Amanda first met Colton and Chance during her church’s Vacation Bible School on July 16, 2023. Their maternal grandmother and aunt had joined the church a year earlier, but Amanda didn’t know much about their family at the time. That summer, the church was raising money for a local foster care organization, a cause suggested by the boys’ aunt, Shana.
Amanda was originally scheduled to teach a younger age group, but due to a last-minute change, she ended up leading the 4th-5th grade class—Colton and Chance’s group. Midway through the week, just before showing a video about foster care, their aunt pulled Amanda aside to warn her that it might be upsetting for the boys. That was the moment she learned they were in foster care. Throughout the week, Amanda got to know them better. The boys were in separate foster homes, far apart, and had not been able to see each other regularly. Their grandmother was hosting them for an extended visit, their first in a long time. Colton was full of energy and eager to make people laugh, while Chance was much quieter and more reserved. Yet, on the final day, Chance surprised Amanda by giving her a hug and a handmade bookmark.
Before they left, Amanda promised to stay in touch. She and another church member, whom the boys had bonded with, gave them their phone numbers in case they ever needed someone to talk to. Later, Amanda sent letters and small gifts. Colton’s foster dad even reached out, sharing that Colton had written back but hadn’t managed to mail his letter. While Chance never responded directly, he let his grandmother know he had received Amanda’s letters.
In August, their grandmother reached out again—this time with a request. She wanted to find a home where the boys could be together and closer to her. She asked Amanda if she knew anyone who might be willing to take them in. Amanda promised to ask around, but first, she had questions. Their grandmother directed her to the boys’ caseworker, Cameron. What started as a simple inquiry quickly turned into something much bigger. Cameron not only answered Amanda’s questions but also told her the boys’ full story. Then he asked a question she never expected: Would she be interested in taking them in?
At first, Amanda’s answer was no. She knew how difficult the foster system could be, and she wasn’t sure if this was the right decision for her family. But then Cameron explained that Colton and Chance had been in foster care for years. Their biological parents were about to have their rights terminated, and the boys were in desperate need of a permanent home. He told her about fictive kinship adoption, which would allow her and Jon to adopt without being licensed foster parents. Amanda couldn’t shake the thought. She had always dreamed of being a mother, and her work as a Children’s Director and substitute teacher had shown her how many kids needed love and stability. That night, she shared everything with Jon. She expected him to hesitate, but instead, he immediately said, “Do whatever we need to do to begin the process.”
Still, there were so many unknowns. What if the boys had behavioral issues? What if their past trauma created challenges they weren’t prepared for? Amanda and Jon prayed constantly, seeking clarity. Then, Amanda received the boys’ case files. Reading about their journey through the system was heartbreaking. They had experienced instability, loss, and so many struggles at such a young age. But instead of scaring Amanda away, it solidified something in her heart: “What if this is a blessing?” That was the moment she knew. They were meant to do this.
Cameron arranged FaceTime calls so Amanda and Jon could start building a relationship with the boys. Colton was eager to talk, excited to get to know them. Chance, however, was different—quiet and distant. Over time, they learned the heartbreaking truth: his foster home was not a good situation.
Then, in early October, Amanda got an urgent call. Chance had put small objects up his nose out of desperation for attention, leading to an emergency room visit. The caseworker asked if Amanda and Jon could take him right away. There was no hesitation. Amanda and Jon quickly made arrangements, and soon, Chance was in their home. A few weeks later, Colton followed. The transition wasn’t easy—there were challenges, adjustments and emotional hurdles—but for the first time in years, the boys were together.
What started as a chance meeting at church turned into something life changing. On December 18, 2023, Colton and Chance officially became part of Amanda and Jon’s family. Adoption day was filled with joy, laughter and tears—proof that love has a way of bringing people together in the most unexpected ways.
Now, Colton and Chance are thriving. They are surrounded by family, love and stability, finally able to just be kids. Their journey wasn’t easy, but it led them exactly where they were meant to be—home. Their mom Amanda states, “I will admit that it was a little strenuous on our marriage, but only for a short amount of time. I just kept praying. I will say, every single day they amaze me. They have grown so much in such a short amount of time. They are truly amazing kids, and I am so blessed to get to be the one to raise them into wonderful, young, Christian men. They stole my heart from the beginning, and I can’t imagine loving them more than I do right now. God has a big plan for these two boys.”
