Rev. Run and Wife Justine Encourage Adoption

If you caught the season premiere of Run’s House last Wednesday evening, you met Miley Justine Simmons, the newest member of the brood. Adopted last September by Reverend Run and his wife Justine, the 10-month-old has quickly made her presence known. "I just found out that she has a little attitude," Justine laughs. "I don’t remember the boys doing that at this age, so I don’tknow if this is a girl thing or what!"

Getting serious, the family hopes that including their new daughter on the series will open people’s eyes to the world of adoption. The Reverend, 43, and Justine initially explored the avenue after the loss of their daughter Victoria Anne shortly after her birth in September 2006, and welcomed Miley exactly a year later. They credit her adoption with healing their family after Victoria’s death. Explained Justine, "There are other women out there who can’t have babies and they keep trying."

They get so caught up with ‘I gotta have my own.’ If people knew that they would get that same feeling from adoption, I think more [couples] would adopt and not go through the heartache of trying and miscarrying.

The family — including Vanessa, 25, Angela, 21, Joseph "JoJo," 19, Daniel "Diggy," 13, and Russell "Russy," 11 — currently appear on Run’s House, airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Courtesy JET.

Comments

I adore this family and think it’s great they’re encouraging others to look into adoption. Miley is absolutely beautiful, what a doll!

- Emaline on July 22nd, 2008

Love, love, love them! Miley is just adorable & I find their show so enjoyable…I just want to hang out at Run’s House!

- Lucy on July 22nd, 2008

LOVE THEM!!!
Miley too cute for words!!
OK SHOES, lets talk about the SHOES!! Who makes Miley’s Shoes?? Soo cute!!

- Gthandy on July 22nd, 2008

this is probably not going to get posted, but i’m SO glad that they are coming out to tell ppl how great adoption is… and for everyoe who’s going to talk about their socio-economic status… if you’re not trying to get a “designer” baby, it’s really NOT that expensive to adopt (told to me by several ppl who have adopted foster children) as a matter of fact, one of my friends mothers’ adopted three sisters under the age of two (2,1,& 4 months) and the county paid for a lot of it… the biological mother is now pregnant w/ her 4th and she’s going to adopt that baby too…

she keeps saying “i wish this woman would stop having kids she can’t take care of, but i’m so thankful to her for my babies” all are healthy, smart and well taken care of children…

- fay on July 22nd, 2008

I love Run’s House! It is the best reality show on TV, cause the family is 100% real. My heart went out to the family when they lost Victoria but I am so glad they have found joy with Miley. Miley is adorable and I am sooo happy for the entire Simmons family!

- robin on July 22nd, 2008

It’s funny, I think Miley actually looks like them!

- chris on July 22nd, 2008

Miley is SO CUTE…just like the rest of their children! I love this family and the examples they are to others!

- UggaMugga.com on July 22nd, 2008

I saw the show. It really made me consider adopting (when both of my kids are school-aged).

- Kimberly/Mom in the City on July 22nd, 2008

You’re not along Chris. Miley looks a lot like Rev.

- Heather on July 22nd, 2008

I also LOVE this fam! And they dont live far from me either lol. She looks tall!

- Kris on July 22nd, 2008

fay, i would love more info on that because everywhere we’ve looked the cost is through the roof ($20,000 – $40,000).

i think it’s terrific this family is promoting adoption! i think it’s great even for families who can have their own kids. my husband and i are having one of our own in 6 months, but we plan to adopt the rest of our family.

- MB on July 22nd, 2008

i think she looks like them too…

i don’t know how to go about it because i’ve never adopted… i remember one of my coworkers talking about how expensive it was, and another coworker said they should foster, and after a while the state makes it HELLA workable… they said they were more interested in adopting through an agency… the lady i spoke about above fostered the girls before she adopted them… and i think she’s going to wind up fostering the new baby for a year or so… she said the state takes care of a lot of it…

- fay on July 22nd, 2008

Fay -
First off, I’d love to know where and how others have done it. Starting costs are $30,000 and rapidly go up. And that is not for an international adoption.

