Cade and I were married in '98, and in 2001 our firstborn joined our family. Over the next 5 years, we were blessed with three more children. By 2008, we were almost certain that our family was complete. Little did we know, that we were only half way done!
In 2009, after many pleas to both our Heavenly Father, as well as the State of Utah, our two nieces and our nephew were removed from the custody of their parents, whom struggled with drug addiction. For a short time the children were placed in the care of unrelated Foster parents, and then with my husbands parents. When trying to decide on more permanent placement, the children were eventually placed with my sister-in-law, her husband and her two boys. Little did my sister-in-law know, but she would soon become pregnant, and her body doesn't handle pregnancies well. After eight months of the kids living with her, she had to resign herself to the fact that her and her husband couldn't do it anymore. This is when our lives changed.
In May of 2010, Cade and I were contacted by the Department of Child & Family Services as a possible placement for the kids. Cade and I had discussed taking the kids before, but prior to DCFS contacting us, we hadn't actually been forced to realize the ways that this would impact our lives. I will admit, the night I was contacted, I was scared. The amount of emotions rolling through my mind were incomprehensible. I laid down in bed for the night, and immediately felt the need to pray. I got on my knees, and poured my soul out to The Lord, and within mere seconds, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that these blessed children were to be a part of our family. I have never in my life known such peace.
I now had my answer, but I wanted Cade to come up with his own answer. I asked him to please pray and ponder on the matter. I had talked to other people, in similar situations, and they had warned me of the stress that Foster parenting would have on our marriage, and our family relationships. I wanted Cade to have a personal conviction that our nieces and nephew were to be a part of our family. Cade also got immediate confirmation that these children were to be a part of our lives.
The same week that we told DCFS that we would gladly accept the children as our own, we found out that we were pregnant!
Over the next seven months, we, along with the State of Utah, fought to keep the children out of their parents custody. In December of 2010, when the State was petitioning for both the biological mother and father to have their parental rights revoked, the parents relented, and we were granted permanent guardianship of the children.
They have no contact with their mother, and haven't seen her since May of last year. They have limited contact with their father. Unfortunately, neither of the parents show the ambition to regain the custody of their children. Upon the parents granting us guardianship, we consented to give them one year to get their lives together, and if they didn't we planned to adopt the children. That time is now at hand.
We have now been blessed to have the children be a part of our immediate family for two years. It is our greatest desire to give these children the loving, stable family and home that they deserve. They have been through more than any children should ever have to go through. They have been moved from place to place, home to home, family to family. We don't want them to ever be displaced again. We want them to become a permanent part of
our family.
A forever family.
We are currently in the process of securing an attorney in order that we might start adoption proceedings. We have procured a lawyer that has consented to a minimal fee (HA!-as far as attorney fees are concerned, that is!). Unfortunately, we are a family of ten, living on a meager income that Cade provides for us. If you are interested in assisting us in making our family a forever family, we would be ever so grateful (Please note the paypal donation button at the bottom of this blog).
Thank you for visiting our blog, and I hope you continue to follow us on our journey to completing the Campbell Clan!
