The Adventure Begins.

To understand this picture you need to understand where this all started. I was in the 3rd grade when my parents announced they were expecting another baby. This would be baby number 11! It was amazing, the thought of having another sweet spirit from heaven join our family.

Sarah Jane was her name. She entered the world during my sister Lisa's 6th birthday party. What a whirlwind of the day that was! Sarah was born with Trisomy 18, an almost-always fatal condition that affects most vital organs. She lived for only 24 days before going back to live with our Heavenly Father. Sweet Sarah Jane would be 13 years old if she was still with us. 

Some years went by before my parents started speaking of adoption. Now, I was in seventh grade. I came home on Halloween to find my father and mother sitting at the computer writing a letter. At the time I didn't know that what they were doing was going to change our lives forever… for the better.

The following February Joseph William Evans was born and adopted into our family. A year and a half later Grace Kimberly Evans was born and joined our family. The next February Emmalee Iris Evans was born. The following November Isaac Matthew Evans was born. Jacob Daniel Evans was born a year and a half later in April.

From anyone’s point of view there were a lot of kids in my family. I was almost embarrassed to tell people because they would be so shocked and start asking the craziest questions about the family. 

I started to pray that I would except the life I had been given. It did not take a lot to fall completely in love with my own family. I started to understand Heavenly Father’s plan for my family, and why we were dealt the cards we had been dealt. Coming to grips with all of the craziness and the large size of my family was difficult at first, but the truth is, I wouldn't want to change anything about my life.

A year and a half ago my family was given the chance to adopt again. One night after dropping my brother off at late-night baseball, my mom and I where headed home. My mom made a comment that caught me so off guard that I burst into tears. I didn’t see that coming at all. At the time I thought that the family was complete. But who am I to say what is complete and what isn’t. I have come to realize that God’s plan is always better. 

I couldn’t be happier with the choice of my parents to adopt those six little babies into our family. I love each and everyone of them. 

I am excited to share stories about my family and how it works being 1 of 17 and I hope you all enjoy reading it.

Please, if you have questions or comments, feel free to share! 

xoxo

Stacey