Adoption, a rare story

Did you see this? The family adopted a 22-year old young man; yes, there are some red flags in this story for me and perhaps for you.

When I called Billy to ask him to be our son — he was stationed in North Carolina then — my words tumbled out so fast I’m amazed he understood me. I told him how much we loved him and that we wanted him to know he was part of our family.

“You don’t have to answer right now, ” I said. And very softly, he near whispered, “I don’t need to think about it. I’d like that very much. ” We all call February 11 “Yes Day. ”

Billy: That phone call was a total shock — the greatest thing that had ever happened to me. For maybe the first time in my whole life, I felt truly loved.

Charee: Three months later, just before Mother’s Day, 2010, we officially became a family of five. You’d never know Billy wasn’t an original cast member. He’s laid-back, sarcastic, and rolls with the punches, just like us. And the adoption has taught our girls the real meaning of family: It’s built on love and experience, not DNA.