When you look up the word “adopt” in the dictionary, you find this:

Adopt—legally take another’s child and bring it up as one’s own.

Yes, the technical definition is important, but to adopt a child means so much more. It takes a very special kind of person to willingly take in a child or multiple children as their own.

Taking them in knowing that one day you may have to sit that child down and tell them that though they are apart of you and you love them unconditionally, they’re not biologically yours.

Not to mention the mental stability it takes to make sure that the child or children are not negatively affected by this throughout any point in their life. If the child already knows their circumstances, it could be even more difficult. Though it’s challenging, there are people in this world who like to look a challenge in the face, smile, and say “bring it on.”

Fortunately, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing two women who did just that and continue to do that each and every day. Skylar and Lynleigh Maddox graciously opened up their home in July of 2016 to two precious babies.

The baby girl was three and her little brother of two. I asked Lynleigh what it was that made her want to open up their home, and she said, “I’ve always wanted to help out and foster kids who had nowhere to go.”

Fostering/ adoption is such a selfless thing to do, but anyone can do it. Anyone can take in a child, but it takes an exceptional kind of person to truly love the child as their own.

Kinleigh and Brody Maddox were happily adopted on October 11, 2017, after 601 days in the foster care system. Those kids really hit the jackpot, but so did their mommies. I watched their story unfold, and their beautiful family grows. I am forever inspired, and so grateful to have people as wonderful as the Maddox family in my life.