December 2003 first year that Gary and Patrick were able to have a “normal” Christmas with their children.

There was wrapping paper all over the house. “The way things should look,” Patrick says. “The sad thing is this will probably be the last year that all of them believe in Santa Claus.”

Although their children are getting to the age where they want to be with their friends more, the couple finds time to cook with them and host birthday parties with the children’s friends and families.

Gary says that his daughter has become “daddy’s little girl.”

“It can get to a point when I am furious at her. But all she has to do is smile and say ‘Daddy,’” he says.

Sometimes the comfort of hearing a term of endearment is enough to let the couples know that the hard work is worth it.

“Still whenever they say ‘Mommy’ it’s like, ‘Wow,’” Margaret says. “It still melts my heart. Before I put them to bed I still give them their tickles.”

With any couple who adopts children, there is a period of adjustment. Despite this, Margaret and Melanie have found the time to be an active family. The children are all involved in sports, and on rainy days the family will stay inside to play board games and Uno.

“There was a big adjustment for them to move from city life to country life. Robbie has become a big country boy,” Melanie says. “We have ponds, and he is there catching frogs. It’s hard to keep shoes on him.”

“We’d do it all over again,” Margaret says.

“No regrets,” Melanie adds.

“Only joy,” Margaret says.

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