Audrey Shook has always wanted to adopt a child from China. The couple got pregnant after marrying her high school sweetheart, so they put the project on hold. Audrey Shook chose to become a mother nine years later after seeing a program about orphanages in China. Anna she and her husband, Brent, met Lucy, a six year old girl, after they joined up for a hosting program and decided to adopt her permanently. Don’t miss out on this lovely heartwarming story.
Audrey saw a video about Chinese orphanages more than two decades ago. She married her high school love, Brent, when she was just 21 years old. Audrey said, I knew in my heart that one day I was going to be a family to one of those infants. Her preparations were quickly put on hold when she fell pregnant with the first of their five biological children. Audrey, Brent and their five children currently reside in Woodland, Texas.
Her biological children are 18, 1613, seven and five years old. They had considered adopting again between the birds of their third and fourth children. Audrey’s fourth pregnancy, however, put the idea on wait once more. Audrey, on the other hand, was adamant about her desire to adopt a child. Audrey and Brent’s wedding took place nine years ago.
Despite their efforts, they were yet to hear anything positive from the adoption agencies they had contacted, but unbeknownst to them, that was about to change very shortly. Audrey and Brent’s youngest child is now in preschool, so they decided that now is the perfect time to bring up the adoption plans. Once more.
They were contacted by email from the adoption agency Great Wall, China Adoption. As luck would have it, the company provided the couple with the opportunity to host children as foster parents for four weeks.
Audrey and Brendan had been in touch with the firm for a while, and the timing of this offer was ideal. Audrey would be put to the ultimate test if she were to temporarily host a child and see if she had what it required to adopt them into the family. This was also an excellent time for her to assess if her children were ready for the idea of an adopted sibling. The family gladly signed up for the program, but all changed when they saw a photo of their potential host child, Lucy. It was in our hearts that we couldn’t have her just here for a month and then send her back, especially with how we felt about her, says her husband.
She had down syndrome. They decided to adopt her as an official member of the family. It’s Finally Arrived Audrey arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on July 2015. Accompanied by family and friends. Audrey asked her children, beaming, Are you ready to finally meet Lucy?
They’d finally be able to pick up their newest member of the family and bring her home. Lucy was one of dozens of children with special needs that arrived at the airport, Audrey was overtaken with emotion the moment she saw her baby daughter. Oh my God, she exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears. There’s Lucy. She dashed over to her and greeted a little girl.
Audrey introduced herself by saying, My name is Mama, Mama, explained the girl right away. Children with unique challenges such as Lucy, have a harder time finding homes. But it was precisely for this reason that Audrey felt compelled to adopt her and love her even more. These are the unwanted children. They are the children that no one else wants.
They’ve spent their entire lives on waiting lists or in orphanages, Audrey explained. Audrey was initially concerned about how her five biological children would react to Lucy, and she wondered whether they’d get along. They welcomed the little girl into the family with open arms. Much to her astonishment, Maggie, Audrey’s youngest and the one Audrey was most concerned about, was overjoyed to have a baby sister. Fortunately, the sisters became fast friends.
They both adored the film Frozen and danced to its songs together. Audrey assured that the two become inseparable. Soon after, something clicked in their hearts. They’ll always be sisters, she exclaimed joyously. Lucy’s new neighbors were just as warm and welcoming to her as her new family.
Adoption of Chinese children is highly widespread in their community and the townhouse celebrations to bring them all together. Because Lucy was only speaking Mandarin when she arrived. This was a huge help to Audrey and Brent. While it’s vital to teach her English, her parents were also conscious of her heritage and desired to keep her connected to her roots and culture. There are a variety of ways we may ensure that our culture remains a part of her life, Lucy’s parents stated.
We want her to be part of her heritage. Audrey and Brent, as usual, relied on their contacts in China to recruit new members of their family and the adoption agency, Great Wall, China Adoption, came to their rescue not once, but twice. Let’s jump ahead a few years and meet the Shook family’s newest members, Henry and Eloise Mai, who were adopted from the same orphanage as Lucy. Audrey and Brent recounted how Henry had been discovered in the village market, which was unusual because most abandoned babies were girls. Henry’s eyesight impairment could be one of the reasons for this.
