Adopting a child from Africa has always been a part of my heart. As a child growing up in Ohio, our home was always full of international students from the university. We were always these students home away from home. Mpika, my African brother, lived with my family for years. In fact, my parents just returned from Swaziland where they were the honorary American parents at Mpikas wedding. Mpika calls my folks "mum and dad" and thus we became American and African siblings. The wedding was a beautiful occasion and my parents were thrilled to be a part of such a momentous event in Mpika's life. My parents have always been a shining example of opening your hearts and home to those who need you. Early on that seed was planted and I believe it began to blossom as a desire to adopt from the continent of Africa. I can never thank my parents enough for showing us how much richer your lives can be when you live them with a generous spirit and a caring heart.
My husband, Shawn, has known as long as he has known me (and that is over half of my life!) that adoption was something I wanted to do. So, when I came to him to discuss the possibility of adding another child to our famliy it was no big surprise to him. He is such a wonderful man that he has supported my longing to adopt from its infancy and he has jumped through every hoop that has been set before us in this journey without question. When it came to talking to our four biological daughters about the possiblity of bringing another child into our home, I wasn't sure how they would react. Our three older girls (Anna, Emme, and Kate) were excited about the idea of having another sister. They seemed to grasp the concept of an Ethiopian child needing the love and family that we could provide and the idea that we could give this child a home excited them. While they really wanted a "baby", the girls understood our passion for wanting to adopt an older child and were looking forward to bringing another girl into the Geary sisterhood. Margo, our youngest (3 years at the time), had only one question for us....would this sister play Poly Pockets with her? Once it was determined that she would Margo said "let's do it!". This was just the beginning of our two year adoption journey. That second chapter of our story will begin in October when we travel to EThiopia for our first trip to meet our fifth daughter!!!!
