So far back as I can remember, (Ryan) I've always wanted to be a Dad. It showed in my nurturing nature toward my first baby sister (half-sister) Casie Jo. I was enthralled with her and loved her so much. Just the very thought of being a 'Big Brother' at the age of 9 was awe-inspiring. I still remember holding her the very first time I visited her in the hospital; I was so nervous.. but so excited. From then on out despite all of the up's and down's of child-rearing I witnessed along the way (colic for the first 5 months of Casie's young life), I knew exactly what I wanted to be in life, A FATHER.
After a very long 2 years had come and gone, with many emotional ups and downs, we approached 2.5 years of being into the kinship system within Ohio's JFS program. We were able to file for custody of the girls and a trial was set and held over a span of a couple months.
Eventually, after waiting 2 months, and 1 more hearing. A decision was passed down on January 29th, 2021 stating that we were granted full legal custody of Abby, Vera, and Paisley until they were 18 years of age. 2 months of waiting, for a 10-minute Zoom call. Gratifying and frustrating all at once!
So on that day, I myself declared it 'Dependants Day' in the Petrey household; a day that will be celebrated and held as an example of what love, sheer grit, and determination can get you if you never give up; much like how God never gives up on us when we are lost.
The biological parents still retain visitation rights and we try to encourage relationships with them and their kids with weekly visits. If the parents ever do choose to waive those rights, it does open up a legal avenue for us to officially adopt all 3 girls.
Or if there comes a time when adoption is something that the girls want on their own, when they are old enough to decide, then we will gladly pursue it.
We are just happy to have 3 beautiful, smart, sassy, Christ-Loving, happy-go-lucky, adorable, wonderful young ladies. Even though I am drastically outnumbered here... even our dog is a female.
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