As for your friend who adopted, if she was a foster mother, then she had an inside track and got very, very, very lucky. My husband and I have been working to adopt through foster care for over 2 years and are still waiting. For 99.9% of the population working with DCF or various “state” agencies, it’s a long, heartbreaking process before you finally get to cross the finish line with a child.

And yes, when you adopt through your state (that is children who are part of the foster care system), you qualify for grants that cover the majority of your expenses. The children are also eligible for subsidies to help with their care AND many qualify for free tuition at state colleges. There are many benefits to be had, besides the joy of getting to be a parent.

We remain hopeful, as each time we get one step closer to making the dream a reality.

- Anna on July 22nd, 2008

I think adoption is wonderful, whether it’s locally or internationally. They set a really good example.

- Jessica on July 22nd, 2008

Looks like Miley’s going to be tall!

Anyone else think Justine looks like Jordin Sparks in that photo?

- JennB on July 22nd, 2008

OK PLEASE PLEASE ANYONE KNOW WERE TO GET THESE SHOES???
OMG TOO CUTE, WOULD LOVE A PAIR FOR MY BABY

- lucy80 on July 22nd, 2008

I absolutely love them. They seem like such great and loving parents on their show. It was just awful when they lost their baby girl last year but I’m so happy that they were able to find something so special through it. That baby is just gorgeous and I love seeing her siblings so attached to her.

Kudos to them on promoting adoption. I always believed that were I to adopt, I would adopt from within the US and from foster care. There are so many children that need homes are are overlooked because they are the right age or familys want the child to look like them. Obviously she is a baby, but I appreciate that they looked within this country to find a mother in need of adoptive parents. I wish them the best of luck with Miley and I hope they inspire others to follow their lead!

- Ekaterina on July 22nd, 2008

I’m happy for the family, I watched the season when Miley came into their lives and I shared tears with them and I laughed with them. My Blessings go out to the whole family!

- Carol on July 22nd, 2008

I love that family so much there soo real and the kids are not spoiled which i love

That quote by Justine is so incredible

- Sammy-xx on July 22nd, 2008

I am in love with this baby’s outfit!!! How friggin cute is it?!! I agree about the shoes, I have all boys, but for these shoes I would be tempted to put a hat on their heads, dress them in pink JUST to have these shoes.

I am so happy for this family..I couldn’t imagine the loss they went through with Victoria and I am so glad this family has been blessed in this way. ANd Miley looks just like her Daddy! Really, it is nuts.

For those of you trying to adopt, I wish you lots of luck. I would be interested to know where adoption is cheap too. I had difficulty conceiving my baby due to PCOS and I do understand the frusturation and heartache. Don’t give up. I didn’t, even after the doctors told me to, and we now have our baby.

- LisaB on July 22nd, 2008

That is an excellent story. There are tons and tons of children in North America desparately in need of a loving home. The problem is the crazy costs of adoption. I was watching “Little People, Big World” where a couple was in the process of adopting a special needs “little person” and Matt Roloff and another guy (he’s an actor, has been in several movies) paid for the adoption otherwise the couple would not have been able to afford it. It was not an international adoption, it was a local adoption and the kid was living in a facilitated care home. I’m like this is crazy. Why does it cost so much to adopt? Could why there’s so many kids without homes be because so many adults that want to adopt cannot afford it? If that is the case, well good grief, the government should change things. It shouldn’t cost anything to adopt especially if the child is in a state facility or a ward of the state, ya know? I don’t know whose fault it is that adoption costs so much money. Are adoption agencies to blame as they’d be doing this for profit, and not for “the good of the children” because if they truly were doing it for the good of the children they wouldn’t be charging crazy adoption fees.

