Story To Warm Your Heart

COUPLE WHO LOST SON IN WAR ADOPT 2 KIDS

Mark and Karen Zook considered adopting children years ago. When their son died while serving in Iraq, they knew adoption was for them. Marine Cpl. William T. Zook, 24, died during enemy action in 2004.

The Zooks used money from their son’s life insurance to adopt Anya, 11, and Alexander, 12, from Russia.”We wanted to make sure we put it to good use,” Mark Zook said.

The children started school Monday at Barnabas Christian Academy in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Zooks, both 51, traveleled to Kemerovo, Russia, in June to meet anya and Alexander, who lived in an orphanage.

Anya and Alexander are in a combined third-and fourth-grade class until their English skills catch up with those of the other children their age. They are enjoying playing with the family dog, meeting their sister, Amy, 29, and planning a trip to Walt Disney World with their new family.

Exceprt from the Broward Plus section of the Miami Herald, Sept. 28th, 2006, see page 3B.