If you reside in the state of Arizona, you may be wondering what specific laws regarding adoption in Arizona has in place. Every state has their own laws that apply to adoptions, whether they be domestic...
Cue the lights, pop the popcorn, and settle down in the best seat in the house to enjoy 90 plus minutes of escape to another realm. The entertainment industry is not only worth hundreds of billions of dollars...
Making the decision to adopt a baby is both an exciting and terrifying decision. Just the finality of deciding that it is definitely going to happen, that you are definitely going to adopt a baby, will change...
Poetry, for many, serves as a release from things going on inside the mind. For centuries, people have written poetry about politics, religion, society, philosophy, and many other personal topics. It has and...
Choosing between Christian adoption agencies that you love can seem like a mind-boggling task. It may feel like there are so many options to narrow down and you’re unsure of where to start. Don’t worry; you’re...
Our First Year October 2014 Three precious foster children entered our home in October of 2014, two little boys and an infant girl. My husband and I had never had children in our 14 years of marriage and we weren’t...
When it comes to adoption there are a lot of unanswered questions. To those new to the adoption world or those who are just interested, it can all be a bit confusing. Let’s play a game of adoption trivia and get...
When you decide to pursue adoption, there will be many instances when your family’s situation will look unique from others who have gone before you. Life after adoption will also be unique. Whether that be in how you...
As an English major, studying figurative language was something I did almost every day. As a little review, figurative language is language that goes beyond its literal meaning to convey a point. There are quite a few...
Making the decision to adopt begins with asking yourself, “Am I ready to adopt?” Knowing whether or not you are ready to adopt is a pretty broad question and feels different for everyone. The answer to this somewhat...
According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, the definition of love is, “an intense feeling of deep affection.” The definition of language is, “the principal method of communication conveyed by speech, writing or...
Did you know that it is possible for your body to unconsciously remember a traumatic event? The brain is an amazing machine and it will move mountains to protect you. When a traumatic event happens to a person, the...
Before I Begin At first, my goal was to write a letter to our adopted children. However, the words felt deeply personal, and I struggled to put into words just how I feel about them. As the contents unfolded, the words...
Adoption Isn’t for the Faint of Heart Have you ever laid awake at night really worried that it shouldn’t be this hard? You’re not crazy for doing so. Parenting looks easy from the outside. Provide some basic...
In my last interview, we met my son’s biological mother. We discussed her early life, her struggle with addiction, her biological children, and how she is working every day to overcome her addictions and remain healthy...
Adoption influence has changed tremendously in the last 20 years. As technology has made sharing experiences easier for parents, families, and children in the adoption community, many have developed a platform with the...
Let me start by saying I was never as nervous or excited about Christmas day as I was that year. My husband and I had been married 14 years at the time and had spent holidays anywhere from big family gatherings to (my...
I read a book a couple of years ago, Cinder Girl by Christina Meredith. It came to me at the most random time, but also at a time that, now, makes perfect sense. It was a time when someone would come back into my life...
Christmas, somehow, is right around the corner. There is a chance that if you are organized you already have your children’s gifts wrapped and under the tree (or at least stashed in a closet). I am … not organized. And...
There are so many reasons to be thankful this time of year. Family, friends, gifts, good food, laughter, and a reminder that despite the world being a dark and dreary place at times, love and light can break through...
Throughout your home study, as you prepare to bring home your child(ren), you will hopefully go through many different educational opportunities that will help you prepare to bring home children who may have experienced...
I had just become the mom of an almost 3-year-old. My husband and I adopted a beautiful little girl from India after 2 years of paperwork, education, social worker visits, fundraisers, agency fees, and countless prayers...
When I placed my daughter for adoption 15 years ago, the relationship I envisioned developing between her and I involved monthly get-togethers, holiday traditions, giant family reunions, and much more. What actually...
Welcome, dear reader, to this week’s edition of “ask an adoptee.” Okay, this may be the only edition. Time will tell. There’s a pretty good chance this will be the only edition. I could be wrong though. For this...
Finding Support In The Adoption And Fostering World Brene Brown says it best, “We don’t have to do it alone. We were never meant to.” Our communities are a huge part of our lives and mold and shape us every single day...
When many people think about adoption, the first thing they might picture is a newborn baby born to a teenage mom. Hundreds of videos of adoptive moms and dads meeting their baby for the first time reinforce the idea...
I met Teresa and Dave Johnson and their family at church several years ago. Anyone who talked to them just once could feel that they were good people who were full of love. There have been a few times since then that I...
With technology, it is easy to set reminders for yourself in every aspect of your life. Your phone can act as your assistant and tell you not to forget your grocery list, post office run, or to pay a bill. The days of...
Adoption Takes Teamwork Did you know that adoption takes teamwork? It seems like an obvious statement, but once you get into the process of adoption, you will find just how true the statement really is. When my husband...
“‘Adopt,’ they said. ‘It’ll be fun,’ they said!” I clasped my head in my hands as my body shook with crazed angry laughter. “What they didn’t say was, ‘Oh, by the way, that sweet little child might rage out...
The idea of having anxiety relating to adoption is a concept that I largely avoided until about two years ago. I remember the precise moment when I realized that I was processing a situation the way that I was because...
Adoption is a Lifelong Journey Adoption is love is a phrase you may have seen or read before on memes, inspirational quotes, and poems. Spreading adoption love is an important message to be shared within adoptive...
My Indian daughter is being raised by a Filipina mother and Italian/Irish father and we still have to be purposeful when thinking about diversity and multiculturism in our home. It doesn’t always come naturally, but it...
Therapy. This word may bring up many emotions. I know because this word brings so much up for me and my family. See, I earn my living as a clinician, my family is engaged in therapy due to trauma, and I have struggled...
What is the Nature Versus Nurture Conversation? Families who are all biologically related talk about it. Families who are blended talk about it. Scientists and psychologists run analyses on the topic with nearly...
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