The Changing Face of our family
Our family had so many different feels and looks, each time it changed, we mourned the loss of the our family and as we experienced the new one, took photos and used the photos to try to get used to that new family. As Bev, the best adoption trainer and worker taught, it was the balancing act of a mobile, swinging in the breeze, with a new character added or subtracted, which put us all off balance: everyone had to shift places in the organization of the family to make it regain balance again.
In1973 we started like this:
A baby makes three:
Cassy and Tommy move in:
Jason moves in:
Susan and Joey move in, and then out:
Joey(6)Susan(8) Jason (10) Cassy(13) Tommy(15) Annalisa(17)
When we could not arrive at balance with the two last children, we let them go to separate foster homes to be adopted. It took over a year for us to mourn their loss in our family. In some ways we never found peace letting them leave, but had to for their best interests. We then found two more siblings to adopt.
After their adoption we were in contact with their older brother, and for a time believed we would also adopt him. It did not turn out that way.
Patrick moves in, then moves on:
The older brother ended up in residential treatment, and then in another foster home. He did not remain in our home. We searched for some more children as our eldest moved out. We fostered a little girl. This is our family in 1999.
Jason goes into the Army. Aaron went into residential treatment.
Our 4 year old foster girl moves out, and we have big family changes, as Jim and I separate.
Jeremy moves out.
In the divorce, two families form: Jim with visits to the children, and a single Mom living in a new house with Brian, John and Weslee. Brian Moves out.
I meet a little girl who needs a family. As a single Mom I adopt Brianna, age 9.
In1973 we started like this:
 |
| Annalisa Age 3 |
A baby makes three:
Cassy and Tommy move in:
 |
| Annalisa(10) Tommy(6) Cassy (4) |
Jason moves in:
 |
| Annalisa(15) Cassy(10) Tommy(12) Jason(7) |
Susan and Joey move in, and then out:
When we could not arrive at balance with the two last children, we let them go to separate foster homes to be adopted. It took over a year for us to mourn their loss in our family. In some ways we never found peace letting them leave, but had to for their best interests. We then found two more siblings to adopt.
 |
| Jeremy(7) Aaron(6) |
Patrick moves in, then moves on:
 |
| Aaron(8)Annalisa(20) Tommy(18) Cassy(16) Patrick(13) Jason(14) Jeremy(10) in the photo with Mom, Dad and Grandma Vera |
The older brother ended up in residential treatment, and then in another foster home. He did not remain in our home. We searched for some more children as our eldest moved out. We fostered a little girl. This is our family in 1999.
 |
| Brian(9)Jim, Br'Nyka(4)Me, John(6),Weslee(6months),Jason(17), Jeremy(13) |
Jason goes into the Army. Aaron went into residential treatment.
Our 4 year old foster girl moves out, and we have big family changes, as Jim and I separate.
Jeremy moves out.
In the divorce, two families form: Jim with visits to the children, and a single Mom living in a new house with Brian, John and Weslee. Brian Moves out.
I meet a little girl who needs a family. As a single Mom I adopt Brianna, age 9.
 |
| Now the family looks like this! |
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