Jenny and I met on St. Patrick's Day while we were both still in college. She was studying Textile Engineering and I was studying graduation. We both admit it wasn't the fairytale love at first sight, but there was definitely something between us. What started as a casual friendship grew into a profound love that saw us married at Christmas in 1990, while I was on active duty in The Marines.
It was a great life; travel, excitement, adventure. I had an important job and we had built an amazing life together. We lived in amazing places like Virginia, Texas and Hawaii and met some of the greatest people in the world. But, after 10 years, with 2 kids and counting, we decided it was time to leave America's warfighting to the next generation of Marines. We chose to stay in Cincinnati, our last duty station, because it's a great place to raise children. It's safe, attractive, Godly, modestly cosmopolitan, and very conservative. That suited us perfectly. I took a position with a start-up company nearby, and our family continued to grow.....and grow.
Today, we have four beautiful children who range in age from 10 to 16; grades 5 through 11. Jenny manages gymnastics programs for the YMCA and works out like a champ every day. I'm a Vice President at a technology/media start-up and in my second term as the elected President of the Board (the equivalent of mayor) in our 35,000 person town. Our kids participate in scouting, gymnastics, dance, chorus, orchestra, and like their momma, they're all very smart.
Our kids are growing up fast, and they're (like us) busy and involved in a ton of things. So, as of late, we've been trying hard to spend more quality time as a family. A couple months ago, we volunteered at a local charity that provides food for starving children. In the midst of a presentation about hunger and turmoil, the presenter shared that there are 143 million orphans throughout the world. He told us how there are another 40,000 orphaned almost every day, and that 10 million will die from preventable diseases before their 5th birthday. Then he asked a pointed question, "what will you do to help?"
I'd like to say I had an epiphany, but it was more like the kids did. I looked to my right to see all eight eyes of my children staring straight at me. Together they said, "Dad, can we help? Let's bring one of them to live with us." So, what do you say to a challenge like that. except "yes, we can." And so our adoption journey began. Follow us as we share the thrills and trials of adopting a child from across the world.
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