National Adoption Day is about family ties

A single Chewelah woman adopted six boys on Friday, a challenge not to be undertaken lightly.

“It means everything to me to keep these boys together so they can grow up together and not have to bear the burden of their parents at this time,” said an emotional Wendy Phillips, 56.

Her 9-year-old adopted son added, “This is a good day.”

Twenty-five foster care children officially joined families they’d already been with for much of their lives on Friday. The court proceedings marked Washington’s 10th annual celebration of National Adoption Day. Spokane County Superior Court hosted a celebration for foster parents, newly adopted children, social workers, child advocates, friends and family who were there.

“For anyone to take on one of our kids is a challenge,” said Katie Paull, a Department of Social and Health Services social worker assigned to Phillips’ case. “But to take on six is amazing. It’s the perfect craziness for her.”

Phillips saw firsthand the effect on a child when he’s shifted from foster home to foster home, after adopting a boy decades ago. He struggled through life, and continues to face challenges, she said.

“So, when he got a woman pregnant I was worried because she was using drugs and he was getting in trouble and wouldn’t be able to support the woman,” Phillips said.

Phillips took the woman in and helped stabilize her. The woman brought four children with her, all boys. About 15 months after Phillips’ grandson was born, the woman started using drugs again and left. All five boys stayed with Phillips.

Just before her grandson entered kindergarten, his mother reappeared and took all the boys. Meanwhile, she had another child, also a boy.

“About a year later, CPS took all her boys away,” Phillips said. “I said I wanted them and they gave them to me.”

The boys range in age from 1 to 15.

“I strongly believe in keeping the siblings together,” said Phillips. “It’s a lot, but it’s worth it. There’s no comparison to a child that is bonded and knows they are loved to one that has been in the system and feels lost.”

She added, “It would be worth it until my dying breath.”

Her grandson gave the adoption two thumbs up. When attorney Mark Iverson asked him what it meant to be adopted, the now 7-year-old said: “She’s our mother forever, and we’re her kids forever.”

The goal of National Adoption Day is to raise awareness among potential adoptive parents about the many foster children who are available for adoption, said Lorrie Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Barry family joined in Friday’s celebration in Spokane County, a second adoption for the foster parents.

“The twins are numbers 25 and 26 foster children,” said Amy Barry, as she pointed to Keegan and Angelina, both 6.

Barry and her husband picked up the kids when they were 2-year-olds from Sally’s House, a Salvation Army facility that cares for children removed from homes.

“It was supposed to be a three-month thing, then a six-month thing, and then they just became part of our family,” she said.