Sensory Processing Disorder and the Tween Years
April 30, 2016
April 2016 Feature - Sensory Processing, Sensory Processing Issues, TongguMomma
The most difficult thing about parenting a tween or young teen with sensory processing disorder is constantly reminding oneself that people don’t outgrow SPD. It may feel that way for a few years during upper elementary because it’s likely by then that your child learned successful coping strategies for most age-appropriate sensory experiences. But then …Read More
Urgent Aging Out Child: Rebekah
April 30, 2016
Family Found, Liberty
Rebekah is 13 years old and will age out of the adoption system on her 14th birthday in November. Rebekah is an HIV carrier and lives in a group home setting with other children who have also tested positive for HIV. She was with her birth family and cared for by the community until she …Read More
International Adoption Clinics: Services and Locations
April 29, 2016
first weeks home, first year home, International Adoption Clinic, Jennifer B., Newly Home, referral, waiting for referral, waiting to travel
I can still remember getting ‘the call’ during our first adoption process. Our agency coordinator was on the phone and they had a file for us to review. I remember the many different emotions I felt as we opened the file and photos and began to read. Within an hour of opening the file I …Read More
We’ve Got This: Parenting a Child with CP
April 29, 2016
April 2016 Feature - CNS, Central Nervous System, cerebral palsy, Family Stories, older child adoption
My son has Cerebral Palsy. Mild Right Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy to be specific, which means only the right side of his body is affected. If you see him running by on the playground or the soccer field, you might never even notice he has physical difficulties. If you have an idea in your mind of …Read More
Sensory Bins 101
April 28, 2016
April 2016 Feature - Sensory Processing, Nicole, Sensory Processing Issues
Over the years, we’ve had a lot of fun with sensory bins. A few of my little loves are sensory-seeking (often craving sensory input of all kinds), so these bins can be a super interesting way to get them what they need. The great thing about sensory bins is that the possibilities are absolutely limitless. …Read More
I Never Felt Called to Adopt
April 27, 2016
adopting again, Family Stories, orphanage realities, orphanage visit, should we adopt?
I never felt called to adopt. For me, adoption was simply the way God chose to build our family. In 2011 we adopted our son Sean who is now seven years old. In 2013 we adopted our daughter Elliana who is now five. When people first started saying that adoption was a beautiful thing for …Read More
When Jesus Tells You What To Do
April 25, 2016
orphan prevention, orphanage realities, Randall, should we adopt?
A Hot Mess This week I got into a conversation about these two big ideas called expiation and propitiation. Sounds fun, right? Don’t worry, I’m not going to open up the discussion here. It’s really boring unless you’re a theology nerd. For sure, it’s an important doctrine, but how important? Important enough to argue over? …Read More
Find My Family: Theo
April 24, 2016
Family Found
Theo was placed in his foster family at birth in May of 2014. He was born blind, and has had two eye surgeries in December 2014 and September 2015. Due to his blindness he is not as comfortable with new people, but he enjoys being held and interacting with his foster mother. He can walk …Read More
Countless Possibilities
April 23, 2016
adopting as a single mom, April 2016 Feature - CNS, Central Nervous System, cerebral palsy, Family Stories, hemiplegia, working mom
As long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a mom. After all, my own mom was the best mom in the world… a woman who loved her girls unconditionally and fiercely. I always wanted to be just like her. As most of us know, life isn’t always how you wish it would …Read More
Blessings in Disguise – My Journey with Sensory Issues
April 22, 2016
April 2016 Feature - Sensory Processing, Attachment, Family Stories, Sensory Processing Issues
If you ask most of my friends what their first memories are, they might say something like…“first baby dolls” or “bike rides.” Mine all have one thing in common – a feeling of fear and being out of control. One of my very first memories was standing in the nursery of a small church while …Read More
“I hope you can help me find a family soon…”
April 21, 2016
Advocacy, Children Who Wait, Kelly
Dear Uncle and Aunt, I am very happy to write this letter to you. My name is W____. I’m thirteen years old. I study in the senior class here, and my favorite class is Table Tennis. I desire to be adopted by an American family. When I see some other children going abroad, I really …Read More
What Knotty Necklaces Taught Me About Sensory Processing Issues
April 21, 2016
April 2016 Feature - Sensory Processing, Sensory Processing Issues
I have always been a girly-girl. I love things that sparkle, things that are smooth, silky and catch the eye. I love earrings, necklaces and hair bows alike (which turned out to be a good thing growing up in the 80’s.) But alas I was never very good at keeping my sparkly earrings, necklaces and …Read More
Lifers
April 19, 2016
adoption realities, congenital blindness, Katie, Sensory System, vision loss
I was once afraid of what my reality has become. I hear it voiced in so many others taking the risk of adopting a child with possible cognitive delays. What if this child can never live independently? What if they need to live with me for the rest of my life? What if their need …Read More
Called to Keep Our Eyes Up
April 18, 2016
Andrea Y., should we adopt?
