ANDREW'S STORY
by Katie Roberts, 2002

Andrew's story really is amazing. In May 1999, the Roberts family was a family in mourning. Patty Roberts had just miscarried for the second time in a row. Before her miscarriage, she had given birth to Katie, ten at the time; Jessica, eight; and Josiah, six. Katie's 10th birthday was the day Patty miscarried. There would be no birthday party for Katie that year. Relatives and friends cared for the children for a few days while their parents grieved.

The family had already tried to adopt once. They had been set to adopt a beautiful newborn baby girl. Then, a few weeks after the baby's birth, the mother suddenly changed her mind. They never saw their baby girl.

Andrew was another story. He was born five days after the miscarriage. Scott Roberts received a phone call from Mercy Ministries, the agency they had previously tried to adopt with. Mercy is a Christian home for girls who need help. Girls from fifteen to twenty-five with problems like drug abuse and addictions come there. Pregnant teenagers also come to seek help. One of these women is Andrew's mother. Andrew is the son of Brooke, a white woman, and an unknown black man. All the Roberts family knows about him is that he is "very strong willed." This is a trait that he has certainly passed on to Andrew! As a young child, Katie was a very stubborn child. Sometimes, Patty would go into her room and cry because of her strong will, but Patty says Andrew has surpassed even Katie in the category of stubbornness!

A few days after receiving the call, the family drove to the Mercy headquarters in Nashville to get their son. It was a very emotional meeting. Patty held her new son with tears in her eyes. Andrew is truly a precious boy.

Andrew soon showed that he was not only precious, he was very smart! He could write his name by the time he was three, and was always "advanced" for his age. His stubbornness was often a problem, though, and Andrew still gets many, many swats every day! Andrew's real passions are vehicles and women. Hmm… he must be REALLY advanced for his age! As a two-year-old, he loved to point out cars as they drove down the highway: "Mama! There's a Honda Civic!" He can still tell you the make and model of any car he sees. And women. Andrew has developed a crush on any "pretty lady" he sees. He loves to wear necklaces and other jewelry and even wear his shoes half on so they look like high heels! He likes music, but only female singers. On and on!

He also likes to cook. He helps Mom cook supper and even helps Jessica, now 12, bake cakes and pies. Like any other little boy, he loves candy and sweets and will do almost anything for a candy bar or lollipop. Andrew learned to ride a bike a week after he turned four. He can ride faster than his mom! He knows how to swim and is learning how to read. Sometimes he will do something and his parents will look at each other with fear in their eyes! He's so intelligent, it really is scary.

When he was three, Josiah accidentally hit him in the head and sent him to the ER. It was not the first time! Andrew has sustained injuries in a variety of ways; from falling off a bunk bed to falling off a bike. In fact, he had to have one of his front teeth pulled because of one accident. Andrew seems to have a knack for getting hurt! Even with all the bruises, Andrew is a really sweet boy. He makes friends wherever he goes - just ask around at church! Andrew probably knows more people at church than his parents do! He is the opposite of soft-spoken Katie, his Teacher. Katie teaches him math, phonics and more. He can do simple addition and subtraction. He is learning phonics and will be reading soon. He enjoys learning, just like his brother and sisters.

Everyone has different views about Andrew. His teachers at church think he is adorable and well behaved. We know better! Josiah, now ten, considers him an enemy. Katie considers him her prize pupil. Everyone agrees about one thing, however. In the words of Colleen Waldman, a longtime family friend, "Andrew, you're precious!"

This page was last updated on Sunday, April 4, 2004