Adopted child thanks God for her life

Jenise Engelke, center (holding her son Jackson), and members of her family at a recent wedding reception. From left to right: Jenise's father, Dennis Harborth, Holding Jenise's son Tatum; Jenise's husband, Jeremy Engelke; Jenise; Jackson; Jenise's mother, Emily Harbroth; half-sister Jenna Satrang; Jenise's birth mother, Lori Satrang and her husband, Larry.

Last December, LSS completed its 7,000th adoption; a 4-day-old boy named Carson was adopted by a Central Texas family. At about the same time, a young woman who was adopted as an infant nearly three decades ago contacted LSS by email.

“I am not sure why,” wrote Janice Engelke, “but I feel led to share with LSS what a tremendous blessing you have all been in my life.”

Engelke went on to say that she was “adopted by an extemely loving family” that had also adopted a son. “I have a happy story and wanted to let LSS know that,” she said.

Engelke thanked LSS for “helping both sides during the adoption process.”
While she was told that she was adopted when she was still very young, Engelke says she does not remember how she reacted. As a second grader, she remembers writing a winning essay in which she said she felt “special” because as an adopted child, she was “chosen.”

When she turned 18 and was a freshman in college, her mother told her that LSS had received a letter for her from her birthmother, and wondered if she would like to receive it. Engelke had received other letters written by her birthmother, including one in which her birth- mother said while she loved Jenise very much, her birth- mother did not feel that she could properly provide for a child at the time.

Before long, she and her parents met her birthmother Lori Satrang, and her husband, Larry. Their friendships have developed over time.

“The way my life has turned out,” said Engelke, “I just had to let LSS know how they have touched my life.”

Engelke has a doctorate in physical therapy. She works with children and the elderly and in home health care. Her husband Jeremy is a high school teacher and coach at Belton High School in Belton, Texas.

Engelke says she is an advocate for adoption and readily shares her story. When asked for her opinion, she has encouraged young, single women to consider adoption if they are unsure of what to do.

About her own adoption and her “extended family” Engelke says, “Look at how lucky I’ve been. Thank God for seeing this through!”

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