Four young boys sitting side-by-side on a wooden bench outdoors in front of a calm lake on a sunny day. The second boy from the left wears a black-and-white Hurley t-shirt, while the other boys wear casual t-shirts and jeans. Mountains are visible across the water in the background.

At Koinonia, we believe every child deserves a safe, loving home where they can grow, heal, and be fully themselves. For Kristy, that belief isn’t just part of her work—it’s her life.

As both an adoptive parent and a Koinonia team member, Kristy brings lived experience, compassion, and deep understanding to everything she does. Her family’s story is a powerful reflection of what’s possible when love, openness, and commitment guide the journey.

When Kristy and her husband married at 25, they knew they wanted a family. Like many couples, they imagined what that might look like—but their journey took a different path than expected.

After facing infertility and the heartbreak of unsuccessful in vitro treatments, they made a decision that would shape the rest of their lives: they chose adoption.

What followed wasn’t just one adoption story—it was four.

Saying Yes to Family, Again and Again

Kristy and her husband adopted their first son as a newborn. His story began with uncertainty and medical challenges, but from the moment they brought him home, he became the heart of their family.

Not long after, they received another call—this time about a safely surrendered baby. Then another. And eventually, one more call that would bring home their fourth son, the biological brother of their third.

Each time, the answer became clearer: this is our family.

Today, their home is full—four boys, each with their own story, personality, and background. What ties them together isn’t just adoption—it’s intention, love, and a deep commitment to honoring where each child came from.

Four young boys posing playfully outdoors on a green lawn by leaning over one another in a vertical stack. All four are smiling and laughing toward the camera, wearing casual button-down shirts and t-shirts.

Talking About Adoption—Early, Often, and Positively

For Kristy, one of the most important parts of parenting through adoption has been how they talk about it. Her approach is simple, but powerful: start early, keep it open, and make it positive.

From a young age, her boys always knew they were adopted. She used children’s books, stories, and even TV shows to introduce the idea that families are formed in different ways. Adoption wasn’t treated as a secret or a one-time conversation—it was woven into everyday life.

At bedtime, her kids would often ask to hear their adoption stories—the stories of how they came home, how they were chosen, and how their family came together.

“They would all sit around and say, ‘I want to hear my adoption story,’” Kristy shared.

That openness created something important: confidence. Adoption became a part of their identity—not something confusing or hidden, but something understood and embraced.

A family of seven posing together outdoors on a sidewalk. The mother wears a plum purple hijab and a floral pattern abaya dress. The father stands near the center in a cream polo shirt. The sons wear traditional thobes, ghutra headwear, and casual attire.

Reframing the Narrative Around Birth Parents

One of the most meaningful lessons Kristy has taught her children is how to understand their birth parents’ decisions. When one of her sons once asked, “Why didn’t my birth mom love me enough to keep me?”—a question many adoptive families eventually face—Kristy gently shifted the narrative. She explained that his birth mother’s decision wasn’t about a lack of love. It was, in fact, rooted in love.

“She loved you so much that she made a really hard decision to make sure you could be safe and cared for,” Kristy told him. Instead of internalizing feelings of rejection, her son walked away with a different understanding: he was deeply loved—by both his birth family and his adoptive family.

Kristy intentionally reinforces this message with all her children. Adoption, in their home, is not a story of loss alone—it’s also a story of courage, sacrifice, and connection.

A Multiracial Family, Rich in Culture

Kristy’s family is beautifully diverse. Her sons come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds—Kurdish, Mexican, and European—while Kristy herself is Mexican and Panamanian, and her husband is Syrian. Their home reflects all of it.

They celebrate culture through language, food, music, and daily life. Their children have been exposed to Spanish and Arabic, attended dual-language programs, and grown up surrounded by both Latin and Arab traditions.

And while each child connects to their identity in their own way, the goal has always been the same: give them space to explore, ask questions, and take pride in who they are.

Creating a Sense of Belonging

In a family built through adoption, belonging doesn’t just happen—it’s nurtured.

Kristy makes sure her children know:

They are chosen.
Their stories matter.
Their cultures are valued.
And their family is whole—exactly as it is.

What Kristy’s Story Reminds Us

Every adoption story is unique—but Kristy’s journey reflects something universal: Children thrive when they are surrounded by honesty, compassion, and unconditional love.

At Koinonia, we are honored to support families like Kristy’s every day—families who open their hearts, embrace each child’s full story, and create spaces where healing and belonging can grow.

Because every child deserves more than just a home. They deserve a place where their story is valued, their identity is celebrated, and they are loved—exactly as they are.