Pam und Gary Willis aus Kalifornien haben fünf wundervolle Kinder großgezogen. Als sie aufwuchsen und das Elternhaus verließen, wurde das Haus still und leer, aber sehr bald wurde es wieder mit klangvollen Kinderstimmen gefüllt.

Im Januar 2019 stöberte Pam im Feed des sozialen Netzwerks und stieß auf eine traurige Geschichte darüber, wie sieben Geschwister aus San Diego Eltern bei einem Autounfall verloren haben.

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A few of my favorite humans in their new, super soft Ts from @panda.ldn 💙 Today we have a family birthday party to go to. The kids spent the morning making homemade cards. 🥰 I have to admit that my heart swells every time I see how much love they have for all of their aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. To think that a year and a half ago they didn't know any of this new family of theirs, but today, they carefully draw pictures of their uncle playing with them or holding their hand - all from recent memory. ✨ We are so blessed to have a huge extended family that have all just embraced these kiddos like they've been with us forever 💛 . . . . #bigfamilylife #bigfamilylove #siblinggoals #siblinglove #adoptionrocks #adoptionislove #mykidscomefirst #bestofmom #scarymommy #mombloglove #shallweplaytoday #kidsclothing #teammotherly #sevenkids #mybabiesforever

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Die Waisenkinder suchten nach einem neuen Zuhause, aber mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit mussten sie getrennt werden - schließlich war Chancen dafür, dass eine Familie sieben Kinder gleichzeitig aufnehmen wird, sehr gering. Glücklicherweise war auch ihr Ehemann Gary von der Geschichte bewegt. Das Paar entschied, dass sie diesen Jungs eine Chance für ein gutes Leben geben wird.

„Ich habe gesehen, wie dringend diese Kinder jemanden brauchten, weil niemand mehr übrig war“, erinnert sich Pam. „Ich habe jede Woche angefangen, den Vormundschaftsdienst anzurufen, um zu zeigen, wie sehr ich ihnen helfen möchte“.

Im Juni letzten Jahres haben Pam und Gary das Gewünschte erreicht - der 15-jährige Adelino, der 13-jährige Ruby, die 8-jährige Alicia, der 7-jährige Anthony, die 6-jährige Aubriella, der 5-jährige Leo und der 4-jährige Xander sind bei ihnen eingezogen. Es war nicht leicht für die Kinder, sich an ihr neues Leben zu gewöhnen, aber sie mochten sofort das Zuhause und die neue Familie.

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When I look at this picture from adoption day 7 weeks ago, I think of these kids walking away from their old, difficult life & walking into my life. * They've had it so hard. When I think about it, tears run down my cheeks. No child should have to endure what they did. They watched their parents die ( thankfully some don't remember the accident) or they woke up in a hospital & their parents were just gone. They were alone and scared with no family members to take care of them (the only family they have is a half sister in her 20's who lives in a different state & was expecting a baby when all of this happened). They had just endured a move from their state of Nevada, to being homeless in a park in San Diego, to moving to a tent city, to watching their parents sink deep into drug abuse once they got into an apartment.....  all. of. the. things.     All of the things that go with that.... neglect, physical abuse, malnutrition, domestic violence.... sadness. Lots & lots of sadness, trauma, & anxiety. . . I'm grateful that the youngest five have little memory of that previous life (although the 6, 7 & 8 year old are the ones who remember the actual car accident). I'm heart broken for the things they do remember that were hard and traumatic. I'm heartbroken for the scars they carry. But I'm also hopeful. There is always hope & growth & healing in love. . . The growth I've seen already is incredible. Anyone can see it in their eyes. If you look at the pictures of them I posted in the first few weeks of my blog last year, it is almost palpable.  I am so blessed to be a part of this growth!   I am so blessed to be a part of this love! . I've had so many people ask me about adoption in this week. . Don't worry that your single, or your house isn't big enough, or whether you're good enough to do it.... I promise you, you're better than what they are being removed from. . If you have a heart for adopting from the foster system, ask me about how to get started. . Don't question. Don't wait. Just do. ❤ . . . #fostertoadopt #gettooattached #adoptionjourney #adoptionrocks #adoptionislove #traumarecovery #childhoodtrauma

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Das Paar versuchte, zum Leben der Kinder mit gemeinsamen Spaziergängen, Picknicks und Ausflügen Abwechslung zu bringen. Pam und Gary versuchten nicht, Eltern für die Kinder zu ersetzen - sie gaben ihnen nur ihre Liebe. Nach dem Jahr des Zusammenlebens gelang es den Adoptiveltern, den Kindern wirklich näher zu kommen und ihnen neue angenehme Erinnerungen zu schaffen.

