A Penny Saved

In a previous post I mentioned that my family had some big bills coming. I also mentioned that we have approximately $14,000 in a Home Equity Loan. Both of these are connected to the biggest investment of our life.

For over 14 years, our family consisted of my wife and I. Then a friend of ours told us about a grandmother who was looking for a home for her precious granddaughter. The friend put us in touch with her, and soon (within a week!) we had a little 14 month old little girl. Immediately we started the adoption process. Twenty one months later, this same grandmother called us and asked if we wanted the little girl’s two younger sisters. We said yes, and with one day’s notice we went from one to three children! A three year old, a two year old, and a one year old! All the girls have the same mother, but different fathers. Two of the three girls are finally adopted, and we are soon close to completing the final adoption. It has taken over five years, but the adoption journey is almost complete. But with this journey comes legal fees, state fees, etc. Over $14,000. That is where the Home Equity Loan comes in. And that is where the next big expense will come in. We are anticipating another $2,000 in legal fees before the last adoption is complete.

These three little girls didn’t have the best start in life. The oldest girl was taken away from the mother at birth because the mother was doing drugs in the hospital. The other two were dropped off at our house in the middle of the night because this same birth mother was on the run from the law (she is now in jail for armed robbery). The two younger girls came to us with one shoe, ragged clothes, and fleas. Their diet had consisted of cheerios. They were left alone for hours at a time in a crib while the mother did drugs, alcohol, prostitution.

I don’t like going into debt (other than for a house); but to give three little girls a better chance in life, $14,000 has been a very good investment. Besides, it has turned our house into a wonderful home.

Blogging will be light from me until after Thanksgiving. Have a great holiday. I know I will - I’ll be spending time with three precious little girls.