- DLR on July 22nd, 2008

Kudos to them for promoting adoption, but i hope they realize that its not that people are not open to adopt, but the cost is ridiculous. There are believe it or not, people who are making money and living on providing abused and abandoned children with a second chance. I am trying to raise money to adopt a baby, and we are looking at about $25.000. Please noone tell me that it’s cheap. It’s not. It’s horribly expensive for people who are just making regular money. We would like to adopt three but i dont think we’ll ever have money. Also dont confuse adoption with fostering. Fostering is not for everyone, some people choose adoption over fostering and vice versa.

So its great that they are promoting adoption, but i hope that one day one of the celebs starts a charity helping people who want to adopt but cant because of money.

And one more thing, here in BC, even for a direct adoption (when birth mother chooses the family herself so there is not much stuff involved) the cost is about $12.000 to the adoptive agency it has to go through and the adoptive family has to go through a six months home study and extensive questionnaire, even if its your own cousin and send a yearly update until the child is 18 I think. So i would like to see how some calls this not that expensive

- Molly on July 22nd, 2008

I love this family! Adoption cost really depends on what type of adoption you use. My husband and I went through a non profit agency in our state. They base their adoption fee on a sliding scale based off of your income. The highest fee they had was $10,000. You also have to consider that they did not ask for this fee all at once. It was broken into 3 payments done over the course of the adoption. We waited 2 years for our son (I would have waited 10 for him). He is now 10 months and is the best thing that ever happened to my husband and I.

- Jen on July 22nd, 2008

This is the best family on “reality TV”. In terms of the parenting skills, Rev is the best dad. The baby is beautiful. I am single & 42 & want to have kids more than anything. I would LOVE to have a biological child but if that can’t happen I will FOR SURE adopt. I am also African-American & would adopt an AA child. There are SO many in THIS country that need homes.

Seeing the family & how much love Miley brought into their lives reminds me that adopting is something that is a very good option.

But I WOULD like to have a biological child. I hope it’s not too late.

Keep me in your prayers!

- lulu on July 22nd, 2008

This is the best family on “reality TV”. In terms of the parenting skills, Rev is the best dad. The baby is beautiful. I am single & 42 & want to have kids more than anything. I would LOVE to have a biological child but if that can’t happen I will FOR SURE adopt. I am also African-American & would adopt an AA child. There are SO many in THIS country that need homes.

Seeing the family & how much love Miley brought into their lives reminds me that adopting is something that is a very good option.

But I WOULD like to have a biological child. I hope it’s not too late.

Keep me in your prayers!

- lulu on July 22nd, 2008

MB – I just googled “non profit charity adoption” and my state and I found a couple right off the bat. I didn’t do much indepth reading on them, but it was a start for me. We’re looking to adopt in a couple years.

- dearling on July 23rd, 2008

They got little Miley so fast and I know why. Just watch one episode of “Run’s House” and anyone will be able to see what an incredible woman Justine is. This woman is such a loving mom to her children and loves her stepchildren like her own. My heart went out to this family after losing their daughter, Victoria. That episode made me so sad for them. I love to see that they have found happiness again in beautiful Miley. That little girl is blessed, blessed, blessed. I love the way her big brother worries about her and looks after her. God bless the beautiful family!

- Star on July 23rd, 2008

I love this family and I wish them many blessings.

For African Americans looking to adopt African American children, the costs are not as high. There are usually more African American babies available than African American families so many times the costs are subsidized by the agency and government grants.

I’m an African American adoptee as a newborn– My mom filled out the paperwork in July, I was born at the end of September, and home in October.

I wish all African American families that are able to seriously consider adoption. Our community has such a strong need.

- J-Lin on July 23rd, 2008

This show is wholesome and should get more attention. What a welcome change to watch a loving family instead of dysfunction and chaos.

- Pam on July 23rd, 2008

I have watched the Rev. and his Family from the very begining. As a White women, and mother of 3. I’m so PROUD to watch this Black Blended Family!! Two LOVING parents in the house. I’m so tired of African American Families, being protrayed in such a bad light!! This is a REAL FAMILY! I have laughed and cried with them. God Bess them ALL!! And WELCOME Miley!!!

