Thirty-four Kids and Counting?

Some people think the Palin family is big, but we’ve got nothing on these guys!

Jeane and Paul Briggs have 34 children. That’s right, 34! And they say they’re not done yet.

I know what you’re thinking — that’s not possible…

But it is, if you adopt 29 of them!

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and today is National Adoption Day… a perfect day to tell you about this amazing family.

Jeane says she’s always wanted lots of kids, either biological or adopted. She and Paul had 5 children biologically, then tried foster care but didn’t like the system. In 1985 they heard about their first adoptive son — a 2-year-old boy in a Mexican orphanage named Abraham. He was blind and had brain damage from being beaten, but they loved him from the first time they saw him.

The Briggs have adopted kids from multiple countries on just about every continent. This is what I think is really cool about them — they specifically look for kids who are older or have special needs.

Some of the children were born with a cleft lip and needed surgery.  One child had a hole in the heart, others have had polio or cancer. They come with autism, learning disabilities and attachment issues — but every one is welcomed. The most recent boy they’re adopting from Ghana has no hands or feet. These kids are the ones who most need the Briggs’ love. Jeane said, “We have seen what change in their life we can make.”

It costs a thousand dollars a month to feed everyone. Good thing Mr. Briggs has a great job that helps employees who adopt and offers good health insurance.  They live in a 5000-square-foot house with 9 bedrooms, and say there’s room for a few more.

(Pretty soon they’ll be on The Dr. Oz show, so you can see them there.)

Most of us can’t do what this family has done.  However, their story is pretty inspirational.

A whole lot more people could do more than think they can.

When you think about growing your family, think about adoption.

And Happy Adoption Day!

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