Meet the Morgan Family!
Our adoption story began 15 years ago with the phone call we had been anxiously awaiting for nine months. A baby girl had been born and her birth family had chosen us to be her parents! Now 15, charismatic Avery is the best big sister anyone could ask for. She has welcomed younger siblings with open arms and showers them with love.
Less than two years later, Alex joined our family, also through private infant adoption. Now 13, Alex has a kind heart and is always watchful and protective of his younger siblings..
For several years we thought our family was complete. But slowly we began to feel that someone was missing. We decided to work with a private infant adoption agency a third time, but we also started feeling that God was nudging us toward foster care. We decided to do both! We fell in love with all of the children we fostered. Some we knew would be returning home and some would move on to live with family members permanently.
One day we got a call about a baby boy whose birth family had chosen us. We adopted Calvin through private infant adoption. Now 3, Calvin loves attending preschool and spending time outside on our farm.
Four months after Calvin was born, we were asked to foster Colton, a 2-day-old baby boy. We welcomed Colton and walked with him on his foster care journey. Colton was unable to reunify with this birth family and after 20 months in foster care we adopted him. He is also 3 years old and thriving. He loves helping Dad and Grandpa on the farm and figuring out how toys work. Just four months apart in age, Colton and Calvin have a very close twin-like bond.
Fifteen months later another newborn, Ollie, came to us in foster care. He was also unable to reunify with his birth family, and we recently adopted him. Nearing his second birthday in December, Ollie is the biggest bundle of energy we have ever seen! He runs wherever. Ollie’s contagious smile lights up every room he enters.
Foster care has been a roller coaster for us. The struggles with the system are real. It is heartbreaking at times how slowly things move, creating a long period of unknown for these children.
The adoption parts of our story have been relatively easy. What has been difficult is the inequality we have faced because of growing our family through adoption. For instance, many employers do not give parental leave for adoptions that is equal to maternity leave. Therefore any time off work to bond with a child was unpaid. We would encourage our government to fight for equal rights and benefits for adoptive families.
We are now officially a family of seven. We are continuing to foster and don’t know if we will be a family of seven forever or if we will adopt again. What we do know is that every child who has joined our family has needed us, but we also needed them. We are so thankful for adoption and the beautiful children it has given us!
