The Butners are a remarkable family. After raising two happy boys to the ages of 3 and 5, Jon and Karen decided to have one more child, but found they were unable. So they decided to adopt --from China.

The introduction of baby Emilee from Hunan Province in 2002 started a progression that changed life in the Butner household forever. The following year Audree was adopted from Karen's family the US. Then came Gracee from Anhui Province in 2004. Next was William and Levi in 2006 and 2007 both from Henan. In five years the family had quickly grown from four to nine.

Excited little voices carry over the family's small farm outside of Macon, Mo. as the children play in the warm fall evening. They have finished home school under the tutelage of their mother, who somehow also finds the time to run a daycare center weekday mornings in the town. Jon, a vehicle inspector for the Highway Patrol, returns from work mid-afternoon and puts the children to task, tending to the animals. He works to harvest hay with the the younger of the "Big Boys" Seth, now 15. This is a happy place, full of life, love and laughter.

When asked if they would adopt again Karen gives a coy smile. "We're looking at Africa."

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The Butners are a family of nine. The "Big Boys" Caleb and Seth now 17 and 15 have a "second generation" of younger siblings. When the boys were young (three and five), parents Jon and Karen decided to adopt a child when they were unable to conceive a third. Emilee, center, was adopted as a baby from Hunan province, China in 2004. Over the next five years four more children were brought into the family. One from the US, Audree, right, and and three more from China: William, Levi and Gracee, left.