It’s really all Janet Jackson’s fault… this whole adoption thing. I was nine years old when she made her debut on the TV series “Good Times.” She played Penny, a little girl who was being abused by her mother. When she revealed the iron burns on her back, the television audience gasped and my life changed instantly.

It was then that I knew I had to help the “Penny’s” of the world, children that were in need of happy and loving homes, irrespective of the reasons. Since that time, it was clear to me that I would not be completely content until I included adoption in my life. Thank God my husband, Robert, was a willing participant and along for the ride. We are finally ready to help a “Penny” in this world find her way home. We know that our lives will never be the same and, for that, we are grateful.

Here we are during a rare moment – we are both showered, shaven, and alone without children! (Notice the big smiles!! Notice the dazed look in our eyes!!)

Seven years ago, we started parenting with a bang – TWIN BOYS! We were certainly knocked off of our feet. All the parenting books advised the key to success with twins is to set them on the same schedules for feeding and sleeping. That tip sounded great! Unfortunately for us, the boys did not read those parenting books and did not turn out to be willing players. It was then that our journey into parenthood began and life was never the same again. We were humbled into learning that we were no longer in control of our lives. We learned to “surrender to parenthood” (invaluable advice from the Breaux’s, our friends and parenting mentors) and that is what has kept us sane.

Walker and Murphy are now 7 years old and are a blast. They are in second grade, attending school in Corpus Christi, and they love it (most days). They are both involved with piano and art lessons. Walker is now taking sailing lessons while Murphy tests his skills at soccer. When they “grow up,” Murphy wants to be a rock star and Walker wants to open his own zoo and make a new kind of food for the animals. That is why we decided to go ahead and spend their college funds now! Ha.

Here’s the crew at Disney World enjoying Christmastime with Goofy!...

We are all so excited about this new addition to our family. Walker even has his earplugs ready and a detailed evacuation route to escape from Lola’s crying as quickly as possible... (The Wonder Man can do anything!) Murphy has been incessantly practicing “baby talk” so that he can communicate with his new sister. The “baby talk” is at such a pitch that we are considering an “international exchange program” with him. Ha.