PHOENIX — A Missouri couple caught in a rare Phoenix rainstorm last November says the moment — captured in an on-street interview — turned out to be far more meaningful than they ever expected.
Grady and Erin were in Arizona waiting for their adoptive son to be born when they were stopped for an interview during one of the Valley's rare rain events. Phoenix gets an estimated 36 days of rain a year, making even a few sprinkles newsworthy.
"We decided we needed to do something to fill our mind while we're waiting for baby to be born," Erin said.
The couple was in the middle of a nine-month adoption process. They later used the interview as part of the birth announcement for their son, Matthias.
"Maybe this is what we needed, the rain!" Grady said.
After the interview, Grady and Erin waited more than a week for Matthias to be born before bringing him home to Missouri to meet his big sister, Ruby.
"Ruby is an excellent big sister, and I think this one loves her too," Erin said.
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The couple credits Sacred Selections for helping them fund the adoption process and Building Arizona Families for pairing them with Matthias and Ruby, both of whom are from Arizona.
"We believe every child is a blessing, I do often think of that day as rain is a blessing from God," Grady said.
The name they chose carries its own meaning.
"Matthias means gift of God," Grady said.
According to the Arizona Department of Child Safety, more than 7,000 Arizona children are in foster care at any given time, with only about 3,000 licensed foster families. Arizona routinely ranks in the top 10 states nationwide for overall volume of children in out-of-home placements.
Grady and Erin agreed to share their story to encourage others to consider adoption or foster care.
