When Leah and Michael Sharpshair got married, she thought maybe they’d have three or four children. They had five.
Now, plus two.
The Liberty Township family finalized their adoption of Brayden, 11 months, today. He follows his brother Colton, who was adopted earlier this year. Colton will be 2 on Saturday.
“We just love kids,” Mrs. Sharpshair told Hamilton County Probate Court Magistrate Rogena Stargel. “We wanted them to be together.”
They became foster parents in April 2012 through SAFY and thought they would like to adopt. They had one placement prior to Colton. Brayden has been with them since he was just days old.
Stargel asked the couple during the adoption hearing about how having the two younger boys around has affected the Sharpshairs’ five biological children: Brandi Becker, 22; Evan, 21; Michaela, 17; Mackenzie, 16; and Carlie, 12.
Mr. Sharpshair’s response: “One of the biggest blessings of this has been to watch our children be part of it. It’s been awesome.”
HCJFS Adoption Worker Stacey Barton said she just adores the Sharpshairs.
“I do. They’re just a fun family,” she said. “This is one of those stories where I feel that our agency really did it right.”
Their five-bedroom house is full, but the Sharpshairs are thinking about how they can still be foster parents. They think a toddler bed will fit into the room where Colton and Brayden sleep.
Mrs. Sharpshair can’t put her finger on why, but she said she just feels now is not the right time to close their home.
