A Gift From God.

Born to a young couple unaware of what life had in store for them.

Parental rights surrendered, placed in foster care, awaiting a sibling’s birth.

The search for a family who would provide a home for her and her newborn brother ensued.

Finally, on February 13, 1953, the day arrived when the door to the foster care home was closed behind her for the last time. That was the day she said goodbye to her brother, then 7 months old.

Let's back up and begin again ...

Born a coal miner's daughter ... and, no, we're not talking about Loretta Lynn, although their beginnings may have been quite similar. The teenage mother was in love with a man who was married to someone else. But, don't think for a minute that this love-child was a mistake ... God had a plan for little Mary Louise Dugger-Stockwell born in a small room above the General Store in a coal mining town deep in a West Virginia mountain holler.

On February 13, 1953, a 21-month old feisty little girl entered the hearts and home of John and Mildred Bosch. The adoption became final a year later, legally changing Mary Louise's name to Janet Lynn Bosch, hoping to forever erase from history any ties to her biological family. No longer a coal miner's daughter. No longer an orphan. No longer pitied. Adopted by loving parents who raised her to love and honor God through this journey called life.

Over the years, I have experienced the many faces of the adoption journey, which I share openly for the benefit of others considering adoption. For instance:

I was adopted as a child.

I grew up with adopted friends and families who were involved in the adoption community.

My parents adopted another child, Danny, who became my non-biological brother.

After years of childlessness and unexpectedly becoming parents of 3 small children, my husband, Ron, and I adopted 2 pre-teen siblings with special needs. About a year later, we adopted a teenage boy with special needs.

Unfortunately, when a 4th child was placed with our family, the placement failed (the young teen had multiple physical and emotional problems, which didn’t fit well with the other six children).

Because our adopted children were considered special needs, we had ongoing experiences with social services, the foster care system, children’s homes, and adoption advocacy groups. I often spoke to prospective adoptive parents, sharing the challenges of adopting older and special needs children.

As an adult, I searched for and was reunited with my biological mother and half-siblings and worked through some difficult and unexpected emotional challenges.

Once our adopted children were older, they were reunited with their biological families. I openly share the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all from the perspective of both an adoptee and an adoptive parent.

I put on my detective hat and searched for and was reunited with my full biological brother, from whom I was separated when placed for adoption decades earlier. He was adopted by a family and raised about 20 miles away from me; he led a very troubled life; and finally ...  

After years and years of searching for any information, I finally located my biological father's family. I learned more of the story, solving the final mystery that had gone unanswered for more than 60 years. With the exception of one half-sister, just a few months my senior, a face-to-face reunion with my paternal half-siblings has not happened, which is sad. I know it's in God's hands.

Of course, there's much more to the adoption story. I have written fiction and non-fiction stories and testimonies unveiling the heart of adoption through many experiences as both an adoptee and an adoptive parent. Some of the stories can be found below, as I experienced a myriad of miracles, heartaches, victories, and failures related to adoption. It is from my experience that I can candidly share with prospective adoptive parents about the challenges they will likely face as they enter into this unique relationship with a child desperate for their love but hesitant to trust them.

I want every adoptive parent (including those in the beginning stages of considering adoption) to understand that the adoption experience was birthed in the heart of God long before anyone ever reached out to love a parentless child as their own. As Christians, we are adopted into the family of God through our relationship with Jesus Christ, and it is faith in Him that enabled us to embrace our children, both biological and adopted, with equal measures of love, mercy, and compassion.

To learn more, please leave a message. I'll be thrilled to open my heart to share the realistic expectations and challenges that go along with adoption.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."

The following are a few true stories and fiction, at least touching on the beauty of adoption as well as the challenges it can bring to a family. The first story is from my autobiography. I'll warn you, it's long and probably a little snarky in spots.