Sarah and Her Family

The photo essay can be found on the DCS Flickr site, too.

Katherine and Luke Marthedal, both 30, have three young children born to them: Mayme, 6, Reagan, 4 and Wesley, 2.

Three years ago they became Tennessee foster parents, and within the space of 10 months, adopted two daughters, Sarah, 13, and Ann, 14.

The couple also have been foster parents to three other children who have gone to live with relatives.

This photo essay, taken by state photographer Dawn Majors, captures the days just before Sarah’s adoption last fall. The intimate photos show busy daily routines, family dinners and a joyous adoption celebration.

Katherine Marthedal: “People say, ‘I could never love a child and say goodbye.’ We think we have the right to our children’s whole life, but they could be gone tomorrow just like our foster children. We love them today. We don’t know what tomorrow holds for our own children. I love them today, and then another day. “

Being a foster parent, Katherine Marthedal says, is hard. She is honest about that fact when people ask her about the experience. But, “I definitely encourage people to do it. I usually say that our relationship the Lord grew deeper. It is hard, but it amazing. There are hard moments, but between the hard moments there are so many great moments.”

“Luke and I are truly grateful for the opportunity to be foster parents. And even more, to have had the privilege of adding two sweet girls to our family forever through adoption from the foster system,” she added.

To learn more about becoming a foster parent in Tennessee, please fill out this online inquiry form and or call 877-DCS-KIDS.