Nicole and Alan Parker, professors in the School of Religion, have finalized the adoption of their daughter Anya Rose, 16, from Ukraine. The couple, along with their three other children, will bring Anya Rose home in December after two years of prayer and jumping through legal hoops.
“Ever since I was a little girl I read stories about adoption,” Nicole said. “I would set five places at our table, and I always felt that somebody was missing.”
The Parkers began doing research in 2015, and learned they could host a child from Ukraine for three and a half weeks. That’s when they met Anya Rose. At this point she was not legally up for adoption because her father was alive but in prison. When Anya’s visit at the Parker’s home ended, they knew that she was the child missing from their family.
For the last two years the Parkers prayed and fought for Anya to officially be a part of their family. Using Google Translate to send messages back and forth, Anya made it clear that she loved the Parkers and wanted to come home to them.
In 2016, Anya visited her biological father in prison to discuss signing papers to release her for adoption. This was a high stress time for the Parkers, sitting at home, not knowing when or how the conversation would happen. Finally, they received a call saying the papers had been signed. The family was so excited to hear that they could finally begin the process of adopting Anya.
“I burst out sobbing so hard my family thought the adoption agency had said no,” Nicole said.
Fourteen months later, after many background checks, evaluations from social workers and home inspections, the couple flew to Ukraine for the official court hearing. Anya told the courtroom that she wants to join the Parker’s family, and the judge and jury approved. In December, Nicole will fly to the Ukraine to bring Anya home. The Parker family is so excited to finally bring her home for good.
“Anya Rose is a blessing to our family; she brings so much love and laughter. It will finally feel like our family is all here,” Nicole said.