The Journey

Every minute of every day another child somewhere in foster care, lies sleeping, aching with a deep and searing hope to find their permanent home. Fraught with doubt and insecurity
these children often feel small in their existence; fragile and vulnerable on the large earth that they stand upon.  They usually own little, if any valuable possession -- except their hope.

Bruce and Angela Marion, of Snyder County, Pa, in 1993, set forth on a long and challenging journey. Refusing defeat, they too, armed with mostly hope, tenaciously battled the
adoption system to start their family.

It would be five emotional and exhausting years before they would meet their sons, Jake and Josh, and bring them forever home.

The boys difficult histories in the foster care system began when Jake was just 10-months-old and Josh only a newborn.  While most children begin their lives with bottles and
lullabies, theirs were already full of unexpected challenges, streams of caseworkers, and a lengthy list of foster care homes.  Tender-aged and powerless, the biological brothers feared
their un-ending days of the unknown.

They were wards of the court. They belonged to no one.  For the next few years the boys would wonder --- would anyone ever love them forever?

Soon after being married the newlyweds decided they would begin their family right away.   When they were unable to conceive on their own, without hesitation, they began their
adoption process.  Bruce vividly recalls their painful challenges, and exclaims, "The system was pathetic back then."

Time was growing old, and according to the systems out-dated guidelines, so were the Marion's.  While attending an annual Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange Conference (PAE) in
Harrisburg, Pa, the Marion's learned that they were being pigeon-holed.  

At the conference they were made vastly aware that their agency had failed them by neglecting to add their names to a networking placement list, such as the PAE itself and others
available to them.  These lists would have allowed them to be cross-matched with children in other surrounding counties; loosening them from the local ties that bound them.  They
quickly switched agencies and moved forward with Children's Choice of Winfield, Pa.  The Marion's path of opportunity began to change, but so did their minds.

When their case worker called asking them to consider special needs, they knew their options would differ from their original plan.  With hearts still wide open, desperate actually, they
agreed to open their minds.

Typical of many prospective adopting parents, they initially had hoped for one young child. However when they received the long awaited call, they found themselves quickly saying
"Yes" to meeting with two biological brothers. Like joyfully expecting parents, they anxiously drove to Chester County.

In an intimidatingly large room with more interviewers than expected, the Marion's would hear shocking news.  Surprisingly the agency offered and agreed to let them have the boys
come home that Monday. It was Thursday, and they all hadn't even met yet.  
The Challenges Faced With Adoption

Although the Marion's painfully waited several years to hear these glorious words, they mutually agreed it would be terribly unfair for three-year-old Jake, and two-year-old Josh, to be
yanked into another unknown situation.  

Over pizza and rides at Chucky Cheese, the toddlers met their new parents.  Sadly again for all, the boys would be returned to their foster home.

Jake's life began with being fostered twice before he shared four more homes together with his brother before they would meet the Marion's.  Now their dark and grey memories of
their uncertain life would soon fade like a vague dream.

Time sped-up soon after the families first date at Chucky Cheese, and the Marion's family grew by two.  In August of 1998, the adoption was finalized.  Two new proud parents held
two new sons in their arms; and two new birth certificates inside their hands.