Adding 5... to ANOTHER Family?

Ah... adoption. 

We've been through it twice before. We've had two home studies.

Today, we worked with our social worker on this current home study and the question came up: who will take care of our 5 children if we die?

My parents, of course. They are in our wills and listed on our previous home studies.

"How old are they?" she asked us.

68 and 69

Her facial reaction felt like I had given a terrible answer. She asked us if we thought that was old. I hadn't really thought about it. Sure, if we're just talking about LuLu, that might sound crazy. "Yes, I'd like my 70 year old parents to take care of my daughter, who just turned 4." My parents are healthy enough, but would they still be around when she graduated high school? Sunshine only has 6 more years until she's 18. Of course, we could imagine her stepping up and caring for her 4 siblings with our life insurance money. 

When thinking about this, there is NO GOOD SCENARIO. The only favorable solution is for us to not die, right?

Nope, we had to find someone to want to take in 5 kids... 3 of whom speak no English. Easy, right? 

I called a friend of mine, to talk about other things, and the subject came up. She said she wouldn't mind having my kids. She wasn't saying she'd take them, but she was very kind about my kids.

Then I thought of someone... some sweet friends of ours who know our 2 boys and love them, to the moon and back. They are so excellent with kids! I called her, and she didn't answer. I texted. I'm sure a question like that should have been planned over an afternoon tea, with proper manners. I didn't have that kind of time.  I didn't need it. She immediately said yes.

I told the previous friend, and she said she was glad we found someone because she had planned to talk to her husband about being their guardian tonight.

We are surrounded by such love and generosity. Who would take in someone's 5 kids, 3 of whom are orphans, from a faraway land, who were found on the streets? Our incredible friends would -- that's who. 

My parents would, of course... and told me they couldn't imagine the kids not being left to them if we perish. They don't agree that they are too old.

Ah... adoption. Biological kids can be left with whomever... even grandparents; but adopted kids need to have 30-40 year olds or they might not be given to you.

That's okay. We have both. And our 5 kids have love, love, love.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 (Even though I put this verse a couple posts ago, it is very important to me. I love that my friends live it out.)