Willis teacher wins washer/dryer

EAST COUNTY — With their four children getting older, John and Christine Bradford knew they were reaching a new chapter in their family’s story.

But the couple has loved their experience in childrearing. And, as their family regularly says, they remained determined to “write a better story” for their family.

So in November, the couple expanded their family by four, adopting four siblings — Shane, Elijah, Nathen and Hayden — through the Safe Children Coalition.

“We felt we were much too young to stop investing in children’s lives,” John Bradford said.

In late December, a local business, Home-Tech, helped with that investment, as well. Through the company’s “Santa Suds Program,” the Bradfords received a new Whirlpool Cabrio Top-Load Washer and high-efficiency dryer set for their homes. The family was nominated for the prize by several of Christine Bradford’s co-workers at Willis Elementary School, where Christine teaches third grade.

“I leaped in the air,” Christine said of hearing the news her family had won the set when it was announced over the school’s intercom. “I was surprised and excited.

“We had an older set,” she said. “It had a limited life span left.”

Because the Bradfords now do at least 15 to 20 loads of laundry each week, the new set already has been put to good use. Christine said the machines are quieter and use less detergent than her previous set.

Additionally, the machine’s see-through door is a household attraction for the younger children, who love to watch the laundry tumble around.

Although adopting four children — each with different needs and behaviors — has been challenging, the Bradfords say they are enjoying every minute.

“We’re learning to parent in new ways,” Christine said, noting they were able to train their biological children from birth. “It takes more creativity to help them build skills and understand what it means to be a family.”

John Bradford said the couple’s decision to adopt stems from their belief that the Bible calls them to take care of orphans and widows.

So in the summer of 2010, the couple began taking classes to prepare them to adopt.

“We’ve talked about adopting most of our lives,” Christine said. “We finally felt it was time to explore it.”

Taking a deep breath, the Bradfords jumped into their adoption story, taking the necessary classes in the summer of 2010. They met their four boys, who range in age from 2 to 12, in June 2011. And there, the couple learned that adoptions that kept siblings together contributed significantly the children’s success.

“We (decided we) wanted to adopt a sibling group,” Christine said.

John wanted to adopt at least four children. Christine wanted four or less. And when the social worker approached them with prospective children in the summer, four again proved to be a magic number.

“It’s really what the Lord brought our way,” John Bradford said.

“It’s a whole different world (having them), but it’s great,” he said. “Our biological children are learning so much, too.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].