find my family: Luke

October 30, 2014 Family Found 1 Comments

Oh my… What a sweet face!! Dear precious Luke is 5 years old and he is listed with Lifeline Adoption. He is Special Focus and his special need is club feet. Just look at this adorable little face, he needs a family to turn that little frown upside down. This precious little guy was found …Read More

I’m Just Sad

October 28, 2014 adoption realities, Kam 2 Comments

September is always a big month for our family. Both of our sons came home in September {2009, 2012} and our 8 year old, Joel’s, birthday is on the 4th. So we generally just have lots of good talks and eat tons of yummy food in celebration all month. One evening, after having celebrated Gabe’s …Read More

A Dream Come True: Adopting a Child with Down Syndrome

October 27, 2014 Down syndrome, Family Stories, guest post 7 Comments

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I always knew I would adopt from China. From a very young age, I remember being drawn to families who had done so, and …Read More

two boys in China

October 25, 2014 Kelly 0 Comments

Two boys in China right now. Separated by many miles and many years. Both of their stories are only known to me in pieces, in a few words shared by the oldest’s teacher and in a few smiles with the sweetest little chicklet teeth from the other. As I lay awake, trying to convince my …Read More

Unity: Compelled to Orphan Prevention

October 23, 2014 orphan prevention, Rebecca 9 Comments

There is unity among adoptive families, a connection of experience, passion and heart. Becoming a card carrying member of this big, powerhouse club takes tears, bravery, faith, paperwork and prayer. We’ve paid our dues and call ourselves blessed to stand shoulder to shoulder, unified in many ways. Unified in celebrating adoption. Unified in raising funds …Read More

Southern Hospitality 2014 is underway

October 22, 2014 Advocacy, Lifeline 0 Comments

  From Lifeline’s website: Our goal in this endeavor is to shower these children with love, introduce them to the culture of the southern United States, and provide them with some unique experiences. This event is also an important element in our on-going development of our orphanage partnerships in China. Through our partnership orphanages we …Read More

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

October 21, 2014 Desiree, Down syndrome 1 Comments

October is Down syndrome Awareness Month. An entire month to celebrate those who were gifted with an extra gene. Which is kinda cool, if you think about it…like a national birthday party for your DNA. It’s hard to get better than that! I frequently describe Down syndrome as an ‘extra chromosome of love’. It is …Read More

The Ayers Family Writes Their Own Story

October 20, 2014 Family Stories, guest post, osteogenesis imperfecta 7 Comments

As people grow up, get married, and launch into a life together, there’s a funny series of conversations that often encircles these rights of passage. Even as a teenager, I remember the chatter. “How many kids do you think you’ll have?” And after weddings, I’ve heard, “When do you think you’ll starting trying?” Right after …Read More

Re-Aging and Un-Twinning: Sam and the Time Machine

October 19, 2014 a father's perspective, age assignment, Mike 4 Comments

Or, how my son got younger since we adopted him. We recently celebrated Round 2 of my son Sam’s fourth birthday party. On the surface, this may not seem unusual. A lot of people might have two different birthday parties – one at school and one at home, one with family and one with friends, …Read More

waiting child highlight: boys with hemophilia

October 18, 2014 Family Found 3 Comments

If you know someone considering a boy, share with them these precious faces. Each of these boys has hemophilia, which is so manageable in the United States. Right now, these boys’ access to treatment varies, depending on their location. But, once they age out, they will have little to no access to treatment at all. …Read More

what we’re reading links : 10.17.2014

October 17, 2014 Stefanie, What We're Reading 0 Comments

From the last few weeks (okay, it might be more like months… but it was summer, y’all), some good stuff we’ve read that relates to adoption and/or parenting a special needs child. As always, if you’ve read or written something you think would be a good addition to a future What We’re Reading post, we’d …Read More

Taking Care of Business – part 2

October 17, 2014 incontinence, Jean, spina bifida 3 Comments

In my previous poop and potty post I shared with you about our son who was born with spina bifida and as a result he is incontinent. After watching him sit on the waiting child list the Lord made it clear that he was our son and that we could do this special need. And …Read More

find my family: Channing

October 16, 2014 Advocacy, CCAI, Family Found 0 Comments

Update: My Family has Found Me! Channing is now over 5 years old. He is extremely cute, and his big eyes are bright and sparkling, as if they could speak. Under his delicate nose, his sweet mouth has grown into quite the talker. Everyone really likes him. However, Channing tends to speak a little childishly …Read More

When Labels Don’t Stick

October 15, 2014 Carrie, hearing loss, hemifacial microsomia, microtia, sedated ABR, Sensory System 4 Comments

