A HUGE Thank You

So if you watch the video on the side about Lica and her "star Power", you will know how this chain of events happened. 20 years ago we found Vasilica (Lica) on a news story our local station did. Don Shelby and Bob Cowan, the photographer, who did the story have been following Lica's life and doing updates on her every 5 or so years. So when we heard Don was retiring we kind of figured he would want to meet with Lica one last time. Never did we imagine it would be one of his most memorable stories he has done over the last 30 some years! Well, after the story aired the questions and comments started coming. I'm not sure my coworkers knew I had one adopted child let alone 10! And I know they didn't know how Lica became our daughter. I'm a pretty private person and I hate attention. I LOVE the attention my kids get and adoption in general but Ken and I are not good at asking for anything or sharing our life story. So when Tina, my supervisor and Kim, a coworker and friend came to me and said that they along with others in the office saw Lica's story and so they wanted to do something for our family, I was hesitant. They wanted to adopt our family for Christmas this year! Not just my department but all the other departments in the building! The whole "Silverbell" group at Blue Cross!!! I immediately said no, why pick my family. Lets pick a family that is in need! Well coworkers kept wanting to do something for us and so Tina asked me again. I talked it over with Ken and the kids and my dad. My dads response was "Well for crying out loud, you have 15 kids, let them do something nice for you!!!" Okay dad, first, I don't have 15 kids and thanks for seeing my point of view! Love that guy!!!!!!!
So anyway, we thought it was a VERY, VERY nice thing to do. We could save the money we would have spent on gifts for the kids to go toward the adoptions we are in the process of. And also, the kids would have a blast. It's kind of funny and heartwarming looking through what the kids wrote down. Lica just wanted ONE blond hair extension and a Reece's peanut butter cup, King Size. Kaylee wanted small rubber bands to do Jerlin's and Dani's hair with and Charley just wanted a big car to push around. James wanted a dinosaur and the other kids really didn't care what they got. How did I get so lucky with such great kids!?!? How did I get so lucky to have such great coworkers to do this for us?!?!
So this holiday season my family has been "adopted" in sorts by a group of people that have been touched by 10 very special kiddos! THANK YOU!
And to the little girl in the video who has grown into an amazing young lady.......Oh the lives she has touched!!!!