Adoption From Foster Care Can Transform A Child's Life

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Every year thousands of children go into the foster care system, some of them stay there for years waiting to find their forever family. A child's life can be completely transformed when they find the family where they fit.

"One of our family values is to have fun," said Noel, an adoptive mother of three.

The family plays in the park, hosts spontaneous parties, and gets together every Friday for family movie night. Along with the fun, there are also rules. Noel describes herself as a tough mom.

"We tell the truth, we're honest, we keep our word," she told CBS4 about her parenting style. "Boundaries show that you love someone. When you set a boundary and you don't let someone go beyond it because it would be hurtful for them, it shows that you love them."

Nurturing three children who were in the foster care system is not always easy.

"Sometimes it's really hard and it's really ugly and you feel really awful as kids take it out on you because you're a safe person to take it out on," Noel explained.

For all the hard times, there are great times too. She's seen her children thrive under her and her husband's care. Seven-year-old Lexi struggles with blindness, but is in the gifted and talented program. Lexi is particularly proud of her family.

"It's pretty cool because we've adopted. We've adopted everybody in my family," Lexi told CBS4. "Because we don't want anyone else to be in foster care like we were."

Ten-year-old Jeremiah is growing strong and calls his mom and dad awesome.

"If you didn't have a family … there's no one … you'd have no one to take care of you. No one to love you," he said.

Newest to the family is Autumn, adopted in November 2015.

I was always in my heart to want to adopt a teenager," Noel said of Autumn.

Autumn spent years in foster care hoping someone would love her. She was featured on CBS4's Wednesday Child when she was 13 years old. That day of pampering went a long way, but Autumn says she almost gave up on finding a family.

"Sometimes I still feel like it's not real, that I'm going to wake up and it's just going to be gone one day," Autumn explained.

She's 17-years old now, and putting down deep roots with her new brother and sister.

"I have done some pushing away but they never leave me and that's helping me to see that no matter what I do I'm going to have family by my side now," she told CBS4.

Noel and her husband, Chris, will be by Autumn's side, but they're also open to allowing her biological family be a part of her life. She says that as long has family members are safe she welcomes them into the family.

"I can love more than one kid, so why can't kids love more than one parent," she explained.

She also welcomes the support she gets from the foster care system, and organizations like the Adoption Exchange.

"I always joke, 'Hey, my kids came with a manual.' Because they did. I went to this class and I got this 8-inch binder," Noel said.

Autumn's life has been transformed in her new family. She's looking forward to going to prom, she's excited to take part in the Police Explorers Program in Aurora, and she's learning the skills she'll need to transition into adulthood.

LINK: Donate To The Adoption Exchange

Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.