JEAN TELLS ABOUT HER ADOPTED CHILDREN

Marilyn read me an article off her computer a few weeks ago telling about Foster Homes.  How children go from one house to another with only a bag of used clothes and maybe shoes.  Shoes that are worn and torn.  Also, someone requested that maybe for the new people, I tell how we obtained our adopted children.

Susan and David are our natural born children.  After them, I had to have a serious operation and thought that we would not have any more children.  Little did I know what would be provided.

David Sr. and I decided to become Foster Parents.  At first, we had several children that came for short stays, then either went back to their parents, family or other Foster Homes.

Michael was the first to come and stay.  His parents had been sentenced to jail for a long time and he was to stay to finish out the school year as he was going to public school at that time.  Like, in the article Marilyn read to me, he came with a bag of little clothing.  David and I took him into town and got him some new clothes and shoes.  He finished the school year and was sent to another Foster Home for the summer, but he wanted to come back to our office.  We wanted him back.  Susan was so thrilled to have an older brother.  To make a long story short, he did come back.  His parents gave permission for adoption and we adopted him.

Second was Edward.  Edward lived with his Grandmother.  Both his parents were gone - his Mother deceased and his father's whereabouts is unknown or if he is even alive.  Edward's Grandmother had cancer for a long time.  One night Edward called Michael and explained that his Grandmother was being taken to the hospital and the Police were there to take him to a Foster Home.  He wanted to know what a Foster Home was like.  Michael asked us if we were prejudice against blacks.  We said of course not.  The color of a person's skin does not matter.  So he explained to us Edward's situation.  David got on the phone and talked Edward into giving the phone to the Policeman.  David explained that we were a Foster Home and that Edward and Michael knew each other.  If it was all right with the police officer, we would like to take him into our Foster Home until his Grandmother could take him.  We were given permission.  David went to get him.  Edward's Grandmother gave us custody at her own will.  Edward has been with us ever since.  His Grandmother passed, he became a member of our family so we adopted him.

Katie was our third to adopt.  Her parents had been killed in an automobile accident - Katie had been in a children's seat in the back of the car during the accident.  Another Old Order Mennonite Foster Home had been called.  The lady there knew how bad we wanted another girl and when she saw Katie knew she belonged us to us.  The only family Katie has are her Great-grandparents and they are unable to care for her do to age and health.  At that time we were moving from our old farm to our new.  David was at one house and at the other.  When we got together, we got a driver and went to the hospital to meet Katie.  We knew as soon as we saw her, she was for us.  They kept her at the hospital for a couple of extra days so we could get moved into our current farm and we took her home.  Her Great-grandparents bought her clothes from her former house, which she had lots of fine purchased clothes, shoes, etc.  Great-grandparents weren't too sure they wanted her living with us taking her from cars to horse and buggy, no television, wearing our style clothes, our religious beliefs and more. It took a while, but we worked most things out.  We still have a few problems sometimes, but we were allowed to adopt Katie, which we did.  Susan was so happy that she now has a little sister.

Thomas is our most recent (we are running out of bedrooms).  He has spent most of his life in Foster Homes going from one to another.  Along his way he was never adopted.  It seemed when someone was about to - something happened.  Like one Foster Family were but the husband got ill and all the Foster children had to go to different homes.  Another family were going to, but got transfered out of state before they could and more.  The last Foster Family did not work out - not on his part.  I think they were just to young and just starting with a teenager was difficult with them.  We brought him into our home.  Another person that came with only a bag of worn clothes and shoes.  David and I took him down to the store and got him new clothes.  Since then, Susan and I have also made clothes for him.  He came with an Old Order Mennonite background.  He said he got it from being in so many Mennonite Foster Homes.  We are so glad he comes knowing the Lord.  He immediately fitted into our family although he is insecure that this is his home and he is not going to another one even though we asked him if he wanted to be adopted.  Of course you know, we are adopting him and he will become an official member of our family.

David said to make sure I have all of the children we adopted on here.  We don't want to leave anyone out.  We say, we aren't adopting anymore, but we really never know who God will send to our door.  Susan and Katie still want another sister to even up the score.

I hope I am not boring you telling about our children.

Be With God,
Jean