Changing the World Through Adoption - Profiles in Faith

 

They welcomed the change from long cold winters in New England to the almost balmy winter season in Texas. Toney exclaims, “unlike snow, you don’t have to shovel sunshine!” Despite the recent hot and dry summers, they love the area and it reminds Denise of the year-round hot and steamy days in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, her hometown.

  After a couple of years of wedded bliss, Toney and Denise decided it was time to have children. Their efforts were enjoyed, but proved fruitless in bearing offspring. A clear sign from God that perhaps they had waited too late in life to start, but faithful enough to believe that God has something else in mind. Even before leaving Boston they had begun researching adoption agencies and started a savings plan to fund the endeavor. Denise is especially keen on planning and she had the process mapped out over a two-year period. Life has a way of thwarting plans and it seemed especially so in their plans to adopt. When Toney and Denise moved to Texas, Denise had applied for her medical license and expected a quick turn-around. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The state agency was understaffed and it was taking up to a year to get a license. Denise had to work out-of-state doing locum tenens for vacationing doctors. The unintended consequences was that they used up all the money they had saved for the adoption. They had even lost a $5,000 deposit they had paid to an agency. Undeterred they prayed and looked for a way to adopt that didn’t involve money.

 

  Within days of praying, Tim Huffman mentioned to Toney that he should go by DePelchin Children’s Center in Houston because they had a program that enabled families to adopt children who were in the Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services. Toney and Denise expedited the process and took the 8 hours of training in just a few days. Their eyes were opened to the great needs in the 13 county area surrounding Houston. At any given time there are over 8,000 children up for adoption, or who are in need of foster care. They worked with a placement specialist from Depelchin and within 7 months, Audra Joan was placed in their home. They said it was such a joy to have this bright, talkative 2-year-old girl in their home. Though not always easy, everyday was a new adventure. Audra went from being in ten foster homes in 2 1/2 years to a forever family, and it took many months before she was convinced she was home for good.

 

It wasn’t long before Toney and Denise realized that Audra needed a sister. So, in 2010, they adopted Cali Owen (age 4). Now the girls are in kindergarten and first grade and there is rarely a quiet moment in the Mulhollan home. Toney says that he doesn’t know if adoption changes the world, but it certainly changed their world. These beautiful girls went from rejection, fear, insecurity—unsure of their place in the world, to a loving family and a place to call home.

 

   Denise says that Christians are called to meet the needs of widows and orphans no matter what circumstances we are in life. God always provides a way to carry out what he commands. In spite of not having the funds to adopt, the Mulhollans adopted both children and the total cost was $0. Yes, hard to believe but true. The real cost is the effort it takes to love, care for, and raise children to love God. Toney and Denise both say the cost is nothing compared to the blessings.

-Toney Mulhollan

Left to right: Toney, Denise, Cali and Audra Mulhollan