01/29/2025
Back in 2008, I made one of the most life-changing decisions of my life—I adopted two kids from the foster care system. When Amber and Joe first came to live with me, they carried the scars of unimaginable trauma. Social workers, doctors, and even special education professionals were quick to set low expectations for their futures. One teacher even went so far as to call the adoption agency, warning them that my hopes and expectations for these kids were “too high” and "unrealistic." She actually referred to them as “feral children” and doubted they could ever truly thrive.
I refused to believe that. All I wanted was for my kids to grow into the amazing humans I knew they were capable of being—to live to their fullest potential, whatever that might look like. But the challenges felt insurmountable at times. I was told they’d never speak in full sentences anyone could understand, that Amber would always walk with a limp, and that Joe would never have the coordination or balance to run, let alone participate in sports.
The guardian ad litem, who had seen 25 years’ worth of heartbreak, confided in me that this was the second worst abuse case she had ever worked on. She said my kids were "without hope." Hearing that was gut-wrenching, but it only strengthened my resolve. We poured our energy into them—therapy, special education programs, physical rehabilitation, endless encouragement—and I prayed harder than I ever had before.
And now? The transformation has been nothing short of a miracle. Amber, my determined and creative girl, is in her second year of culinary school. Watching her find joy and purpose in her work has been one of the greatest rewards of my life.
And Joe? Oh, Joe. He spent the last month making his case to my husband and me about joining the high school track team. At first, I was hesitant. With his history of balance issues and physical challenges, I worried about the emotional toll if he struggled to keep up. But Joe wasn’t interested in the “Special Olympics track,” as incredible as that is. He wanted to run with the regular high school team. “I just want to feel normal, even for a moment,” he told me.
So, we let him try. And this is Joe, running home from track practice, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Prove them wrong, go faster Joe!" Tears streamed down my face as I watched him, because in that moment, all the doubts, all the hardships, and all the judgments from people who said my kids wouldn’t amount to anything melted away.
Joe proved them wrong. Amber proved them wrong. And most importantly, they proved to themselves what they’re capable of when they don’t let challenges define them.
Life will always come with obstacles, but every single day, you have a choice: let them win or rise above them. My kids are living proof that with love, determination, and belief, *anything* is possible.
❤️
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 ~
