From the co-authors of “The Promise”

"originally appeared in the Winter 2014 issue of the NACAC adopt talk magazine."

Christen:

After having two biological sons my husband and I decided to adopt in order to expand our family, and in 2010 we welcomed a sibling set of four—three girls and a boy, ages 3, 5, 7 and 9—into our lives and hearts. Despite knowing families often faced challenges in the early stages of placement, I was unprepared for the reality of what would occur—that it would be the greatest challenge of my life, and that it would kick my feet out from underneath me. I felt as though I was drowning in trauma and a safe shore was too distant. All six of my children, both biological and adopted, were drowning with too. I couldn’t even save myself, let alone everyone else.