
Celebrating the Gift of Family
I always knew I wanted to adopt a child. From the time of my own adolescence - when I thought of my future and the family that would someday be mine - the picture in my mind included both biological and adopted children.
It Only Takes a Moment to Change a Lifetime
It's strange how one moment can change a lifetime forever. My mother changed my life forever when she left her home in the Philippines and moved to rural Alabama with her naval officer husband.
Made For Us
The decision to adopt was an easy one for my husband, Lee, and me. As a family faced with infertility, we didn't feel that we could handle the emotional roller coaster that fertility treatment often affords.
Our Decision to Adopt
After our first son A'shon was born in 1996, we tried several times again to conceive another child.
Waiting For Each Other
My journey with adoption began with a fourth grade project. All of the students were required to write an autobiography and project what our lives would be like in 15 years.
The Process
The Best Christmas Ever!
"This will be our last Christmas without children!" was a phrase my husband and I started saying to each other in 2003.
The Bluest Eyes I Have Ever Seen
My husband, Gregg, and I came to adoption in August, 2004. We had just had our second miscarriage after losing a full term baby girl the year before.
The Day I Adopted Phoebe
"Tonight's the night," my mom whispered in my tired ear. "What?" I said half asleep. "Phoebe's coming and..." That's all I needed to hear.
Thoughts of You
January 16, 1998: Yesterday, we sent off our application packet. Today, we can say we are expecting a baby.
Adoption Options
A Young Mother's Agonizing Decision
Last winter I was a pregnant teenager, but I am not a single mother.
The Importance of Open Adoption in Our Family
We made the decision to adopt a child in the fall of 2000. When we first talked about adopting a child, we had never considered "open adoption," mainly because we didn't know it was an option.
Shared Joy
Nineteen years ago, after an extended period of progressively more frustrating infertility, Wide Horizons For Children came into our lives.
Birth Families
A Mother's Sacrifice
My wife and I had heard about the difficulties in meeting with the birth families of adopted children; what to expect, the emotional highs and lows, the benefits and the concerns.
A Necessary Trip
When my husband and I first met I knew that there was a possibility we could not have biological children. When I told him this he said that he was comfortable with the idea of adoption.
A New Meaning to the Phrase, "Home is Where the Heart Is"
We would like to share with you a wonderful story that brings new meaning to the phrase 'Home is where the heart is". Our relationship with Wide Horizons began when my husband, Terry, and I first started the adoption process in 1997.
Mahalet's Story
One of the great things about the Ethiopia program is the effort the workers there make to connect adopting families with birth relatives.
My Direct Sign From God
When my husband Carl and I married 16 years ago the one thing we did not agree on was how many children we wanted.
An Unpaved Journey
An unpaved, narrow, dirt road was before us. It almost appeared a walking path in the middle of a wooded forest.
Program Related
China
A Family of Four, Finally
When we started this process in 2002, we knew that we wanted to adopt two children, a boy and a girl. The adoption of our son was a relatively short somewhat painless process, though it didn't seem that way at the time.
Celebrating Three Trips to China
In 1991 our sons and a daughter were in grades eleven, nine and five. As the oldest toured colleges we were just beginning to see on the horizon the end of swim meets, soccer games, and school concerts.
China 15
It all began in the year of 1995 when 11 excited couples boarded a plane and headed for China. 23 hours of talking, waiting, sleeping, and eating.
The Dream Continues
The sign next to the church read: "You're never too old to be what you might have been". So, John took a picture of me next to it with Katie.
Jie's Journey
All stories like this are packed with emotion - because they are indeed emotional stories. But we will NEVER forget the moment when our babies actually arrived with their respective care-givers in the Sunshine Plaza Hotel in Langzhou.
Our Angel
What can I say, we have been home for over 3 weeks and Jia feels like she has been here for all of her little life.
Our Small Strand of China Pearls
I waited anxiously to see the headlights of the shiny black car that would bring my husband, Mike, and our fourth daughter, Leah, home from China.
Will's Story
Adopted from China as a baby in 1998 through Wide Horizons For Children, Will McCarthy was immediately welcomed and loved by his new family; his mom Ginny, his aunt Cathleen, his cousin, Mei-Lin, who is also adopted from China, and his grandmother.
Ethiopia
Eli's Family
Holding the envelope tight in my hand and my seven-month-old son Eli on my hip, I made my way from the mailbox to the kitchen table.
The Laughing Boy Under the Table
My eight-year-old daughter, Ruby, tapped me on my shoulder and whispered. "Where's Adugna?"
Our Adoption Journey
My husband and I are the proud parents of two children adopted from Ethiopia in 2006 and 2008.
Our "Best Day"
As deliriously happy a couple we were before we found our daughter, we both feel like our lives truly began when we held our 3 yr. old Kalkidan in our arms.
