Moses Lake families chose adoption
Richard and Lisa Boorman were among five families finalizing adoptions at the Grant County Courthouse with Judge John Antosz. Antosz is holding the Boormans' son, Benjamin, 1.
Samantha Bradley, of Moses Lake, holds her son, Nathanael, 2, during his adoption at the Grant County Courthouse.
MOSES LAKE - Lisa Boorman describes the adoptions of her son Benjamin, 1, and daughter, Gianna, 2, as "amazing experiences."
Lisa Boorman, and her husband, Richard Boorman, of Moses Lake, recently finalized the adoption of Benjamin during an Adoption Day event at the Grant County Courthouse.
Benjamin's adoption was among five adoptions that took place at the courthouse.
Gianna had already gone through the adoption process.
The Boormans cared for both children since birth, taking on the role as their parents.
"I know it's not an easy path," Lisa Boorman said. "No matter if it's an easy path or a hard path, it's worth it completely."
They have four biological children, but always knew they would adopt.
The couple was going to adopt children from China and changed their route after finding out there were children here needing families.
Another factor was the long waiting list for Chinese children, she recalled.
The family already knew the benefits of adoption, as Lisa Boorman's husband and father-in-law were both adopted.
"The Boorman name would have died out," she said. "Now there are Boormans everywhere."
The couple is about to adopt a third child.
Samantha Bradley, of Moses Lake, was another foster parent who finalized her son's adoption at the same event.
She's cared for her son, Nathanael, now 2, since he was four months old. He joins another sibling, a 4-year-old boy.
She called Nathan's adoption a "finalization" of what she's been working toward for two years.
"It's bittersweet for his biological family, but I'm just so thankful to have him as part of our family," Bradley said.
Bradley is an activities director for the Monroe House in Moses Lake and a pastor for New Heights Fellowship. Bradley's sister lives with her and helps with the children. Other family members assist as well.
"I just decided I wanted to be a foster parent and invited the children into my home and became so attached," Bradley said. "I wanted to make them part of my family."
Mike McAtee, adoption specialist with the state Department of Social and Health Services, commended the Moses Lake Noon Rotary Club for sponsoring the event.
"They have also dedicated themselves to helping us here in Children and Family Services continue to make this event grow," he stated.
Next year, they hope to hold the event at a church or a school on a Saturday.
"Our plan (with the help of Rotary) is to make this an even bigger event and continue our efforts to promote adoptions throughout our area," he commented.After the adoptions, Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz stressed the need for more adoptive families because of the many children waiting for parents in foster care.
State foster home licensor Joy McClendon was another speaker and "did a great job of honoring the families and the journey they have been on," McAtee explained.
He credited members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin and Chief Moses Middle School students for creating pictures for the event.
For more information about foster parent orientations in Moses Lake, call McClendon at 509-764-5683.
For more information about foster parenting, visit fpas.org, www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/ or call 1-888-KIDS-414.