Many view November through the lens of the major holidays surrounding it - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the myriad of holidays in December. What many don’t know, however, is that November is National Adoption Month, a holiday President Bill Clinton designated in 1995.
There are two types of adoption: domestic and international. Both are rather self explanatory: domestic adoption is when a couple adopts within their own country, while international adoption is when a couple adopts within a different country.
Senior Maggie Vantrease was adopted from Xi’an, China by her parents Anita and Mike Vantrease when she was 18 months. Her siblings: Pan (3rd grader), Jacob (Sophomore), and Faith (senior) were also adopted from China. The Vantrease family is because of adoption.
“My family comes from a line of adoption. My grandfather on my mom's side rode the orphan train, then my mom was adopted, and then came her heart for adoption to adopt five children from China,” said Maggie.
Maggie says she is overwhelmed that one decision changed her life forever in many ways.
“Adoption has given me more opportunities that I would've ever had in China… I live humbled knowing that in 2001, in just one decision, my life could have been completely different than it is now.” said Maggie.
Maggie was born with a medical facial abnormality. When she went back to China in 2015 she said it furthered her thinking about how blessed she is.
“I got to see a glimpse of life there, and it was heartbreaking to see the homeless people, the beggars being intentionally ignored, and to be a female who had a ‘disability’ I know if I grew up in China, I wouldn't have gotten the medical attention I needed.”
Maggie identifies as Christian and attends church regularly. She says that the reality of God is revealed to her through adoption.
“God is a holy father who pays close attention to the orphaned and the widowed. We are all orphans, unclaimed children, until we accept Jesus’ love, aka being saved. When we’re saved we become part of his kingdom, we become his children. We are loved by him, and cared for by him,” said Maggie.
Adoption has touched and changed thousands of lives and the Vantreases are just some of the lives touched. Sophomore Barbara Solber-Hale was adopted by her parents Rob Hale and Erica Solberg-Hale on May 30, 2003. Although there are still many hopeful children that await their forever family rather here, China, or anywhere else in the world, there are approximately 135,000 adoptions within and from the United States per year. The Vantrease family story shows that adoption stands as an option and continues to change lives forever.
There are two types of adoption: domestic and international. Both are rather self explanatory: domestic adoption is when a couple adopts within their own country, while international adoption is when a couple adopts within a different country.
Senior Maggie Vantrease was adopted from Xi’an, China by her parents Anita and Mike Vantrease when she was 18 months. Her siblings: Pan (3rd grader), Jacob (Sophomore), and Faith (senior) were also adopted from China. The Vantrease family is because of adoption.
“My family comes from a line of adoption. My grandfather on my mom's side rode the orphan train, then my mom was adopted, and then came her heart for adoption to adopt five children from China,” said Maggie.
Maggie says she is overwhelmed that one decision changed her life forever in many ways.
“Adoption has given me more opportunities that I would've ever had in China… I live humbled knowing that in 2001, in just one decision, my life could have been completely different than it is now.” said Maggie.
Maggie was born with a medical facial abnormality. When she went back to China in 2015 she said it furthered her thinking about how blessed she is.
“I got to see a glimpse of life there, and it was heartbreaking to see the homeless people, the beggars being intentionally ignored, and to be a female who had a ‘disability’ I know if I grew up in China, I wouldn't have gotten the medical attention I needed.”
Maggie identifies as Christian and attends church regularly. She says that the reality of God is revealed to her through adoption.
“God is a holy father who pays close attention to the orphaned and the widowed. We are all orphans, unclaimed children, until we accept Jesus’ love, aka being saved. When we’re saved we become part of his kingdom, we become his children. We are loved by him, and cared for by him,” said Maggie.
Adoption has touched and changed thousands of lives and the Vantreases are just some of the lives touched. Sophomore Barbara Solber-Hale was adopted by her parents Rob Hale and Erica Solberg-Hale on May 30, 2003. Although there are still many hopeful children that await their forever family rather here, China, or anywhere else in the world, there are approximately 135,000 adoptions within and from the United States per year. The Vantrease family story shows that adoption stands as an option and continues to change lives forever.
By Anna Bryson