Pat and Kari

Newlyweds Pat and Kari dreamed of a large family, of providing a home to children who needed the love, structure and nurturing they looked forward to providing.

So less than two months after tying the knot, Pat and Kari began their adoption journey with CHS, eager to grow their family.

“We went into it very open-minded,” Pat says. Though they were interested in both foster care and adoption, they did have one stipulation.

“We always wanted a sibling group,” Kari says.

A week after completing training to become foster and adoptive parents, they received a call: three siblings – Jessica, Jacob and Luke – needed a family.

Pat and Kari welcomed them with open arms. But, even as the children received the attention, nurturing and acceptance they’d never before known, there was still an adjustment period.

“They didn’t trust us when they came,” Kari explains. “Why should they? They’d been let down so many times before.”

“They were starved for love,” Pat adds.

But with consistency, structure, and a lot of love and follow-through, Pat and Kari earned their children’s trust and demonstrated the unconditional love of a family.

Since then, Pat and Kari have brought 17-year-old Elijah and 5-year-old twins Isabelle and Isaac into their forever family, too – all six of their children are also biological siblings, as Pat and Kari feel strongly about keeping them all together. And, just recently, their biological brother Matthew joined the family through adoption.

In their home, hugs and “I love you” are shared often, weekly family game nights bring laughter and togetherness, and family time at the beach and sporting events keeps their bonds strong.

“It’s been fun the whole way,” Pat says.

He and Kari also hope their experience encourages others to consider adoption. They’re not sure they’re quite done yet, either – both still have a lot of love to give and are open to the possibility of adopting again.
“We have such great kids,” Kari says. “For what they’ve been through and where they’ve come from, they have the biggest hearts of anyone I know. They care about everyone.”