Local family finds the perfect gift in new son

Courtney Bryce
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND Tue, May 13 2008

— One Deer Creek family couldn’t have received a better Christmas gift than the one they received this year. It was a gift of love that came in the package of a 3-year-old Vietnamese boy they named Austin.
Kim and Bill Evans traveled to Vietnam in early November and legally adopted Austin Thomas Nguyen Evans on Nov. 5. Kim said Nguyen originally was Austin’s last name and they wanted to let him keep it as his middle name.
“(Austin) is probably one of the funniest kids I’ve ever met,” Kim said. “He definitely has his own personality.”
The couple, who also have a college-aged daughter, Rachel, talked about adopting another child for three years.
Kim said one of her friend’s sister-in-laws mentioned she adopted a child through Dillon International, an adoption agency based out of Tulsa. The Evans went to the agency’s Web site and saw Austin’s picture on a list with about 20 other children who were waiting to be adopted.
“We just fell absolutely in love with him,” Kim said. “Every step along the way God has blessed us in a way you couldn’t anticipate.”
Bill said they already had their retirement fund set up through the age of 85. He said adopting a child changed that.
“I prayed about it a long time. I came to the realization that it’s not about me and retiring. It’s about him,” he said.
One of the hardest adjustments for Austin was the 12 hour time difference. Kim said whenever they put Austin down for a nap at noon, he would want to sleep until 8 p.m. and then stay up all night.
Another challenge has been communication. Kim said Austin understands they can’t always understand and has been good at finding ways to tell them what he wants. Kim said, however, that they still want to know what he’s saying and thinking. Bill said other than those two things, they don’t have any different issues than what other parents face with a 3-year-old.
“People say ‘It’s a great thing what you’ve done for him,’ but I don’t know who’s helped who more,” Bill said. “(Austin) has been such a blessing.”
Kim said they have spent the past couple of months learning what Austin likes and doesn’t like. She said he loves Spaghetti O’s, McDonald’s and bananas but is not overly fond of naps and going to bed.
“Everyday he’s discovering new things,” Kim said.
While Austin will be receiving an electric four-wheeler and golf clubs, Kim said their new son gets the most pleasure out of simple things. She said one of his favorite games is to make a gun or hammer out of a rolled up newspaper or a water bottle.
Bill said they are working with Austin on his English. Once they master that they will help Austin maintain his Vietnamese language.
A Norman family adopted a boy that grew up with Austin in the orphanage in Vietnam. Kim said once Austin gets adjusted they plan to get the two boys together so they can stay in touch with their language and culture.
“We want to find Asian community events to take him to,” Kim said.
She said they did spend three weeks with Austin in Vietnam before bringing him home.
“That will be invaluable to us to help us raise him and help him understand his culture,” Kim said.
The family will start a new tradition for Austin this Christmas.
“We’re going to bake cookies with him,” Kim said. “We plan to take lots of pictures.”
Austin already learned some cooking skills when he helped bake pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and Rachel’s birthday cake.
“He’s a stirrer and likes to lick the spoon,” Bill said.
Austin has big holiday plans. The family will travel to Kansas City to visit Kim’s side of the family and then to McAlester to visit Bill’s side of the family.
“We’ve gained so much,” Bill said.
“There’s no greater joy than knowing what you can do for him and what he can do for you,” Kim said.

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