A little more than four years ago, my wife and I received custody of her six-week-old baby niece—our daughter—after she was put in a dangerous situation by her grandmother. At the same time, we also took in my wife’s adult special needs sister. Since then, our family has grown even more: we’ve welcomed my wife’s nephew and another niece, who are now our son and youngest daughter. All three children are half-siblings, and we’ve done everything we can to keep them together and safe.

The last four years have been a whirlwind of love, challenges, and constant change. When we first became guardians, it was just the two of us in a small two-bedroom trailer. As our family grew, we moved to a three-bedroom home, and then again to an even larger place to fit everyone. We finally found a house that felt perfect for our family, with enough space for everyone and room to grow. We hoped to stay there for years while saving for the children’s adoptions and, one day, a down payment on a forever home. But life had other plans—our landlords decided to sell, and we had to move again, using up the savings we’d worked so hard to build.

We have spoken to attorneys and know the adoption process will require significant legal fees for each child. Our only goal is to make our family official and give our children the security of sharing our last name. Any funds donated will go directly toward adoption fees and legal costs. We will continue saving for a home ourselves, but we need help to make these adoptions possible. Your support means the world to us as we work to give our children the loving, stable future they deserve.