Bachmann Nominates Tom and Sue Ibs as Angels in Adoption for 2008
Washington, D.C.,
Sep 3 -
This week, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann nominated Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ibs for national recognition as Angels in Adoption for 2008. Angels in Adoption is a program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute that allows Members of Congress to honor constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans.
A portion of Bachmann’s nomination letter follows:
“Tom and Sue Ibs have six biological children, ranging in age from 29 to 13. Like so many families, they thought that adoption was primarily for small families or for parents unable to conceive themselves. One day, while looking through a church directory, Sue was struck by how many large families there were with adoptive children. She began to think, if they can do it so can we. Simultaneously and independently, Tom was thinking hard about the adoption option for their family as well. Clearly, the Ibs household is one that knows no bounds for love and caring. They wanted to share the joy that they experienced as a family with an orphaned child.
“Five years ago, they set out to adopt a special needs child from a part of China near the Korean border. Little Jacob has one foot not fully developed, but in all other respects, he’s just like any little boy. And at the age of 4, he became a part of the Ibs family. A few years later, Tom and Sue returned to another region of China to adopt Grace, who was then only 18 months old. She was considered special needs because she’s cross-eyed. Today, she is a happy little 3-year-old, with 7 older brothers and sisters, growing up in the close-knit community of Big Lake, Minnesota.
“Sue said that their six biological children were very excited to adopt two babies into their loving family. And, it is clear that the Ibs children also have the kind of servant’s spirit that Tom and Sue have. In fact, one is teaching English in Korea and another has just departed for Kenya to work as a missionary. The Ibs family may appear to be an everyday average family, but a closer look reveals a truly inspirational picture of love and devotion to all.”
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