This couple adopted 7 siblings from foster care just in time for Christmas

They’ll be home for Christmas! That’s what a big brood of kids can say this holiday season, thanks to one generous couple. Terri and Michael Hawthorn, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, have welcomed seven siblings into their family just in time to ring in the new year together.

The Hawthorns adopted seven brothers and sisters this holiday season. The siblings range in age from 8 to 15 and have been in foster care for nearly three years, according to Fox Carolina.

The proud dad took to Facebook to share the good news of his growing family, writing, “Today it is official, these 7 siblings changed their last name to Hawthorn.”

In the post, Hawthorn also thanks his pastor and some members of his community for helping him and his wife through the adoption process. “Most people my age are only concerned in retirement (that would be nice), but over that we have chosen to invest in the lives of these kids,” he wrote.

The photos the dad posted to Facebook display all seven of the newly adopted children. The siblings are all smiles as they hold a sign that reads, “1,035 days in foster care and today we were adopted!”

What incredible news to celebrate as a family, especially at this time of year!

Now A Family Of 15

The dad also pointed out that they are now a family of 15. Before adding seven more to the mix, the couple also had four biological children (who are grown), as well as an adopted pair of sisters, Yahoo reports.

“Me and Terri have gone from 4 kids to 13, no typos 13, let that sink in,” the dad joked on Facebook.

When they first signed up to be foster parents, they had no intentions of adopting children.

“Our first words were, OK we’ll do it for a couple of years but we will not adopt,” the Terri told THV11. But clearly, they cared for these children enough to make them permanent members of the family.

‘The Best Christmas I Could Ever Have’

As you can see in this video from THV11, the children couldn’t be happier to finally have a stable home. “This has been the best Christmas I could ever have, actually knowing I have a mom and dad,” a teary-eyed Kyndal Hawthorn said, addressing her new parents in the video:

And even though it wasn’t their intention to become the parents to 13 kids, the couple says they wouldn’t change a single thing.

“This is a blessing, they are a blessing,” the mom told THV11. “Every day these kids wake up and they are giggling and they are happy, and you see the smiles on their faces, that’s what makes this worth it.”

Wishing a very Merry Christmas to the entire Hawthorn family!