SEVEN siblings graduate high school with honors at the same time... from family with 18 children, 14 of whom are adopted

By Emily Anne Epstein

PUBLISHED: 18:04 EST, 6 June 2012 | UPDATED: 21:23 EST, 6 June 2012

Each child may have been born in a different corner of the world, but seven of the Seitz family's pride and joy are graduating high school with the highest honors.

Jan and Garry Seitz, a couple in their sixties from Lakeland, Florida, decided to devote themselves to raising adopted children and providing them with the love and care that will propel them toward a promising future.

This week, Noah, Rebekah, Joshua, Caleb, Abigail, Hannah and Nathaniel are receiving their diplomas at the top of their class.

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Family: This week, Noah, Rebekah, Joshua, Caleb, Abigail, Hannah and Nathaniel Seitz are receiving their diplomas at the top of their class

Doting: Father Garry Seitz and mother Jan said that opening up their home was a calling they couldn't ignore

'It's exciting,' said Rebekah to Tampa Bay Online. 'A lot of us we didn't expect to graduate when we were in our countries because … growing up we just lived each day like it was the next one, and we just didn't see it coming.'

Rebekah hails from Vietnam and is graduating from Polk Collegiate High School with her brother Noah, who's from Ethiopia.

The charming brood of international seniors spoke to Tampa Bay Online about growing up in a home filled to the brim.

'We were together from the beginning so it was nothing different for us,' said Noah. 'It was just kind of like everyday life.'

He said he never even thought there was anything extraordinary about his amazing family.

Jan and Garry Seitz said that opening up their home was simply a calling they could not ignore.

Lots of Love: Among the Seitzs' 18 children, four of them are biologically theirs while 14 are adopted

Just the Start: Don't think the Seitzs will be left with an empty nest - they will be adopting two more teens from China later this year

Among the Seitzs' 18 children, four of them are biologically theirs while 14 are adopted.

'It really wasn't anything we set out to do or planned to do,' said Mrs Seitz, 65.
'It's just always been on my heart since I was a little girl that I thought adopting would be neat.'

Mr Seitz, 66, said that the kids give his life meaning.

'A lot of us we didn't expect to graduate when we were in our countries because … growing up we just lived each day like it was the next one, and we just didn't see it coming.'

Rebekah Seitz

'They make it fun around here, a lot of laughs, so I can't imagine what it would be like without them,' he said.

Five of his children, Joshua, Caleb, Abigail, Hannah and Nathaniel, are graduating from Victory Christian Academy.

Josh and Caleb Seitz are from China while Hannah and Nathaniel are also from Ethiopia.

All seven of the children will be off to college next year at different schools.

But don't think the Seitzs will be left with an empty nest - they will be adopting two more teens from China later this year.