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Sen. Inhofe on his granddaughter's adoption from Africa

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    OK lawmaker shares his family's story

  • Duration 6:32
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Senator -- and Hoff has a special place in his heart for Africa.

And that's why he's made dozens of trips to the common over the past two decades mostly on humanitarian and faith based causes.

It's there in the impoverished nation of Ethiopia.

Where one of the people who have a very special place in his heart was born.

She was found abandoned in an Alley as a newborn and taken to an orphanage where she was nursed to health.

It was at the same time that the senator's daughter Molly and her husband -- we're looking to adopt a girl.

-- I spoke to some other in half and his adopted granddaughter Marie.

I spoke to him earlier about this very heartwarming story.

So -- you for a number of years worked for Africa and causes there.

Then something very special -- your daughter Molly.

Who I've known for many years in fact -- knew her before I knew you she and her husband Jimmy.

Said they were thinking about adopting and might -- interest and and adopting a child from Africa so how did you react when you first heard that news.

Well I was very excited about it -- you know you know this that our audience doesn't I spent.

01520 years in Africa is -- of -- mission -- until nine elevenths.

So we have Brothers and sisters people with whom were very close and intimate.

All of the way through sub saharan Africa so but I knew nothing about adoption that's my first experience and -- what's interesting about this is that.

I became so interest in -- difficult time that we have been getting this job done with our little Marie.

That we formed in adoption caucus in senator Landrieu.

From Louisiana and I have run back so I knew very little about it and they asked me about it and I said your -- in their own person so we had to do our own research.

But you had some friends.

In Ethiopia you contacted them.

And they helped you get the process started so talk about -- what it was like to go through that.

We had a friend our brother in in Ethiopia is names tech police sunglasses now that's an Ethiopian name we -- know about how this Alexis.

And he called one day he would he had had gone through an orphanage.

In in -- -- he looked over and he saw this little girl she's about a week ago.

And -- tiny and not doing very well and he walked me and he said.

That's got to be hurt -- he called me that day and said we have found this little girl but you have to keep in mind.

By our standards those are very primitive or corporate news is that they have.

So it isn't this what they had two different rooms one for those who are not thriving and wasn't -- -- right.

And those that were thriving could have avocado and -- those who are not perfect driving just not -- what she was not -- very well.

But that was how we originally got in touch with her and knew immediately that little marine -- going to be a granddaughter.

Well -- you are a beautiful young lady it is just a delight to to have you.

You've been told about your process of adoption and you know you now you're in the United States when you think about adoption tell me.

What that means to you and and what kind of personal joy can you have -- knowing.

That so many kids have to you know be born into the family they're stuck with.

Your parents looked all over the world and -- you on purpose that's got to make you feel pretty good.

It does anything Chiarelli and -- and and I just.

It's a really good feeling and I just think it's something that all kids in orphanages should have.

When you're blessed to have a wonderful family and and my friend your grandfather -- in -- Is senator tell me about the first time that you actually summer because I understand that -- -- Jimmy.

Went to Ethiopia they were able to get -- there but you've met them in Europe and soft.

Your granddaughter for the first time there tell me about yeah moment.

Well -- you know.

We where we wanted to see her while she's -- -- -- -- -- and it didn't work out we actually we're gonna land there wasn't for security reasons couldn't do so.

I never saw Marie until as you said.

The adoption was in process and we were going back to the United States and and my daughter and her husband we met in in Germany.

And I saw this little girl and under immediately when -- -- -- is going to be our granddaughter I had no doubt about it.

And it's when these things it is just yet you hear about a match made in heaven when this would this was made in heaven.

All right Maria got to ask -- Christmas time.

Tell me what what you're hoping happens for you this Christmas.

This Christmas I think.

I'm really looking for it still putting -- -- activity seeing that my great grandfather made.

Him so he actually made it.

Yes there hit it sounds like a wonderful family tradition.

You know it's interesting that when I ask you what's gonna be special for Christmas she didn't tell me something that you wanted for yourself you talked about.

Doing something as a family and honoring.

Christ on his birth what -- you know it's obvious that the the family that you've been placed into and that has chosen.

You.

Is a very special family.

Senator I just want to -- Ask you tell us about why adoption is so important and in would you encourage other families to concern in the reprisals.

Governor there are hundreds of thousands of young families around this program that country here in America who want to adopt they know how difficult it is.

And I have a website in -- dot senate dot.

And we kind of help people in this adoption process in this adoption caucus that I mentioned to -- we're trying to -- easy.

Unfortunately they're all these -- -- was out there in many of the young people in Africa particularly if they're not adopted some of them don't even live.

So it's a process that is it's a beautiful process.

It's a rewarding -- anyone watching us now who's ever considered an adoption particularly in adoption from Africa.

It's an experience you never have any other way.

And you will be richly.

Rewarded for thank you senator Jim and off and -- god -- you have a wonderful wonderful.

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