Emily is a lady I met one day who touched my heart and moved me. She came in to do laundry and saw my kids. My kids are always eager to talk and meet new people. She told them that she should bring her little girl in to play with them. My kids energetically agreed.
A few minutes later, she came back with her daughter. The pretty little girl had red hair and a cute little red, white, and blue outfit on. She was adorable. (We will call her Kay.) She was five years old, just a few weeks older than Leah.
As her mother and I introduced ourselves and talked over folded laundry she began to tell me a small part of her story. Emily and her husband had three boys. And as she put it, they did not know they could make girls. So, when God put it on their hearts to adopt, they were happy to welcome Kay as part of the family. But what warmed my heart even more was that Kay had down syndrome. And so did the two other children they had adopted.
They also had adopted one of her older brothers who was ten now. Tim came in just for a minute to introduce himself but, wanted to get back to his show. And, once she woke up from her nap, Amy was brought in to meet us. Leah was delighted to be allowed to hold the little 12 month old baby girl.
Emily told us how happy she was to have her seven children. She shared some of their adoption stories with me. With Amy’s adoptions she had an open adoption. Some of the family’s her children came from were actually bigger family’s who were still wanting more children but felt that a child with Down’s syndrome would not be a good fit for them. Or, that they would not be able to give the care needed for a child with Down’s. As mixed as my emotions were on hearing this she proceeded to tell me her feelings.
“I am just glad they did not abort.” Was what she said. To that I can agree wholeheartedly. She told me that her little Amy’s birth mother was called every week asking her if she had changed her mind and wanted to abort. To this I shake my head in disgust! How can that even be allowed? If a hospital did that through one of my pregnancies I may have filed harassment!
She still stays in contact with the birth mother and she is again pregnant with a little girl. This one does not have Down’s syndrome.
To commend Emily even more, I should tell you that her children are in excellent hands. Kay sat in my lap for most of our time together and talked to me. She spoke and communicated so clearly! She played so well with my kids. They played tag, restaurant, and with stuffed animals. It was hard to tell she had Down’s sometimes. Also, Emily home schooled all of her children. She was quite proud that Tim could read. I am proud for both of them.
I did not have the pleasure of meeting the rest of the family. They were hiking with their father, Allen. He had taken them to the Channel Islands. Allen loves our national park system and hopes to visit all of them over time. They travel every summer as a family.
Emily kept the two little girls home to do laundry.Tim had wanted to ride the boat but not go hiking. She told me that all of their children had the same rules. So, if Tim had gone he I would have had to hike just like the other kids. So he stayed home. I would have loved to have met all of them. She had told me that her other children want her to adopt another brother now. That way they will have the same about of boys as girls.
I hope our paths cross again some day. They could have more children then because they are open to adopting another baby with special needs. They don’t feel confidant that they would be chosen. Nonetheless, they are open with loving arms.
They left camp before I thought to go back and ask for her email or contact info but am happy that I met Emily.
I changed the names of the people in this story for their privacy.
Trails of Ever After 