How do you define "family"?

Gladney Adoptee, Zhanna, shares her definition with us:

Merriam Webster defines family as "a group of people who come from a common ancestor." That is the textbook definition, but I've learned that there is so much more to life than what you can find in a book.

My name is Zhanna, and I was adopted through Gladney at the age of eleven months. I live with my family in Texas.

Growing up, I definitely had questions about being adopted. I soon learned that dictionary definitions are not the only definition we are required to live by. Am I blood related to the family I live with? The answer is no. But to me, that doesn't change anything. They are still my family.

My definition of family is "the group of people God has planned out for you to be with." Whether that means biologically related, or adopted, does not matter in the least. God as a plan for everyone He made. My plan was different, but that makes it that more special. Rather than questioning, I've learned to thank God for the many blessings in my life and the family He has given me.

~Zhanna

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Adoption Story

We want to make it easy for you to share your stories with us and with other families who are going through this process. If you adopted or were adopted from Gladney 

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