Our love story started in high school, during our sophomore year. We even went to driving school together. From early on, we talked about wanting a loud, chaotic house full of kids, barking dogs, and wild Christmas mornings. We both grew up in small families, each with divorced parents and just one sibling.
We were loved, but I remember feeling a little jealous of friends with big, busy households.
We got married after college Joe was finishing law school, and I was working as a high school teacher.
Once I finished my graduate degree and Joe began his career as a Corporate Litigation attorney, we started our family. Our first son was born, and twenty months later, our second arrived.
Life settled into a rhythm of work, daycare, brothers, and the happy chaos of suburban life surrounded by family and friends.
A few years later, we got the surprise of our lives, twins! No history of twins in our families, just a complete shock. Suddenly we had four kids, all under four, and our house was full. I left teaching because daycare costs for four kids would have exceeded my salary. I had never imagined staying home, but Joe’s career gave us the choice. I worried about losing my sense of self, but I also embraced the opportunity.
A few months later, Joe decided to have a procedure to prevent future pregnancies, but only if I promised we could adopt someday. At the time, I laughed it off, we weren’t ready for adoption. I was done raising babies.
In the summer of 2013, I started my own business. After 2.5 years at home, I wanted something for myself, grown-up interactions, structure, and purpose outside of motherhood. Joe supported me completely. That same summer, he pursued a new career opportunity, and we moved across the country to North Carolina. It was hard at first, new place, new community, missing family but eventually we settled in and built a life.
While on a business trip, we met Jason and Erica, founders of THE RAINING SEASON orphanage in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Joe instantly connected with Jason and their mission to help children. Our family sponsored children and made donations, but Joe was eager to get involved directly.
In January 2019, Joe traveled to Sierra Leone to visit the orphanage. He spent time with the children, played games, and mentored a boy named James. By his second trip in July 2019, he had developed a deep bond with James and his brother Abraham. He returned home convinced we were called to do more.
Joe suggested adopting the boys, and I thought he was crazy. Our family was already full. But after weeks of discussion, I agreed to meet them. In November 2019, I traveled to Sierra Leone and met Abraham first, arms wide and a bright smile on his face. I met James a little later, and their warmth and joy were absolutely magnetic.
I was overwhelmed with emotion and knew deep down that we could give them a home, but I needed time to process.
Over the following weeks, we talked through every concern, including our children’s questions. Trust became the foundation. We had to trust the boys, and they had to trust us. We gave James and Abraham a choice, they wanted to join our family. The process officially began around Thanksgiving 2019.
In January 2020, Joe and our two biological sons traveled to Sierra Leone to meet their new brothers for the first time.
Then the pandemic hit. The orphanage closed, travel was impossible, and paperwork stalled. It was frustrating, but we didn’t lose hope.
By October 2020, we were approved as the boys’ parents in Sierra Leone, and after months of appeals and paperwork, we finally got US approval in September 2021. The boys arrived in the US on November 5th, 2021, almost exactly two years after my first visit.
Life as a family of eight began. Every day has been filled with new experiences escalators, school, blankets, Chick-Fil-A. Celebrating birthdays has been emotional, especially seeing Abraham experience a birthday cake for the first time.
Our adoption wasn’t typical. We met the boys before deciding to adopt. But we focus on what we do know: the memories we are creating together and the love in our home. Challenges arise daily, but we face them as a family. James and Abraham have given us perspective, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of what family truly means. Recently, Abraham saw a family photo on the mantle and said, “It’s so cool to have a family.” That says it all. We are a family a very blessed one.
