With three young adults and their raging hormones bouncing off the walls, it’s hard to believe we ever pleaded with God for a family. I remember praying, “Just one Lord, for starters. It’s been four years and we’re still not pregnant. We promise we’ll never miss church again.” Those days are gone.

Matt, our first born son arrived from Korea at the airport. Our daughter, Jessica, arrived two years later, also at the airport. And Jon, our third child arrived seven months after that at the hospital.   A week after Jess arrived Matt announced we could take her back to the airport. No wonder he was confused when visiting Jon at the hospital. When he’d had enough of him, he wasn’t sure where should he go – airport, hospital? Where do babies come from anyway?

In our family, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they’re here. The kids are now 24, 21, and 21, and the past 24 years have been a whirlwind of ups and downs –but mainly ups. We’ve been blessed with three children who all claim their individuality.

We wanted a family

I recall people speaking to my husband and me as though we’d done some great act of charity by adopting children from another country. They didn’t get it. We weren’t trying to save the world. I wish I could say we were. We had more selfish reasons in mind. We wanted a family.

Raising our children has often caused us to reflect upon which traits are biological and which are environmental. When Matt was diagnosed with the very same allergies as his Dad we couldn’t help but wonder.

Several years later, Jess, our other adopted child was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Not only does Dad have allergies, he’s a Type I Diabetic.  Jon, the biological one, has neither to this point. Go figure.  And that’s just the physical stuff. Can you imagine what happens when we get into the emotional packaging? A psychiatrist could have a field day with us.

Similar but individual

In our home we focus on the individuality of each child. All three learn differently, have different tastes in clothing, enjoy different sports, and hang out with their own friends. No cookie cutter kids here. However, they’ve been raised with the same morals and values. They attended the same church, school and youth fellowships. They’ve been raised in the same home, by the same parents, day in, and day out. We’ve taught them to treat others they way they like to be treated. We’ve listened, been patient, and gently guided them into being the best person each one is called to be. Isn’t that what any parent would do?

I’m convinced anyone would find the same in a family splattered with many differing birth parents. We are one family and we love one another beyond measure. We’ve been blessed with loving relationships and wouldn’t change it for the world.

God had different plans in store for us. While going through infertility we were clueless of His plans. Our hindsight is 20/20. A mix of adopted and birthed is the only thing this family knows.