Our Leap of Faith
Yared is the perfect addition to our family. He's a joy to be around and his smile lights up every room he enters.
Smiles and Laughter From Ethiopia
It was all the smiles and laughter that surprised me the most. All of these beautiful children had lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ethiopia, yet they all smile.
Tamirat
Our adoptee, two-year-old Tamirat, fell asleep at the airport in Addis Ababa at about 8 p.m. Ethiopian time, May 15. He pretty much slept through the boarding process and take-off, at midnight, of the Ethiopian Airlines jet.
Guatemala
A Brother For Daniel
"Roseanne, I think you may want to hear this too," I called up the cellar stairs to my wife. "It's Nancy Thompson." It was about 72 hours before our very long awaited trip to Guatemala to bring our 10 1/2 month old son Daniel home.
The New Christmas Tradition
I recall it was in mid-November of 2003, as I was just turning 45, when I mailed in the initial application to Wide Horizons For Children, which was the first step in the adoption process.
Opening the Door to Adoption
When Michael and I married, we were both ready to fully embrace family life.
Thoughts of You
January 16, 1998: Yesterday, we sent off our application packet. Today, we can say we are expecting a baby.
India
Jadon's Journey
It has been a year now that Jadon Aniket has come home, and it is well past time that I write to you! What an exciting, experience-filled two years this has been for us!
Neelakshi's Story
Neelakshi has been part of our family since April 28, 2008 when we brought her back to our hotel from Bal Anand. It was quite the experience that is hard to prepare for.
Report from India
After 26 hours of travel by van, air, and truck we arrived safely at 2 AM India time in Pune. Just driving here is quite an experience.
Kazakhstan
Our Journey to Adoption
My husband and I always knew we wanted a family. After trying to conceive unsuccessfully, we decided to take matters into our own hands.
Korea
The Message Board
I never imagined by adopting a little baby from South Korea that I would also be gaining a group of friends for a lifetime.
The Philippines
An Important Country in Asia
The most interesting, awesome trip I've ever been on is when I went with my whole family to the Philippines to adopt my 4 year old brother, Andro. He was born in Ligao in 2000.
Waiting For Raul
Little did I know as I headed out the door on Friday, April 9th, to make the two-hour trip to Boston to accompany my mother to a routine appointment, that I would return home that evening to tell my husband that I had found our son.
Russia
A Family of Angels
It was time to start the most joyful journey of our lives. An "Introduction meeting" at Wide Horizons was our first step on a path that would lead us to our first child.
A Year Ago
A year ago today, Mike and I were in Yekaterinburg, Russia making our way to Kamensk-Uralsky to see a little boy. The uncertainty of that trip and all the emotions are still vivid in my memory.
The First Dance
It was the summer of 2007 when my husband and I just finished our first round of in-vitro fertilization. The doctors told us not to expect much from this first round, another let down in a roller coaster of emotions that accompany infertility.
Our Christmas Miracle
Let me tell you about the experience of a lifetime. When my husband, Jim, and I decided to get married over 20 years ago, we thought it would be nice to have two birth children and adopt a third.
Reflections
Ten years ago, I stepped off a plane in Moscow, flanked by Steve, my nine year-old son, my husband, and two other families who were set to begin their life's grand adventure.
What I Learned From my Brother, Paul
A few years ago, as my family was reading a book about the lives of orphans in Russia, the question came up, "Can we help at least one of them?"
Ukraine
Ukraine Angels
When John and I planned to get married, we knew that there would be children in our lives. When we realized that biological children were not meant to be, adoption was a natural choice for us.
United States
Our Decision to Adopt
We are the Harrigans and this is our story.
Two Makes a Family
I've wanted to be a mom since I was 5 years old, so I never imagined that I would reach my late 30's and not be married or have children.
Unconditional Love
Our story is probably very similar to that of many other couples who wanted to have children, but were having troubles on their own.
Waiting Children
A Blessing in Disguise
When I asked my husband, Mell, what he thought about adopting a child, the question caught him quite by surprise. We already had two girls by birth and had made the decision that we were not having anymore children.
A Little Boy's Smile
In many ways putting into words how we came to adopt a waiting child is very difficult. Our experience was a process, guided by a combination of advice from medical professionals, support from Wide Horizons staff, and our own gut instinct, and faith.
A Tale of Two Sisters
As I think about the past two years and the adoption of my daughters, Sheena and Angel (Angelica), I believe it was divine intervention that brought us together.
The Bluest Eyes I Have Ever Seen
My husband, Gregg, and I came to adoption in August, 2004. We had just had our second miscarriage after losing a full term baby girl the year before.
Bringing Home My Waiting Child
I couldn't believe my ears when Joy, the local guide who'd met us at the Nanning airport, said we'd be meeting my daughter in three hours.