- WICCANWAY on July 23rd, 2008

I just realized that this baby is only 10 months old. Holy cow, she is tall isn’t she? I thought she was over a year old. WOW!

- LisaB on July 23rd, 2008

I would just like to say Congrats to the Simmons family. I am a 27 year old single female. I am in the process of adopting a baby boy. I have had him since he was 2 in a half weeks old. I love him dearly so adoption is wonderful and I can have children of my own, but I didn’t want this child in the system. Please everyone look here and not overseas we have so many children that need homes and loving families.

- SMAC0313 on July 23rd, 2008

What a precious family. God Bless them.

- Bella Mama on July 23rd, 2008

The shoes are from Janie and Jack!

- Kendall's mommy on July 23rd, 2008

She looks so much like Rev! She looks just like if she were their biological baby.

- Cat on July 23rd, 2008

OK, I HAVE adopted and if you don’t demand a caucasian baby you don’t wait that long and you don’t pay $30,000. We paid $15,000 total and got most of it back from the goverment at tax time due to the adoption tax credit. We decided to let God decide which baby would come to us and she happens to be African American (we’re white) ADOPTION IS AFFORDABLE and you don’t wait that long if you aren;t trying to order a baby out of a catalog.

- vani on July 23rd, 2008

I love this family also of all the so called reality families this is the one I would want to be adopted into.

- tnorene on July 23rd, 2008

There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to U.S. adoption as far as how difficult it is, how expensive, and how long it takes. Some of the waiting time involves government bureaus (background checks, etc.), but a lot of the waiting time depends on you. We adopted our baby boy last year through a wonderful, longstanding agency where costs were adjusted on a sliding scale based on income. I just learned recently that some banks offer special loans for families who want to adopt. Also, there is a $10,000 federal tax credit. Every agency operates differently and every state has different laws and requirements. I encourage everyone considering adoption to do their own research, go to an orientation meeting at an agency, and decide for themselves. A couple good links are http://www.davethomasfoundation.org and http://www.childwelfare.gov

- DK's Mom on July 23rd, 2008

Funny, baby girl looks like Run!

- Natasha on July 23rd, 2008

She’s so darn cute!!!!

- Yella on July 24th, 2008

is it me or what she is looking just like them simmons what a beautilful adopted baby too me she not adopted she resembles thier family in alot of ways she even makes the family more cuter justine simmons has a beautilful family and the baby they adopted is too cute for words she is just a gorgeous baby i wonder where they got the baby from i know they got her in the us she is a pretty baby

- whitney warner on July 24th, 2008

Miley is just precious, and those sandals are adorable. She already has a big personality whenever they show her on their show, and she’s hilarious as well as cute.

And I think it’s great that Jus and Rev are helping to promote adoption. That there could be a light for those who have suffered or are having difficulties with pregnancy, etc.

And doesn’t Bailey Baio have a pink version of Miley’s knit cap?

- FC on July 24th, 2008

Miley is an angel! she’s soooo blessed to be apart of such a loving family.

- leatrice singleton on July 24th, 2008

We had a stillborn baby last year when I was in the middle of my pregnancy and have been doing treatments since the 6 week check up after. we have explored adoption and it is not as easy as you make it out to be. There is a lot of red tape. Cost. And a very long waiting time. If they made it a little easier for parents to adopt I am sure a lot more children would be adopted in Canada and the US. Why do you think so many people say screw it and go overseas to adopt?

Terralynn

- terralynn verge on July 25th, 2008

Let me also say I think it is wonderful that this precious baby has brought some healing to this family during the loss of their daughter. My son’s name was Kristopher. That is very encouraging to hear after the loss of our baby boy.

- Terralynn Verge on July 25th, 2008

SHE FITS THEM SOO WELL AND DOES LOOK LIKE THEM ESP REV RUN AWWW SHE TOO CUTE AND SHES A BIG GIRL TOO

- KEEYSHAJ50 on July 27th, 2008