Giving a gift most precious.

Byline: Karen McCowan / The Register-Guard

ABOUT THIS TIME two years ago, I wrote about a child's heartbreaking Christmas wish. It was Bill Curley's first shift as a volunteer Santa for the Festival of Trees, when 4-year-old Emily shyly confided what she most wanted: "new parents."

A state caseworker with the girl explained that she and two sisters had awaited adoption for more than a year. A distraught Curley contacted me, determined to help make that wish come true.

Today, an update.

In that December 1999 column, I said state officials had decided that they were unlikely to find a suitable home for all three girls, given the effects of severe abuse while in their natural parents' custody. I also said a teacher had expressed interest in adopting the oldest sister, Stephanie, then 8.

Today's column is prompted by a letter from that Springfield teacher, Steffanie Peters.

As a music teacher, Peters had been captivated by this "small, pixie-like student" since meeting her as a first-grader.

Stephanie was "a somewhat naughty charmer," Peters recounted. "The first day of school, she asked if I would eat lunch with her. Her first name was my first name, and of course it instantly endeared her to me.

"I sat across from her in the cafeteria, as this 6-year-old said, `I'm carbohydrate intolerant.' In shock, I asked if she knew what that meant ... she answered, `I can only have one serving of breads and stuff at each meal.' She was so precious. I ate with her often."

A year later, the single teacher learned that the sibling group was up for adoption. She felt she couldn't take all three, but she couldn't forget Stephanie. The next fall, she checked to see if the girl was still enrolled.

"There her name sat on a third-grade class list," Peters said. "I breathed a sigh of relief, thanking God for not taking her away, then feeling guilty that I would want to deprive her of a family."

Meeting Stephanie's foster mother over a behavior problem, Peters confessed that she'd "loved this child since she was a first-grader" but lacked the confidence to parent three children.

So the foster mother immediately called Peters when the state decided to separate the sisters. Peters immediately called Stephanie's caseworker. She'd completed all paperwork and awaited a home study when my column appeared, urging readers to consider adopting the sisters and children like them. (More than 125 responded, calling the state to inquire about adoption or foster parenting.)

"I am drinking my coffee and reading the paper, when I see your article," Peters wrote. "I am indignant - `That is my daughter she is writing about!' '

IN FEBRUARY 2000, Stephanie learned that she would be adopted. As her counselor showed her photos of her new family, she joyfully noted, "That looks like my music teacher!"

Peters, waiting outside, knocked on the door.

"Who could that be, Stephanie?" the counselor asked.

"Miss Peters?"

"Who?" the counselor repeated gently.

"My mom?"

"The door is opened," Peters recounted, "and I am finally holding my daughter."

Emily, now 6, got a permanent home in September 2000.

Her adoptive parents, who live in Southern Oregon, asked not to be identified.

The couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary the week they got Emily. Six months later, they took her to Europe to meet her extended family. When they returned to Oregon, they had a question for Emily.

"We said, `How would you like it if your sister came to live with us?' ' her adoptive mother recounted. "Her eyes just lit up!"

They'd wanted both girls from the get-go, but Katelyn was unavailable because of severe abuse-related behavior problems.

"They were in foster care together, so when we went to pick up Emily, we of course met Kate," the adoptive mother said. "There was something very sweet about that child - I felt a tug at my heart and knew we had unfinished business."

And so, after her behavior improved with treatment, she joined the family. State officials liked that her sister was already in the home.

Her adoption will be final early next year. Though it hasn't been easy, all three are doing well, their parents say - crediting the cooperation of the "wonderful, wonderful foster mother" who cared for all three.

For information on becoming an adoptive or foster parent, call the Lane County child welfare office of the Oregon Department of Human Services at 686-7555.