Pam Parish

Approximately 250 Georgia children with special needs (which includes, by definition, any child over the age of 5) are available at any given time to be adopted. Unfortunately, most of these children are raised in temporary foster homes, where on the average of every eighteen months they are moved to a new home and given a new set of parents. These moves entail entering a new physical environment and forming new relationships, as well as severing existing ties.

The toll on the individual lives of the children who are raised this way is great. In addition to being subject to constant changes and disruptions, these children also are being deprived of the opportunity to invest in the formation of stable and lasting relationships which are essential to emotional security and healthy, productive development. Besides the emotional trauma caused the child, the cost to the taxpayer of raising a child in foster care is about $8900 per year. Furthermore, the fact that the adult prisons and mental hospitals are filled with people who, as children, did not have stable, nurturing homes indicates that, both to the individual and to society, the long term cost for unadopted children can be staggering.

~ Quote from the Georgia Photolisting of Available Children website

When you read something like that, it’s hard not to react. But, I have to admit, when we set out to adopt our youngest daughter, Heather, we honestly had no idea about the staggering statistics related to state Foster Care and its lasting impact on the lives of these children. We simply knew that we wanted a second child and, after researching, found that our Foster Care system was full of precious children in need of forever families. It was a no-brainer for us, we wanted a second child and there were hundreds who needed families. The hard part for us was picking just one! Most of you who’ve read my blog know that we did, ultimately, choose just one -Heather- and we’re so very blessed to have this precious child in our lives.

We’ve learned a lot in the process, but the most important thing that we’ve learned is that Love Never Fails. The transformation that we’ve seen in Heather’s life - in every area - has been amazing. She has truly blossomed. Opening our hearts and walking in love with this beautiful young lady has been one of the most rewarding things we’ve ever experienced.

There are hundreds more, like Heather, in the system; caught up in continual transition, endless broken bonds, severed relationships and countless caregivers. It’s difficult to look away, especially when you can do something about it. For us, it’s not about helping poor helpless orphans, or just being “good people” - it’s about family. It’s about forever. To quote my husband, “Raising a child for a few years is a small sacrifice for the lifetime reward of another family member, forever.” Family is forever and in family, love never fails.

We’re Doing It Again!

Recently, I learned of a beautiful 15 year old girl in a bad placement situation from our caseworker. After realizing that this child was going to have to be moved back into the system, Steve & I were instantly in agreement; we wanted to adopt her. We recognize that, at 15, it would be difficult to find a permanent placement that would give her the time to really bond in a family environment. Having become familiar with her situation, we also recognize that this is a child in need of love - pure and simple.

We are so very excited to welcome Kelsey into our family and home. She will be moving in with us this Thursday night and will immediately become the oldest of the Parish girls. Kristan and Heather are both completely excited and can’t wait to welcome their new sister.

Here’s the first picture we have of her (she’s the tall one, the other is her caseworker, Brandis):

We take our roles as parents very seriously and know that it’s our primary responsibility to ensure that our girls grow up to be responsible and beneficial members of society, that they walk in love and compassion for all people and that they value others more highly than themselves.

We are completely blown away that God would give us the opportunity to parent again and we can’t wait until our oldest daughter, Kelsey, becomes a forever fixture within our family. Family is forever and in family, love never fails.

In awe of God’s goodness,