Page 16 May 2012 Mother’s Day portrait of a different kind of family By Heather Gross The Marvins’ story started 16 years ago when their oldest daughter, Emelia, was born. Several years later when they decided to expand their family, they had trouble conceiving a second child. “We were diagnosed with unexplained secondary infertility and struggled with it for a while,” Danya Marvin said. “And then we felt called to adopt.” Arcadia residents Marvin and her husband Joe turned to China to adopt. When their biological daughter was 4, they brought home the newest addition to their family, a 10-month-old girl. After returning home, the couple immediately began fi lling out the paperwork to adopt a third child; they said they felt a need to adopt after seeing all of the children in China in need of homes. Following the adoption of their third daughter, they looked to bring home a boy from Korea. Barely a month after they brought home their 7-month-old son, Marvin found out she was pregnant with a boy. “When my youngest son was about to go to kindergarten I still had this feeling that we weren’t done,” Marvin said. “Once again we looked to adoption to fi ll the void. “We looked around at different programs and the only one that would take us was Africa because we had so many children already,” she said. From Ethiopia, the Marvins gained a 7-month-old son. Two months later they were surprised with their youngest child, a biological daughter. The 16-year journey has brought Marvin to the life she has now; a loving household. “It’s a menagerie of children,” she said. Though she has a life she said she feels blessed to live, it isn’t the life she had pictured for herself. “My plan was three children, three years apart,” she said, not the seven, ages 1 to 16, she and her husband have now. “Once we realized we were having infertility problems, it helped us understand the value of children,” Marvin said. “So I think, ironically, not being able to have children made us want them more.” Things did, however, work out in the best possible way for the Marvins. “We know the process can be dif fi cult, but we found it to be well worth the challenge,” she said. Marvin said their household is often busy, but the family manages to get through the days. “A lot of the time when we say we have seven children people will gasp in horror, but it really isn’t as bad as it sounds,” she said. The key to the Marvin household is helping each other out. Mornings for this family are a good example. Everyone wakes up early to get the day Continued on page 17

Page 17 May 2012 started. Mom takes the baby, Vivian, and dad handles 2-year-old Abraham. Thirteen-year-old Bridget unloads the dishwasher while 16-year-old Emelia and 12-year-old Grace pack lunches for all of the school-aged kids. Eight-year-old Max and 7-year-old James get themselves dressed and ready for school. Once everyone is ready for the day they load up the family’s 12-passenger van and head out to school. The rest of their days are fi lled with sports practices, homework and lots of family time. The Marvin family enjoys being involved in the community. She said her family is friends with all of the neighbors and are involved in such community activities as book clubs and a holiday progressive dinner. “When you don’t have a lot of extended family and you have a lot of children, you really do rely on your neighbors for help,” Marvin said. “And, they’ve always really come through for us.” Marvin encourages others to look to adoption to fi nd the same blessings she has found. “When people talk to me about it a lot of times they’ll say ‘I could never do that,’ and my message is always ‘Don’t underestimate yourself,’ ” Marvin said. “You never know what you can do.” Though many people see her life and what she does as extraordinary, Marvin said she simply sees it as a good life. “A lot of people think you have to be special, or have something special about you, to adopt,” she said. “I just see it as something we did, and something other people can do, too.” Family Continued from page 16 Phoenix Motor Company 225 West Indian School Road • Phoenix, AZ 85013 602-745-5710 teamtino@phoenixmb.com Visit us at www.TeamTino.net Tino Ferrulli For six decades the SL-Class has been synonymous with a blend of sport, style and comfort – infused with groundbreaking innovation. The 2013 SL550 offers considerably more comfort and athletic character, setting new standards in the luxury roadster class. Powerful acceleration, effortless at all speeds, nimble on winding roads – this roadster delivers outstanding driving pleasure. Stop in today for a test drive and feel the ride! 2013 SL550 Lightweight, athletic and luxurious. * Customer must present original ad from Arcadia News, photocopies not accepted. One offer per customer, please. Offer expires 5/31/12, and may not be combined with any other offer. Discount not valid on linen rentals, delivery or set-up, or on any special order items. Other restrictions may apply You are cordially invited to You are cordially invited to A to Z Party & Event Rentals A to Z Party & Event Rentals Everything you need for your dinner, backyard party or any special event. Make it special within your budget! Rent your party equipment at A to Z Party & Event Rentals and get 15% off your total order with this ad!* PHOENIX 4050 E. Indian School Rd. 602-955-5100 www.a-zequipment.com Other Valley Locations: N. PHOENIX • 15643 N. 32nd St. • 602-992-1150 E. VALLEY • 1313 E. Baseline, Gilbert • 480-635-3899 W. VALLEY • 803 E. Van Buren, Avondale • 623-925-0200 NOW ENROLLING SAT AND ACT COURSES! Linda Edgar’s Tutoring Service PREPARE FOR SUCCESS! Reading • Math • Writing Skills • Test preparation courses Individualized programs for students in grades K-12 School Year and Summer Tutoring 602-795-6312 • ledgar@cox.net www.LindaEdgarTutorandSATprep.com SAT, ACT and AIMS TEST PREPARATION CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE