THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Washington,
Feb 8 -
Amber Peña remembers her mother's stories about her unpleasant childhood experiences in foster homes.
She wanted to make a difference in the lives of today's children needing a home. So she and her husband, Robert, decided to become foster parents.
"The first time we took a child into our home, we thought, 'OK, that was enough,' but then we just couldn't say no," Mr. Peña said. "You learn how big your heart is."
Over the last six years, the Peñas have taken care of 23 foster children and adopted four. As a result, they recently received the Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
In the nine years that the award has been given, more than 1,700 families, individuals and organizations have been recognized for their work with foster children.
"Thank heavens for the Peñas," said U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, who nominated the Peñas as representatives of the 3rd Congressional District of Texas.
"Of course, no honor can repay the efforts of caring men and women like the Peñas," the Plano Republican said. "But I hope the recognition provided by the Angels in Adoption program helps to express our nation's gratitude for their love and devotion to children."
Married for 11 years, the Peñas have no biological children but say they plan to one day. Until then, they said, they want to make a difference in the lives of others.
"We always wanted children, and now we have four," Mrs. Peña said. "As much as we do for them, they do so much more for us."
They are temporarily living with Amber's mother in a one-bedroom apartment because their three-bedroom home in Garland sold more quickly than they had planned. They are scheduled to move into a four-bedroom house in Rowlett after Christmas.
The Peñas adopted their 14-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, during National Adoption Day in November of last year. She had been placed in their home after the death of her mother and was with them a little more than a year before being adopted.
On National Adoption Day last month, the Peñas adopted three siblings, Aaliyah, 7, Ethan, 5, and Madisyn, 3.
Mr. Peña, 37, a program manager at Regal Research and Manufacturing in Plano, said fostering and adopting children has opened a new world for him.
"It wipes away the stress from work," he said. "Some people think it's important to come home to a big media room and big-screen TV, but all I need are the kids."
He said taking care of abused and needy children is challenging and that they credit the support they receive from Child Protective Services and the Collin County Foster Parent Association.
"Our life changes each time we get a new child in our home," he said. "Then what's worse is letting them go."
Mrs. Peña, 30, who works in customer service for the International Association of Electrical Inspectors in Richardson, said the rewards are endless.
"When our little one was 14 months old, she wasn't walking or talking and barely crawling. She was so scared," she said. "Within six months, she was running."
Mr. Peña said the need for foster and adoptive parents is overwhelming.
"You hear about abuse every day on the news, and I used to tune it out," he said. "But now I want to help. There are so many villains, and we need more heroes. You don't need to wear a cape or have an 'S' on your chest. All you have to do is say you'll help."
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