Dad Tells the Story of Adopting His Son on Imgur

"This is my son, getting a hug from his case worker, during the adoption party we held the day when he officially joined our family."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"My son spent weeks trying to catch this bullfrog that was living in a pond on his grandparent's property. He even named the frog 'Big Joe.'"

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"When he started middle school, Robbie started running cross country and distance events for track and field. Warning -- bragging to follow . . . In 8th grade, my son set seven course records for middle school cross country courses, and was undefeated in Cross Country, 1600 meters and 800 meters. He briefly held a national record for 3K middle school boys."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"Here he is on his 11th birthday, laughing, playing his guitar. I love this photo. He looks so happy."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"This is Robbie making his goal of breaking five minutes in the 1600 while still in middle school. The quality isn't that good — I took the photo while screaming my head off."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"When the movie, The Blind Side came out, it had a big emotional impact for my son, because in the movie, Oher was taken from his parents in a manner similar to what happened to my son. . . . [At a book signing] Michael had a long and personal conversation with my son. They talked about how my son can overcome challenges like college sports, how to handle his biological parents, and how to use his past as fuel. We're Michael Oher fans now."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"During the 2010 blizzard. I love how this photo shows how protective he is of his little sister."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"He's proud that he learned how to play guitar completely on his own. He refuses to take any lessons, other than watching YouTube. Here he is, playing one of his guitars, with some of his running medals behind him."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"Wow. Look at that hair. My son likes this picture because it shows 'that I'm really cut.'"

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"Robbie loves longboarding, and has started to make his own boards. This was taken earlier this Fall."

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Foster Care Video

Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"In my son's English class a few years ago, he gave a speech to his fellow students, telling them that they should talk with their parents about becoming foster parents. At the end of the speech when he says that he was a foster child, it was the first time any of his classmates knew that he was once a foster kid."

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Image Source: Jim Westhoff

"Rob graduated high school this past Spring. This Spring, he will be leaving for Air Force boot camp. He plans to be an instructor at the Air Force's survival school, called SERE. He has already passed the fitness requirements to be enrolled in that school. My wife and I plan to fly to Texas when he graduates Air Force boot camp."

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