KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three teenage girls and a young boy are new Americans, and for the Topeka parents who adopted them, Saturday night was finally home sweet home.
FOX 4 was at the Kansas City International Airport for the arrival of Don and Lisa Jenkins. The family adopted four children from Ukraine, and because of the recent crisis in that country, they had a tough time making it home.
Saturday night there were hugs, smiles and happy tears at the airport. The Jenkins family made it home after 25 hours of traveling.
“I’m so excited that I’m in this family. I am excited that I am a Jenkins,” said newly adopted Natalie Jenkins.
“They have been waiting for this day for a very, very long time,” said her adopted mother, Lisa Jenkins.
The Jenkins started the adoption process started last April, and now, about a year later, Angela, Natalie, Tatiana and Roman are a part of the family.
“We’re happy to have all of them home, we’re happy to be in America, around family, people that speak English,” said Lisa.
The couple went to Ukraine at the beginning of February to bring the kids home.
“The over throwing of the government, top officials, that really slowed things down,” said Don Jenkins.
A trip that was supposed to last several days lasted more than a month, while the family waited on the Ukrainian government to finish adoption paperwork.
“It’s been well worth it and I would do it all over again, as I’m sure my husband would tell you the same thing,” Lisa explained.
And her husband agreed.
“Our girls have a lot of friends there that have a lot of hopes that American families are going to step up and come in and adopt them,” said Don.
The Jenkins have two sons at home in Topeka, bringing the Jenkins’ family headcount to eight. Don Jenkins told FOX 4 the kids have one more thing to look forward to when they get home: Christmas. The Jenkins promised their children they’d celebrate their first Christmas together.
