Meet the Neidlinger Family!
Back Row: Angeline, Alana, Jackson, Jesse, Aliyah, Jennifer
Front row: Rebecca and Lanaysha.
Missing from the photo are the two eldest, Amanda and Christopher.
“Adoption at first was kind of scary to have to live with people you don't really know. It gets easier with time.” - Aliyah
Jerry and Julie Neidlinger were looking for ways to expand their family when they initially learned of the need for foster parents in their area. They started the foster care licensing process with their local agency and inquiring about children available for adoption online at the same time. Now, Jerry and Julie are the parents of multiple children making up a perfect rainbow family. Their two eldest are now adults, and their children range in ages from 36 years of age down to 10 years of age, with the youngest foster child aged 6.
Jackson and Jesse were both adopted privately in 2002. Alana and Aliyah were adopted in 2011. Alana has lived with the Neidlingers since she first came into foster care at three years of age. Aliyah was also in foster care with the Neidlingers prior to her adoption being finalized and then in November 2020 the Neidlingers added yet another young lady to their family, Lanyahsa Love Neidlinger, aged 10, became a permanent addition through adoption. In addition, the Neidlingers have guardianship of three more girls and have recently started fostering a sibling group of three. All of the children have bright, beautiful personalities. They love to play together, and their parents say they get along “like a house on fire!” They love a variety of things collectively, including: swimming, playing outside, riding bikes, Legos, computer games, and church activities.
Knowing the pain and trauma associated with the separation of sibling groups, the Neidlingers initially set out with hopes of adopting siblings. Although, they have yet to adopt any sibling groups, they have been able to provide their children the opportunity to maintain contact with their birth families. Being parents has brought so much joy to Jerry and Julie who say they feel blessed in the way their family has evolved into one big loving family.
All parents can attest to the cost of raising children, but raising half a dozen at one time can be quite expensive. Thankfully, the Neidlingers have been able to utilize the Adoption Tax Credit to supplement some of the expenses associated with adoption, including traveling and accommodations for pre-adoption visitations.
The Neidlingers want Members of Congress and others to know that while the adoption journey can be a long emotional roller coaster ride with its share of highs and lows, they remain thankful for all of the people in North Dakota who went out their way to make sure their adoption was a success.
When the Neidlingers were preparing for the birth of their granddaughter in Australia, social services worked together to help the family get passports for their daughters so they could travel to Australia with their parents. Jerry and Julie say they can’t speak highly enough about everyone involved throughout the foster care/adoption process.
Alana and Aliyah shared their thoughts on what it means to be adopted. Alana says, being adopted means a lot to her, but most importantly it means having a forever family and a “mum and dad”. For Aliyah, adoption means losing a family but gaining another. Adoption can bring many emotions for all involved in the process; the Neidlingers are committed to working through their feelings together, as “one big loving family”.
The Neidlingers are now excitedly helping make wedding plans for their son Jackson who is 19 and getting married this August when they will welcome Kalli into their family.