Good Things Do Come to Those Who Wait
Sounds like any other cliché right? - We've all heard it before. Those of us who are adopting, are especially aware of the passage of time.
Inspirations in Life
I can still clearly remember the day nearly seven years ago when our social worker called to say she had just received information on a three-month-old Korean baby girl.
Mama's Babies
Talk about an instant family! My husband and I signed up to adopt TWO siblings and wound up with FOUR!
The Mao-Han Story
There are five people in our family: Gail and I, two daughters, and one son. All of our children are from China.
Meeting Mesay
In June of 2004, with a wide smile, my husband handed me my requested birthday gift - the signed Registration Form for WHFC. I wanted to start the adoption process again.
My "Waiting" Waiting Child
"Mahari has been waiting for you by the gate every day," the driver told me. And true to his word, the first day I set foot in Ethiopia and arrived at Horizon House, there was Mahari, 5½, my 'waiting' waiting child, at the gate.
Taye's Gift
As I write tonight I have tears in my eyes. I feel such an urgency to get people to think about the joys of older child adoption and consider this as a wonderful option.
Waiting For Each Other
My journey with adoption began with a fourth grade project. All of the students were required to write an autobiography and project what our lives would be like in 15 years.
Single Parenting
Good Night, Sweet Nicholas
Adoption was something I had always been open to-even while in high school and college. I always felt that if I could not become pregnant, I would adopt.
My Journey to Ethiopia
As with so many journeys this one started almost 18 months prior to the actual travel. The decision to adopt is one filled with so many emotions, from excitement to fear and everything in between.
Nicki's Smile
I turned 40 in February of 2000. I had been thinking about adoption for many years and decided it was time to get started.
Two Makes a Family
I've wanted to be a mom since I was 5 years old, so I never imagined that I would reach my late 30's and not be married or have children.
"You Love Me Ever, Ever, Ever"
It has been a wonderful, whirlwind year for Tiki and me. She turned 8 years old on November 7 and we had her adoption "finalization" in court on November 17.
Family Issues
A New Meaning to the Phrase "Home is Where the Heart Is"
We would like to share with you a wonderful story that brings new meaning to the phrase "Home is where the heart is."
My Direct Sign From God
When my husband Carl and I married 16 years ago the one thing we did not agree on was how many children we wanted.
Our Adoption Journey
My husband and I are the proud parents of two children adopted from Ethiopia in 2006 and 2008.
The Day I Met My Sister
While waiting at the airport for my new sister, I began to wonder what she would be like.
The First Year
In the spring of 2001, when our biological daughter, Eliza, was one and a half, my husband and I decided to pursue having a second child.
Post Adoption
A mother's reflection on attachement with her son
Our son, Dylan, came home from Russia on August 25, 2005. He was 2½ and very cute. I had been staring at his picture for months, imagining what this day would be like, praying that it would come to be.
Camp Connections
I don't think I'll ever forget that first culture camp day as we pulled into the YMCA ranch in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Camp Mabuhay
When Len-Len was in first grade, she became very aware of the fact that she was Filipino, and besides, her sister Josie was one of the few Filipinos around.
Celebrate Romania!
It's late afternoon on a sunny Friday in June and there is an electric anticipation in the air!
China 33 - One in a Million
This is not just another story about a special travel group, this is a story about a special family...the China 33 Family.
China Reunion
Neighborhood games of "Capture the Flag" at dusk. Whole days of riding bikes through the neighborhood. Family vacations at "the lake." The ice cream truck. Playing in the stream.
Keeping the Connection
Family reunions are a summer tradition -- time to catch up on the past year's events, see how the children have grown, share memories, laugh, eat, and play.
My Heritage
If you were to spend a month observing me in my geography class, you would hear me at least once bring up my East Indian Heritage Camp near Denver, Colorado.
One Family's Holiday
Holidays are a special time... family gathers around and traditions begin. TRADITIONS... that magical word can result in the creation of memories.
Our Transforming Family
Our boys, Mikias and Jemberu, love playing with Transformers. They are cool toys that start as one thing, perhaps a car, and with a few twists and turns change into something completely different, like a robot.
The Promises We Keep
He looked at me questioningly, with tears brimming and I answered "welcome home." Those expressive brown eyes spoke to me as they always have and all I could do was hug my 14 year old son.
SpeakingUp!
An interview with Madalina, age 14, and Alex, age 12, from Wauwatosa, WI, who traveled with their family as part of the Romanian TIES program in 2007.
Trail of Clues
"I already..." "I already..." I already what? This seemingly benign phrase turned out to be the first indicator that our daughter, Jessica, had a language-based learning disorder.
Two Mothers
Two mothers, one planet, and one beautiful child - deeply loved by both mothers. I am an adoptive mother, my new Chinese friend, a foster mother.
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