We were well into parenting our three adopted children. Pretty much settled into normal family life. When out of the blue one day we received a call from the Agency we had adopted through.

The worker asked us if we would be interested in another sibling from the sibling unit we now were raising. At first we almost said no. It had taken us three years to get the kids settled. How would another sibling effect our kids now?

We agreed to come in and talk to the worker. I called my husband and had him meet me at the agency after he got off work. I scurried around and got a sitter for my other three munchkin and I too headed off to the agency.

Some how my husband had got there before me so when I walked in, There he was with the most beautiful new born baby in his arms. The smile on his face told me nothing on earth would talk him out of bringing her home.

I was a little afraid. Timid to hold her. I didn't want to fall in love with her and let her into my soul just to have her ripped out of my arms and put into another foster home or to return to a relative or to the birth father. I knew there was not much of a chance that the birth mom would be allowed to every keep a child in our state. Her drug history and neglect history was enough to make the state monitor her.

This baby looked like it had be sent to us from heaven. She had dark eyes and dark hair and light skin. Even her facial features looked like my husband.

It didn't take long before we were on our way rushing to get an infant car seat. Excited was the very least of how we were both feeling.

There she was in a quilted blanket that some sweet person had hand made. With a little pink dress on.
That was all she came with and all we needed.

When we brought her home all of our family and neighbors where waiting for our arrival. This was the answer to our dreams. Every knew that infertility had taken it's toll on us and that the dream of a new born was something we had though would never happen.

So we just put our time and energies into our older children. We loved them just as much and maybe more at that point than any new born.

It was not long before the kids were huddled around us and begging to hold her. She was so tiny just a little above six pounds and twenty-one inches long.
My oldest daughter took her into her arms and she whispered to me "mommy she is an angel."

That is when we decided as a family we would name her "Angela." If in fact we ever had the chance to adopt her.

That night as we laid down to sleep it was Blissful.
Beside us sat our bassinet with a gorgeous baby girl in it. She came straight from the hospital to us. We were mezmorized.

Just a few months past and we heard that someone in the birth fathers family was trying to adopt Angela.
We were very sad. She was such a perfect addition to our family. The kids treated her as if she was our new baby doll. They would snuggle and love her and even change pee pee diapers.

They helped me make bottles and give her baths. Dress her and feed her. I fell deeper in love with my kids each day because this baby belonged to them.
They were apart of her and she was a very special part of them.

We didn't tell the kids that someone was looking into adopting the baby. We simply prayed a lot.
By this time I was in so deep that loosing this baby was going to rip my heart out. As well as our kids lives too.

The agency called one day and asked if we were interested in making Angela a permanent part of our family. Of course I must have screamed YES I was so elated.

Four weeks later we sat as a family in the Judges Chambers and Angela Paige became a new member of the family. As soon as the judge signed the papers Angela let out a wonderful giggle. To that the Judge said, "Oh please let me hold the little lady."
He placed her back into our arms and said her name including our last name and congratulated us as a family unit.

We all were elated and we went out as a complete family unit for a nice diner. As a celebration of the Love and Graciousness God had shed on us to be the parents of four wonderful children.

Yes, we had all phases of childhood going at once.
Our daughter was a teen, our son a preteen and April was in grade school. Of course Angela was in diapers. It was the most awesome time of my life.

We know now what the greatest gift on earth is.
Beyond a doubt it is a Child. An inheritance from the Lord.