A Local News Story Helps Complete a Family

By Rebekah Hardage
Communications Intern

(WINNSBORO, Texas) — Not many parents can say the first time they saw their daughter was on TV, but the moment Geno and Lisa Hill saw Deidre’s smiling face on a local television news program, they knew she would be a part of their family.

KLTV News in Tyler features a foster child available for adoption on its monthly “Gift of Love” feature. As a result of seeing a story on Deidre, the Hills were introduced to their daughter Oct. 18, 2006.

It was unusual for the Hill family to be watching TV together, but on that Wednesday, even their ever-busy son Collin was home.

“Geno looked at me and said, ‘Call them,’” Lisa said.  “And the love for her was birthed in his heart at that moment.”

The next morning, the Hills began the process to bring Deidre home.  They didn’t know much about the foster system, but after making several calls to agencies, Buckner offered the necessary classes and met their schedule.

“Yesterday wasn’t soon enough,” Geno said.  They would be taking part in the foster-to-adopt program, fostering Deidre for six months prior to the adoption.

Deidre won the hearts of her parents instantly, but didn’t know it. And though she desperately wanted to be adopted, for her protection the Hills couldn’t share their plans with her.

For the Hill family, having Deidre in their home “felt right,” they say.  In 2001, they lost a daughter following a lengthy illness.  The Hills knew then that they would want to add to the family again, but on God’s timing.

Deirdre, too, had experienced a turbulent past.  She had been removed from her birthparents’ home due to abuse and had changed foster homes several times.  She is a determined young girl, who stood up for herself and was proactive about being adopted.

After returning from a vacation with her foster family in June, Deidre got a surprise: She was going to meet the family who wanted to adopt her — the next morning.

“I was excited and nervous,” Deidre said.  She wanted to live in the country, go to a small school, and have Christian parents.

Thirty minutes prior to meeting the potential family, Buckner caseworkers shared a photo of the candidate family – It was the Hills, a Christian family living in a hand built log cabin in the northeast Texas woods.  Her wish had finally come true.

Callie Reneau, foster care supervisor for Buckner Children and Family Services in Longview, worked with the Hills through the process of becoming foster parents.

“It was a really good match from the beginning, a perfect fit for their family,” she said.

“We could identify, because we’ve had losses too,” Lisa said.  “And we can all grow in this together.”

To Deidre, having a mother like Lisa is a perfect match.  “I can actually talk to you and you understand me and give me advice,” she said as she gave her mother a hug on the front porch.

And a father like Geno, well that might be Deidre’s favorite part.  “I like knowing there’s someone to protect me and he’s not going to leave me.”

Lisa laughingly reveals that if Deidre doesn’t know where Geno is, she immediately begins looking for him.

For the first time in her life, Deidre feels like she has a real family.  “I just feel special and loved and like they were sent from God.  I know they love me and they have boundaries and goals for me that they know I can reach.”

Lisa hopes that Deidre will be able to “rely on God for his call on her life and be successful in her relationship with Him.”

Deidre will be a sophomore at Harmony High School this fall, where she hopes to start a flag core program, like the one she was involved in previously.

“I’m going to look after her,” Collin said.  “It’s a small school, so I’ll be able to keep my eye on her.”  Deidre and Collin get along great, and have a classic brother/sister relationship of picking at each other, but love each other too.

Deidre has only been with the Hills a short time, but you would never guess it.  The love they have for one another fills the house with a sense of joy.

Lisa turned and looked at Deidre, smiled, and said, “We’re all in it together, as a family.”