Eugene & Ilene

When Eugene and Ilene's 3-year-old daughter Alexa sings "Jesus Loves the Little Children," she knows what it means.  Black and yellow, red and white they're all precious in His sight.  From the moment Eugene, an African American, and Ilene, a Caucasian, adopted their two children, they knew multiculturalism would play a role in their upbringing.  "It's a day-to-day education," said Ilene, "we teach them through the books we read, the movies they watch, and the people we invite into our home."  Ilene's older daughter, Brianna, 21, also provides practical lessons about growing up in a culturally diverse world.

Eugene and Ilene's children - Immonuel, 4, and Alexa, 3 - are biological siblings.  The couple adopted Immonuel from foster care when he was 9 months old.  They said they knew the minute they saw him sitting in a highchair that he was their son.  "He handed me a cracker and I fell in love," said Ilene.  Later when Eugene and Ilene learned Immonuel's sister needed a home, they immediately offered to adopt her.  "It was important to us to keep these children together; they deserved to be raised in the same home," said Ilene.

Eugene and Ilene said the most difficult part of the adoption process was waiting.  It took around ten months to finalize the adoption of each child.  "Parents must be patient; there is a lot of training and preparation that goes into becoming an adoptive parent.  AAAA wants to make sure your family succeeds," Ilene said.

When people tell Eugene and Ilene that their children were lucky to be adopted - their response is pointed.  "We're the lucky ones. We are blessed to have them."