Local family 'Living by a Leap of Faith' as they homeschool a family of 25 children

October 17, 7:12 PMSt. Louis Homeschooling ExaminerTere Scott

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In 1995 when Tom and Debra Ritter adopted their first child, bringing her into a household made up of 3 biological children from Tom and Debra's previous marriages, they had no idea that one day their family would consist of 25 children in all (13 girls & 12 boys).

One by one, the Ritters have adopted 22 children.  The children are those whom others have labeled as unadoptable.  The Ritters have proved that label to be wrong.  They homeschool in a one-room schoolhouse on their 60 acre farm in Pike County, Missouri.  Sixteen of the children are currently being homeschooled.  And, they run a bed & breakfast in Vandalia, Missouri as well.

How do they do it?  They believe and live out the Biblical passage that calls us to look after the fatherless.  They have written their story in a self-published book entitled Living by a Leap of Faith which can be purchased at Cornerstone Farms Press website and pictured here.

Among some of their stories of faith is the adoption of their toddler in 2000, from Vietnam.  The orphanage had labeled her as "terminal" and left her alone, untouched.  The Ritters heard of her, saw her photo and wanted to adopt her.  The international adoption, however, was costly.  So, they got on their knees and asked for God's intervention and Will to be done.  After a few days had passed, they heard a knock on the door & there was a check for $10,000 from someone who had heard of their desire to adopt this little girl.  The adoption went through & they took the little girl to the Mayo Clinic where they repaired her "terminal" heart.

Read more about the Ritters on their website

Another local book about adoption from Mark Dicken-Bradshaw