Archdiocese of Denver

10 THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH | ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER "I was apprehensive at first," Mike said. "Though there were examples of other families around us and we had even talked about the idea of adopting while we were dating, making the decision for our own family at that moment was a process." "However, we realized God looks for a willing heart. We saw where God was at work and we wanted to join Him in what He cares about, bringing the orphan into a family." The couple opened their hearts to God's will and inter- racial adoption when they adopted Ian. Two years after God blessed them with Ian, they welcomed Jaden, who is their biological son. The two boys are best buddies, both tall and enjoy sports together. Diane befriended the pregnant mother of their fourth child at church when the mom decided she was not in a place in her life to parent her child. Diane was able to be at the birth of Olivia. Before her birth, the nurse asked the birth mom what she wanted to name the baby and her birth mom said it wasn't really her place because she was Mike and Diane's child. After some coaxing from Diane, the birth mother said she wanted to name the baby Olivia. Diane stood in disbelief as this was the very name she and Mike had chosen weeks before. It was a moment of confir- mation for everyone that this was God's will too. Mike said it reminds him of the powerful moment God told adoptive father Joseph that Mary would have a son and she should call him Jesus. "Giving the adoptive father that power to name the Son was meaningful," Mike said. At this point, Mike and Diane had four children under the age of eight — two biological and two adopted — but Mike said God wasn't done with them yet. The couple decided they would adopt internationally two more times, so Nikki and Jaxian were adopted from the same orp- hanage in China. The kids are thriving, and a listener can hear the proud father smiling when he talks about his kids and their inter- ests — whether it's playing piano, soccer or football, or sing- ing in concert, or mission work, or coffee barista work. That's not to say their lives aren't complicated. At one point the kids attended five different schools and during COVID homeschooling, the family had five teenagers in the house at once. The challenges that come with a large adoptive family means there is a demand for a supportive network of friends and family. The family takes in all that life brings as part of the adventure and the parents don't shy away from challenges. Four years ago, they purchased a piece of land in Arvada with a run-down home that could have been featured on a TV renovation show. The realtor tried repeatedly to talk the couple out of buying the home and Diane's father, a construction framer by trade, walked in the home and turned right back around and walked out, Mike said. But the couple saw great potential and could envision turning it into a won- derful home for the family of eight. Everyone in the family has played a role in the transfor- mation from wielding the sledgehammers for demolition to moving rocks in the yard and planting a garden. That willingness to take risks to follow God's will is a spirit that is shared among the family. Mike sees it reflected in Joseph's faith and actions as he took on the risk of God's will, brought Jesus into his household and taught him a skill as a carpenter — all just to please the Lord. "We have a saying in our family, 'see the need, meet the need,'" Mike said. "There is a need for adoption and orphan care and we are thankful the circumstances in our lives led us in this direction. Some aren't called to adoption, but we were called to it personally. God showered us with grace that we could feel, that this is what God called us to do and we are beyond grateful for the opportunity to be family for each of our kids." CO U R AG E I N AC TI O N Mike and his family try to live out the virtues of St. Joseph. When you listen to the Lord for your calling, please consider that the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal helps fund more than 40 ministries, like Catholic Charities, to help bring Christ to those in need. Put your courage into action with the appeal: archden.org/givenow I remember St. Joseph as someone who trusted God even when at times things didn't make sense around him. MIKE W.

• Cover