It’s been a year since I paused while writing a post for this very site and glanced at the photo-listings for children on our agency’s website. And I saw her. It was a morning exactly like this one. I was up early, before the sun came up. The cup of coffee growing cold beside the …Read More

Find my Family: Yan Bo

October 13, 2014 Advocacy, ATWA 1 Comments

Goodness, have we got a special little boy for you to meet today! This is Yan Bo, affectionately called “Bobo” who is listed has having a repaired cleft lip and palate and drooping eyelids by his orphanage. Isn’t he adorable? He is listed with ATWA and all his agency fees are waived. If a family adopts …Read More

Spicing it up

October 13, 2014 Kelly, marriage 2 Comments

Remember that time you gathered your things and tiptoed out of the back of a classroom hoping no one would notice because you discovered you were in the wrong class? Sit back down. You aren’t in the wrong place. This is not the typical post you find here, but it’s written for you. It was …Read More

find my family: kylee

October 12, 2014 Advocacy, Faith International Adoptions, Family Found 0 Comments

Update: My Family Has Found Me! Meet beautiful Kylee! Born in October 2011, her caregivers describe her as optimistic and smiley. She loves to be around others and is energetic. She enjoys being outdoors and loves toys with sound. It is believed that Kylee was born prematurely and has experienced hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), although …Read More

Find My Family: Jade

October 10, 2014 Family Found 0 Comments

Dainty JADE! Little Jade’s most favorite thing to do is play with dolls. While she has a few different medical needs, she is simply a sweet little two year old girl. She is a special child who is hoping for her very own special family to love and cherish her. She is post-operative for anal …Read More

A Missing Piece: Adopting a Child with 22q Deletion Syndrome

October 9, 2014 22qdeletion syndrome, Developmental System, Family Stories, velocardiofacial syndrome 6 Comments

In May of 2013, we were asked if we wanted to review the file of a little girl with a repaired Congenital Heart Defect, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We had been waiting several months and were so ready for THE phone call. When our doctor reviewed the file, she told us about Velo Cardio Facial …Read More

Eleven Simple Steps to Successful Single Adoption

October 8, 2014 adopting as a single mom, Desiree, working mom 7 Comments

Single parenting is a special responsibility. For most, life as a single parent it is not a chosen event; they somehow ended up balancing both ends of the teeter-totter and probably not expectantly. But single adoption is another story. A parent who chooses to walk forward in parenting a child alone, especially a child with …Read More

find my family: Jonah

October 8, 2014 Advocacy, boys, Family Found, WACAP 1 Comments

Update: My family has found me! Jonah is just 3 years old and is a very smart little fellow. His motor skills are age appropriate and he has good eye-hand coordination. He can communicate using sentences made up of 5-10 words, but is still working on expressing his needs verbally. He often uses actions in …Read More

everyone stared

October 7, 2014 adoption realities, Amy 14 Comments

There was a time when I had two children ages 3 and under. They were born healthy with no delays of any kind. They were held from the moment they were born, I nursed them both, I was a stay at home mom until they were in school, and for the most part they were …Read More

Two Children Who Urgently Need Families: Mariella and Brayden

October 6, 2014 Advocacy, Family Found 3 Comments

All children need families.  We know this.  And if you are even reading this post, then you are probably aware that the need for families to step forward and care for orphans worldwide is GREAT.  It is actually quite overwhelming at times.  Someone even told me the other day while having a conversation about the …Read More

Jen’s Cliff Notes Review: TBRI DVD series part 2

October 5, 2014 Attachment, Jennifer, TBRI DVD Series, Trust Based Parenting 0 Comments

Trust Based Parenting DVD series – Chapter 3 Empowering Principles: Laying the Foundation for Change As promised, here are the cliff notes for a longer (but excellent) DVD series produced by TCU Institute of Child Development. When you’re in the trenches, you need help and you need it fast! If you haven’t read my first …Read More

Adopting Two Boys with Tethered Cord

October 4, 2014 Central Nervous System, Family Stories, spina bifida, tethered cord 2 Comments

It was December 2010, exactly one year since we had brought home our first child from China. I happened to be on New Day Foster Home’s site, and this face popped up on the screen. His eyes captured my heart. Immediately, all of our children and I began praying for this little guy, wondering if …Read More

Stepping Out in Faith….God’s Call to Adopt

October 3, 2014 Parenting Special Needs 1 Comments

How many times have you been surprised by God’s plan for your life? Have you ever been shocked by His plan? Have you ever thought, seriously, Lord, surely you don’t mean me? Wait, you want me to do what? That’s not my plan, God. Are you sure? __________________________________________________________________________________ “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for …Read More

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