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I have this thing about nutrition... 🍩 . Whenever I have taken foster children into my home, I've felt an immense pressure to give them the best possible foods during the time they are with me. I've always looked at it as possibly their only opportunity in life to get good solid nutrition and brain/body growth. 🥦🍅🍗🍓🍒🍎🥑🥩🥬 . I've watched, even my new seven, go from pale skin and thin stringy hair, to nice, rosy cheeks, thick full hair and, healthy body physiques.❤ . I'm a nutrition nazi of sorts, but when you take a kiddo through the bank drive through and they ask if they're getting fries... or when FedEx comes and gives you a package and the child yells "pizza!"... it just makes you feel like you've gotta feed them well! 🍕🍔🍫🍭🧁🍪🍿 . Why the donuts today then? 🍩 Cause I have to loosen up now. I've got these guys forever!  They eat mounds of broccoli, carrots and spinach now (well, all except for the teenagers who choke a few bites down here and there to oblige me) 🙃 . These five littles are the best fruit and veggie eaters I've ever had ❤ So sometimes, I just gotta give 'em a fat, gooey donut and let 'em enjoy! 🍩 . Balance.... . Donuts and balance! 🍩🙃❤🤷🏼‍♀️ . . . . #fostercarejourney #fostertoadopt #gettooattached #secondchanceseven #adoptionjourney #adoptionrocks #raisingseven #adoptionislove #fostermomlife #fosteryourheartout #liveintentionally #wearethevillage #bigfamily #bigfamilylove #bigfam #nutrition #healthyfoods #donuts #donut

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Besonders wichtig war der Tag, an dem sie offiziell eine Familie wurden. Um dieses Ereignis zu feiern, kamen die erwachsenen Kinder von Pam und Gary, die ihre Eltern bei ihrer Entscheidung unterstützten und schnell eine gemeinsame Sprache mit ihren neuen Brüdern und Schwestern fanden.

Natürlich kommt es im Leben einer Familie zu Streitigkeiten und Problemen, aber die Eltern verzagen nicht.

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My kids are kinda mean to each other sometimes..... . It's an interesting predicament to be in, to adopt siblings who have an established rapport with one another, and to try to teach them a different, maybe "better", more kind way to relate to one another. Especially the teen and pre teen... ay, yay, yay! . Old habits die hard, and I can't say that my bio children were especially kind to one another either, but something made me want to work on some kindness within the home for these guys. . A few weeks back I saw the cutest idea here on Instagram.  The Gnome In Your Home! @heartleygnome  It comes with the sweetest book and also with some pre-printed cards with ideas to kind acts to perform. I fell in love with the thought of this and ordered one!  This is not a paid promotion, I honestly just think it's super cool and want to share!! . We had our Sunday church lesson on kindness. Now begins how we are going to use our Gnome In The Home:   . The first person who gets him has 3 days to perform and act of kindness for the next youngest sibling. Once the act is performed, we are to put the gnome on that person's bed with a note of what was done. That person then has 3 days to perform an act of kindness for the next youngest. How cool is this gonna be?!? . We'll change up the order of who we perform our kindness for as we go along, but my hope is that the kids will learn that kindness within the home is so important to the environment in which we all function each day. . I'll update you soon. Until then, give me some ideas for kindness acts that the "littles" can do for their younger sibs! . #fostercarejourney #fostertoadopt #gettooattached #secondchanceseven #adoptionjourney #adoptionrocks #raisingseven #adoptionislove #traumarecovery #childhoodtrauma #fosteryourheartout #liveintentionally #wearethevillage #bigfamily #bigfamilylove #bigfam #thegnomeinyourhome #bekind #kindnesdiscool #heartleyshelpers

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„Von dem Moment an, als ich die Kinder traf, zweifelte ich nicht mehr daran, dass ich alles richtig machte“, sagt Pam. „Ich sehe, wie glücklich sie sind, und das macht mich auch glücklich. Kürzlich sagte der älteste meiner neuen Söhne - Adelino - plötzlich zu mir: „Danke, dass Sie uns das Leben gegeben haben“. Und ich kann nicht beschreiben, wie ich mich in diesem Moment fühlte“.

Quelle: goodhouse

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