Chris Lange, FISM News
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Four siblings have been given the priceless gift of a forever family this Christmas, thanks to one caring Tennessee couple.
Diego and Lisa Parra of Springfield were awaiting the arrival of a sibling group whom they agreed to foster when they were asked to temporarily open their home to a different set of siblings – two girls and two boys ranging in age from 6 to 17.
“When they first came to live with us, they were temporary,” explained Lisa Parra. “We had made an obligation for another sibling group, so they were going to be with us for three weeks.”
Despite knowing that the situation was temporary, Lisa and Diego grew extremely attached to the children. As the three-week period neared its end, things took an unexpected turn when the Parras received news that the sibling group they were originally expecting had been placed in the custody of their grandmother. The couple, who already have six children, immediately filed paperwork to adopt the 6, 10, 14 and 17-year-old siblings. Today the Parra family has grown from eight to twelve just in time for the holidays.
Fourteen-year-old Kristina Parra is grateful to finally have a permanent family and overjoyed that she and her siblings will now be able to stay together.
“[Separation] was a fear because I remember [the Department of Children’s Services] telling us that they’ve called a lot of homes and they can’t get us together. And they’ll try one more place, and if they didn’t want to take us all, then we would be split apart,” she said. “It was scary because you’ve lived your whole life with them, and then you would have been split apart.”
Twelve-year-old Devin agrees. “If we split up, that would’ve been different. It would’ve changed our lives,” he said.
Lisa said the transition from fostering to adoption was a smooth experience and worth all of the paperwork and court proceedings. “They’re part of our family. And I think people expressed to us what a big deal that was or what a sacrifice that was, and we didn’t look at it like that,” she said.
According to data from the Administration for Children and Families, 117,000 U.S. children are currently in the foster care system hoping to find their forever families.
While Lisa acknowledges that foster care and adoption can be a “rollercoaster” ride fraught with uncertainty, she says the setbacks and sacrifices are worth it. “A lot of people are – I think are in fear of, ‘Oh, I can’t get attached, I can’t get attached and then give them back.’ Do you know? What would happen if I got attached, and I would have to give them back? That’s the whole part of the process. It is. You take on the burden of their sadness, the things they go through…[i]t is not for the weak-hearted, it is difficult, but it is so fulfilling.”
In this season of hope, as Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the Savior through whom they have been permanently grafted into the family of God, Kristina Parra describes what it feels like to be adopted.
“They wanted us. They made us feel loved even when we came here not knowing us. They didn’t know our story, but they still felt for us and just loved us even when they didn’t even know us,” she said, adding, “It’s good knowing that you’re going to be here for the holidays and know where you’re going to be for the future.”