Couple Adopts Own Team and More

The Daily Oklahoman

Author: Mike Baldwin

Bill and Chriss Barnes didn't set out to start their own version of the United Nations, but now they wouldn't change a thing.

Affectionately known as the "Rainbow Family," the Barneses have adopted six children from countries around the world. The family of 10 lives in far northeast Oklahoma City.

Lucas, 13, is from Korea. Joseph, 10, and Olivia, 3, are from Guatemala. Jonathan, 7, and Lelene, 6, are from Haiti. David, 18 months, is from Oklahoma. The couple also has two daughters, Nicole, 17, and Colette, 15.

"We realize we create a stir wherever we go because of our size, much less our colorization," Bill said with a smile.

It all started when Chriss, a former nurse, read the book "Spirit of Survival" by Gail Sheehy. The book centers on one woman's struggle to adopt a refugee child after the Korean War.

"That was my first pursuit too, a refugee. We were looking for a boy since we had two girls, and I've always been fascinated by the Asian cultures and their traditions," Chriss said. "I was steered to Small Miracles International."

That group, for which Chriss now volunteers, arranged the adoption of Lucas five years ago. Bill, a urologist, is board president of the Oklahoma City Clinic.

"Most parents who have no children want to parent an infant because they have not had that experience, but we had," Chriss said.

"A lot of people's consciousness was raised for zero population ... let's not do more than duplicate ourselves so we don't add to the world's food problems. That's the primary reason we adopted. "

When they decided to adopt a second child they ran into stricter Korean regulations. As a result they were steered toward Joseph. The family eventually grew to 10 when they adopted Olivia last December. Chriss, 44, and Bill, 46, say they aren't trying to lead by example.

"I'd like to see a world where we treat everyone as individuals, as people," Bill said. Lelene, like many of the children, has the American name the Barnes gave her. Some have kept their original names as middle names. Lucas is Lucas Keun Sung. Joseph is simply Anglicized. Jonathan kept Jethro as his middle name.

"It's funny, but we told Lelene we were going to give her the name Danielle. Remember, she was just 4. What she said was interpreted in Creole. She said: `No. I don't like that name. I will sell that name to my brother. I want to be named Jacqueline.' We told her Lelene Jacqueline wasn't good, but she could name her first daughter Jacqueline."

There have been some cultural adjustments.

"The Eastern and Western culture differences are extreme. In their culture it's a sign of disrespect when you look directly at a person," Chriss said. "For us we think it's a sign of disrespect if they don't look at us. That was most difficult for Lucas to overcome."

One of the Barneses' favorite activities is attending Oklahoma City Cavalry basketball games. The children have grown to love American traditions like basketball, but Chriss and Bill try to help the children keep some of their heritage.

"We think it's real important that they be proud of where they came from," Chriss said. "Even though they know they're American, Joseph is tutored in Spanish. We're looking for a tutor for Lelene and Jonathan in Creole or at least the French they speak in Haiti."

What about prejudice?

"We have run into very little, but our kids are really in a controlled environment," Bill said. "Oakdale is a very small school, a rural setting. We've known everyone for a long time. "In fact, the children have really become a novelty. As each of them has entered school the other kids are so fascinated by the culture differences."

The children play on the family's uniqueness.

"They make up these stories that I've been married so many times to all these different husbands," Chriss said, laughing. " `First she was married to this Korean man, but they didn't get along. Then she married a Guatemalan man, then a man from Haiti.' It's the family joke."

Will there be more additions?

"This is it - for this month," Bill joked.

"When you work as a volunteer for an adoption agency you see too many kids in need," Chriss says. "You always wind up saying, `Maybe I can do just one more.' "