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 | An Adoption Dream Brings Three Children Home
by Kim Phagan-Hansel |
Adoption was something Pat and Darren Langhals wanted to do to complete their family. They decided after establishing their biological family they would one day adopt internationally. After having Quinton and moving back to their home town, the Langhals’ found themselves in relatively good financial standing and decided not to wait to adopt, but would do it now while they were financially stable. So, they decided to look into adopting from Russia when their agency, Building Blocks Adoption Service, introduced them to Kazakhstan, a small country formed during the break up of the Soviet Union.
“The wait wasn’t long, the children were healthier and I was really concerned about getting a child with fetal alcohol syndrome,” Pat said.
As they learned more about Kazakhstan, they began to fall in love with the children who are well taken care of and loved in the orphanages.
It was a dream Pat had telling her to “wait, wait, wait . . .” that made her and Darren decide not to adopt the little 2½-year-old boy from Kazakhstan. Pat thought it was God’s way of saying He had another plan for the little boy, so the family decided to pursue the adoption of two other Kazakh children, Karenna almost 2, and Tayte, 9-months-old.
When they got Tayte’s referral it said his father had died in a car accident and Pat immediately felt connected to him because she, too, had lost her father in a car accident as a young child. With Karenna, Pat felt very maternal toward her immediately. So, in January 2001, the Langhals’ traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan to adopt their children.
Because they had left their 3-year-old son at home, Pat found the 23-day stay to be difficult, but rewarding.
“The first four to five days were very quick, but the second week was miserable,” Pat said. “However, I think it was better for the kids to get used to us.”
The Langhals’ visited the kids every day and spent time bonding with each other. The orphanage workers want to make sure that the children are bonding with the parents before the adoption proceedings begin. One day Karenna threw a fit while Pat and Darren were visiting and immediately there were people in the room to make sure everything was Okay.
“The children are truly loved by the caretakers,” Pat said.
While in Kazakhstan the Langhals’ stayed in an apartment, which was the most affordable option available to them compared to staying in a hotel. The apartments are actually the homes of Kazakh citizens who rent their homes to adoptive families while they’re in Kazakhstan.
“It was difficult to stay in someone’s home and sleep in their bed, but we got used to it,” Pat said.
The Langhals’ also made a point to explore the culture while they were there. They took pictures, tried foods and experienced life in Kazakhstan.
“We are the only connection to our children’s past there and here,” Pat said. “We have to relate to them what their life was like before they were with us.”
So, after 23 days of bonding, court appearances and travels, the Langhals’ returned with their new additions to their family. The children settled into their new life in Ohio and the Langhals’ were happy with their family, but they wanted more. That’s when they decided to adopt again — this time from Russia.
Pat was surfing Web sites one day looking for potential children to adopt when she ran across the picture of the little Kazakh boy who they decided not to adopt after Pat’s dream. She had assumed the dream meant that he was supposed to go to another family, but now she knew he was meant to be a part of the family.
“I decided then we needed to bring him home and everything fell into place,” she said.
In December 2001, the Langhals’ returned to Almaty, Kazakhstan to adopt Garrett. Garrett, now a fun-loving 3-year-old has adjusted well to his new family. With a few adjustments and difficulties to overcome, Tayte, Karenna and Garrett have become part of the family and Pat can’t imagine life without them.
Darren, Pat, Quinton, 4, Karenna, 3, Garrett, 3, and Tayte, 2, live in Columbus Grove, Ohio. Pat is now pregnant with their fifth child.
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