"Daniel said not long ago, 'Our children have been our greatest struggle but our greatest triumph,'" LuAnne said. "We have really had to fight for a family."

In August, the Barnhardts finalized the adoption of their son, Chris, 4, who they got through the Department of Social Services. He'd been a foster child in their home for more than two years. They adopted their daughter, Bekah, 5, through a private agency.

"Adoption is beautiful," said LuAnne, 44. "There are a lot of kids who want a mom and dad and someone to love them."

Chris was 17 months old when he arrived malnourished and with a broken leg. "He had a lot of issues," said Daniel, 41.

He was not unlike the 1,500 South Carolina children in need of adoption through DSS, which celebrates Adoption Awareness Month in November. Gov. Mark Sanford recently announced new initiatives to encourage and speed up the adoption process, and he plans to restore a one-time incentive of $1,500, up from the current $250.

300 children need homes

DSS is recruiting homes for 300 children, said Judy Caldwell, administrator for Area A, which includes York, Chester and Lancaster counties. Many are siblings who want to stay together, are children of color and are older than age 5. There are few babies. Most have physical, emotional, behavioral or learning disabilities.

In York County, 58 children are waiting for placement, 24 in Lancaster County and eight in Chester County. They're in various stages of being legally free and some may have a family waiting, Caldwell said.

"Children need a sense of belonging," she said. "They need security to develop."

The wait can take a few months to a few years. The cost is minimal compared to private adoption, which can range from $15,000 to $20,000.

And, as the Barnhardts discovered, it's not always easy.

Married 10 years, the Fort Mill couple decided in 1996 to adopt. They wanted a baby and worked through a private agency in Spartanburg. Prepared for an 18-month wait, they got 7-month-old Jacob within two months.

Their joy was short-lived. After only a few months, the birth mother changed her mind and the child was returned.

Devastated, they waited and soon got another call about an expectant mother who wanted them to adopt her child.

The Barnhardts were at the hospital the day Bekah was born in early 1998. They brought her home the next day and the adoption went smoothly. "We had peace," Daniel said.

Feeling blessed, they agreed to be foster parents. Their first were a brother and sister, ages 9 and 4, who stayed 31 days. Their second were 7-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, who stayed nine days.

And then there was Chris.

He cried nonstop for hours and picked his lips until they bled. He was prescribed several drugs, one an anti-depressant. Finally, he was diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder, which means he'd never been nurtured as an infant and distrusted adults.

Visits from the biological mother caused Chris to regress, and LuAnne was angry the mother didn't work on her rehabilitation plan. She sent a certified letter to then Gov. Jim Hodges that got the attention of DSS officials. Visits with the mother were postponed and last spring she relinquished her rights.

Chris has come a long way. The couple no longer attends counseling to deal with his problems. He fights with his sister like a normal brother and is a ham in front of the camera.

"We said if we gave up on him, he doesn't stand a chance," Daniel said. "We just kept trudging through."

At home, the Barnhardts call each other "Mom" and "Dad" and pictures of the children are everywhere.

They're open about the adoptions and want the children to learn that, while not everything comes easily, a family is worth the sacrifice.

Bekah says it best.

"You have a mom and dad to help you be safe and to give you love and care," she said. "A family means no one gets left behind."

Contact Sula Pettibon at 329-4033 or mailto:spettibon@heraldonline.com