Adoption The Greatest Gift of All

During the holidays, we all become nostalgic about the things in our lives that have touched us, have changed us in some way or has simply been a blessing.  When I think of those things at this time of year, I immediately go to the blessings of my family and dear friends.  For so many of us family is the most important part of our lives, and I have been so lucky to have had the pleasure of being part of adding to many of my clients’ families over the last 20 years. 

As an adoption attorney, it brings me great joy to be a small part of the miracle that is adoption.  I have met so many wonderful families who have opened their homes and their hearts to children locally, internationally, through private adoption and dependency proceedings, and through kinship resources.  Whether the adoption involves an infant placed from the hospital or a teenager, the miracle remains the same.  Adoptive families provide love, support, stability and most importantly, a permanent family for a child.  There is no greater gift a child or a family could ever receive, and during the holidays when gifts are at the forefront of our minds, I often think of the gift that adoption brings not only to the children and families I have worked with, but to my life as well.  It is so amazing when I run into families that I have worked with and I see the children they have adopted.  Those children are happy, secure and thriving, surrounded by the love they received through the gift of adoption.

Thank you to all the families that have entrusted me with this very special part of their lives, and I am blessed to have known you and your children.  Happy holidays to all of my adoptive families and blessings to all of the adoptive families who have given and received the greatest gift of all.

Holly Filius is an attorney at Russell, Krafft & Gruber, LLP in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She received her law degree from Widener University School of Law and practices in a variety of areas, including Family Law.