The McDaniel Family

Fostering for us ALL BEGAN at Christmas. When we went through the MAPP training, I was just dying to have new kids for Christmas! We got our first placement in 1999, two weeks before Christmas and its all history from there. My parents own a Christmas tree farm so as one of those creative healing things for the kids I let each child have a Christmas tree in their room and pick their own theme. It starts on Thanksgiving Day as the whole family goes to my parents farm and we cut trees, drag them to the baler and get them loaded on trucks for all the customers and ourselves. Just the smell on our hands and working hand in hand with the family that you love starts out Christmas for us. The tree tradition started out small but after 9 years you can see anywhere between 10-15 trees in our house.

The next morning all the teenage girls and moms head out to go door-busting (shopping for deals) about 4am. Door-busting was the most hilarious experience the first time we took the teenagers because they informed us that "Surely NO ONE would be up that early" and then they were greeted by policemen guarding the doors to keep all the thousands of people from trampling over one another. Some years we don't buy that much but the shopping trip together as an extended family marks the Holidays and we all look forward to it for months!

The kids’ godmother and I spend the entire day before Christmas Eve with all the kids around the table making homemade sugar cookies and Christmas goodies. We then put those into tins and boxes and drive the kids around to deliver them to all the neighbors’ doors on Christmas Eve night. It’s so rewarding to watch kids who never were given anything to have big smiles on little rosy cold faces as, sometimes for the first time, they learn the joy of giving.

The holidays to me are one of the most memorable and favorite times of the year. I love the look on their little faces as they begin to experience our love for them through giving and receiving gifts. The fun in spoiling them a little when they for sure never got that is soooo much fun and SO rewarding!

• Covington and Allen Family
• Sharper Family
• Appleby Family
•  
• More Family Stories

If you have a foster or adoption story to share, please email it to family@adoptuskids.org. We will review your story and contact you if we have questions and would like to share your story on the website. Please include your first and last name, phone number and best time to reach you.

AdoptUsKids is dedicated to increasing the public awareness of foster care and adoption. As a “real” adoptive or foster family, you are an important part of our national media outreach. If you are asked to participate in an interview, please don't be intimidated; sharing your story can make such a difference! We have developed the Media Guide for Families (PDF 1.6 MB/21 pages) to assist you. It provides tips and facts about AdoptUsKids. Thanks for your willingness to help!