Navigating large family life, adoption, special needs parenting, and educating at home. Every family has a story. Welcome to ours!
Hi, I’m Tanna. Welcome to my Megavan Mama blog, a place where I share crowd pleasing recipes, large family organizational tips, and our story of both domestic and international adoption. In addition, we’ll take a look at our special needs parenting journey, the challenges and joys of homeschooling multiple ages at once, and all the things that are saving my Mama life right now.
Our Story
My husband Timothy and I have been married for 21 years. He is a Resource Manager at a large financial services company by day and Dad-Extraordinaire by night. We have 3 biological children (18, 15, and 10).
In December 2012 we started the process to adopt 2 of our sons from China. They came home in January 2014 and are now 9 & 8. We returned to China in June 2016 to adopt our (now) 6-year-old daughter. Our hearts and home were full; until December of that same year, when we saw our other 6-year-old daughter on our agency’s waiting child website. It was an easy decision to return to China in July 2017 to bring her home.
In June 2018 we met the most beautiful 2-week-old baby boy who was born in our state and needed a forever family. That tiny baby is now a 2 1/2 year old toddler who keeps us on our toes!
Between our 5 adopted children we have a host of diagnosis including bladder exstrophy, high functioning autism spectrum disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, Ectrodactyly, Down syndrome, and Mobius Syndrome. And we are blessed to be able to homeschool them all!
about me
I have lived in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia my entire life. In my teens and twenties I dreamed of living in the city; somewhere bustling with activity and noise.
With each child we’ve added, however, I have started yearning to give my kids’ a simpler life. Timothy and I want them to have space to run and play, preferably with a few chickens and goats thrown in. And we want a place where our daughter with Down syndrome can live independently when the time comes with us nearby for guidance.
I hope you’ll come along on our journey to become debt free, adopt a healthier lifestyle, and navigate this big family life.
fun facts about me
I am a crazy lover of books; a passion I rediscovered in my 30’s. After the kids are in bed, you’ll often find me curled up with a thrilling mystery, a book that encourages my faith journey, an exciting biography, a book written by a homeschooling mentor, or a book teaching me “how to be a successful blogger”. I will be sharing my favorites here and I hope you’ll share some of your favorites in return!
I have served as the Director of the Adoption and Foster Care Ministry at my church since January 2018. It is such a blessing to play a small part in helping children find loving forever families.
I am also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for foster kids in my county. This role has changed how I view the foster care system and I have had the honor of supporting kids from hard places, loving and guiding their birth parents, and getting to know some amazing foster parents. Click here to learn more about how you can become a CASA in your state!
Our Megavan
I always said I would never buy a minivan until I was at least 30 years old. I had no idea that I would need a 12 passenger Ford Transit Megavan at the young age of 35. And I definitely had no idea how much I would love that van and all of the children who fill its seats. I never could have known the passion God would give me for children in need and how much He would break my heart for children without loving families.
We get asked sometimes, “How many children will you have?”. And the answer to that question is; “All of them.” We will accept all of the children that God has for us; whether that be through birth or through adoption. If it is His will for us then we will fill up our 2 currently empty Megavan seats and buy something bigger to make room for more. In other words, what we’ve learned through our large family living, loving, and learning journey is that He alone knows what’s best for our large family, and He is holding us in the palm of His hand. And there is no place I’d rather be.
Follow along as I share crowd pleasing recipes, large family organizational tips, and our story of both domestic and international adoption. In addition, we’ll take a look at our special needs parenting journey, the challenges and joys of homeschooling multiple ages at once, and all the things that are saving my mama life right now. It will be a sometimes crazy, often hectic, but ALWAYS love filled journey!