The villagers were terribly poor, yet they were also extremely warm, friendly, and kind to Audrey and her family. We went to a market near where Henry was discovered and asked to purchase him some suites to take back to him. They refused to accept any money. When we tried to pay, they were ecstatic that we were there, Audrey explained. The villagers informed the Shook family that if they ever find Henry’s birth parents, they’ll inform them that their boy is very happy and loved.
The Shook family traveled to China several times to meet a baby in an orphanage. During one of their visits, Eloise Shook, the family’s 8th child was born to this young girl. We had a hunch that wouldn’t be our last encounter with her. I’m overjoyed to inform you that this same baby girl, so small and deserving of her own family, will be joining our family and become a Shook, Audrey added. One might think that the family couldn’t get any bigger.
After eight children, however, life had other ideas. Audrey found out she was pregnant on their way home from adopting their newest daughter. The happy couple will have their 9th child by the end of the year. The Sharks were the first family to adopt and host children born on the other side of the world. Meet the Winds, a family who adopted Iris, a 17 year old girl from China, she was able to bring her host family closer to the Chinese community in the area.
Lucy wasn’t the only child with down syndrome to find a new home. Through an organization dedicated to providing temporary or permanent homes for children with special needs, Caroline, a small girl, has also found a loving home. So let’s learn more about her. Caroline’s prospective parents were motivated when they learned about Audrey Chuck’s tale and how they adopted Lucy. When they called the agency, they were told that Caroline, a little Chinese girl, was looking for a family.
Their fears about being able to adequately care for her were overshadowed by the immense love they felt when they first saw her. Despite the fact that the family first battled with the language barrier, they eventually overcame it with time. Caroline was a sweet and caring young lady who was always prepared to lend a hand in any way she could, even when it came to caring for her younger sister.
Meanwhile, Caroline’s family had devised a smart method of interacting with her, a combination of infant sign language and the usage of picture based communication boards. We were given such sound advice, such as manager expectations, which meant don’t have any.
That way, instead of being dissatisfied, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, her mother advised. When it comes to adopting Chinese children, one thing to keep in mind is that children under the age of 14 are no longer eligible for adoption. They can only be hosted as exchange students for a limited time. Despite this, many people go to considerable lengths to adopt an older child while they still have the opportunity. As was the situation with Lena.
Lina was adopted at the age of twelve. After previously being reared by a Chinese family, she rapidly adjusted to her new home and developed into a gifted young lady who excelled in both school and sports. Her ambitions included everything from becoming an English translator to serving as a missionary and volunteering in orphanages to working in a ballet company. And she had what it required to make all of them come true, plus more. Lena’s enthusiasm for dance has always been great, and she dabbled in everything from jazz to tap contemporary to funk, and her abilities were not overlooked.
She was chosen to be a member of a dance team, and now, at the age of almost 19, she’s been picked to perform in Wichita’s Nutcracker. I think her experience is important to share since I know many people who have struggled with older child adoption, we’re grateful for all the assistance we received a great wall as well as the fact that things have gone quite easily for us.
Lena’s adoptive mother stated her photo on the front page of her hometown newspaper. It’s safe to assume that this young prodigy Will continue to shine brightly in the future. Let us say a few words about the agency.
After reading these heartwarming adoption stories, Snow woo established what is now known as the great wall, China adoption agency in 1996. And this is the story of the first child adopted with their assistance, Samantha, a ten month old infant who was adopted 20 years ago, has lived to tell her story.
Samantha was chosen by a couple that was unable to have biological children. Unlike the prior instances in which the family wishing to adopt already had children, this couple hoped for a child and GWCA arrived just in time to provide their wish. They say the best presents are those that money can’t buy, and I’m finding how true that statement is every day, appreciate the individuals in your life who are honest, kind, and supporting, and who will always love you.