I’m a slow learner. But with each passing year I learn that this is the most important habit to have — keeping my eyes up. Whether we are called to grow our family through adoption or to be advocates for waiting children or called to go and rock babies across the world or to support …Read More
Right in the Middle…. A Perfect Fit
April 17, 2016
adopting out of birth order, March 2016 Feature - Special Circumstances, older child adoption
In 2007 with four boys already at home ages 10, 7, 2 and 1, we started the process to adopt from China. What had been a desire for quite some time in our hearts was finally coming true. We submitted paperwork to adopt a as young as possible non-special needs daughter. We expected to be …Read More
Meet the Contributors: Jennifer
April 16, 2016
Contributor Q and A, Jennifer, Meet the Contributors
Continuing today with our series in which we share a short Q and A with one of our contributors to give y’all, our faithful readers, a little more behind-the-scenes insight into the amazing group of writers assembled here. And it will also give each of our contributors a chance to share their heart in a …Read More
find my family: Laina
April 16, 2016
Children Who Wait
Laina is a precious two year old little girl who is listed with BAAS. Her special need is cerebral palsy. Laina is a beautiful little girl! She responds to others asking for her belongings and waves goodbye to others. She is a good sleeper and likes playing with toys. Laini’s file reports that she is …Read More
The Best Decision We’ve Ever Made
April 15, 2016
adopting again, adopting later in life, adopting out of birth order, adopting two at once, Jean, large families, older child adoption
In September of 2006, hubby and I walked into our first adoption introductory meeting at Children’s Home Society in St Paul, MN. It was for families that were interested in adoption and wanted to learn more about it. We met four wonderful couples at that meeting. At that time we had five birth children, ranging …Read More
In Loving Memory of Dr. Karyn Purvis
April 14, 2016
Attachment, Carrie, parent-to-child attachment, Trust Based Parenting
Last night as Cora went to bed, she was fairly short-tempered with Alea and hurt her feelings. Alea got over it rather quickly, but I harshly told Cora I was disappointed and walked out of the room, tired after a long day. A few minutes later, I came back to bring Alea a drink of …Read More
Find My Family: Amber
April 14, 2016
Family Found
Amber (born November 2009) is an energetic, talkative little girl who loves to recite poems and sing her favorite songs and lullabies! She was born prematurely and was diagnosed with developmental delays and symptoms of hyperactivity. During her early childhood, she could grasp toys to play with, pass objects between both hands, and clap two …Read More
Painting White Walls White
April 13, 2016
Attachment, older child adoption, Trust Based Parenting
When I was 14 years old my family moved to a new state. This was a good move for me personally, as I had struggled both academically and socially where we were and it was good for our whole family. The town we were leaving was struggling, and as a result about half the town …Read More
Meet Blake!
April 12, 2016
Family Found
Meet Blake! Born February 2014, he is described as an affectionate little boy who loves to be held—he’ll sweetly lean his head against his caregiver’s shoulder when she carries him in her arms. He was born with a hemangioma on his face; according to his report, there are no concerns regarding his eyesight or hearing …Read More
The Happiest Kid on the Playground
April 11, 2016
April 2016 Feature - CNS, Central Nervous System, cerebral palsy, Family Stories, undiagnosed SN
In 2009, we were ready for children, but we felt no rush. At that point, we were not concerned that there were no children ready for us. But then there was infertility, followed by an extremely painful disruption of a newborn adoption during the revocation period. In the following six months, two more domestic adoptions …Read More
Find My Family: Lexi
April 10, 2016
Family Found
Lexi (born August 2011) is a strong, sweet girl who loves to play games and read picture books with her nanny! She was born with a skin condition called epidermis bullosa which needs extra care and attention; her skin is easily affected by friction and even small knocks, resulting in painful blisters and sores. She …Read More
Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes
April 9, 2016
Amy A., birth family, DNA and genetic testing
I’ll never forget the moment when I first saw each of my four sons. After 16 hours of labor, my doctor placed Noah on my chest, and I simply marveled at the beautiful gift I had just received. I delivered Liam in the water, and while holding his tiny, slippery body in my heads, I …Read More
My 2¢ on Adoption Fundraising: Using Social Media
April 7, 2016
fundraising for adoption, Guest Series, My .02 on Adoption Fundraising
Today we continue with the fourth of five posts in a guest series by Laure Kline, who has been sharing everything she knows about adoption fundraising with us. We know that lack of funding can be the biggest roadblock to adoption and it is our hope that this series will encourage, enlighten, and maybe even …Read More
A Seed of Hope
April 6, 2016
ADD, April 2016 Feature - CNS, brain damage syndrome, Central Nervous System, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, Craniofacial, developmental delays, Developmental System, Family Stories, hemiplegia
Our adoption journey started in the summer of 2003. We attended an adoption fair. A family speaking that afternoon had brought their daughter with them to the meeting. The little girl, about seven years old, snuggled up to my husband with a large photo album and began to tell him her story. A story, and …Read More
Not the Same
April 5, 2016
adoption realities, Whitney
I feel like there are many people in the lives of adoptive families who want to try to downplay the differences our adopted children have from those who have grown up in a more stable, loving, safe, home environment. The downplaying? It’s not malicious; in fact I wholeheartedly believe that many of these friends want to …Read More
what we’re reading: 4.4.16
April 4, 2016
Liberty, What We're Reading
We are welcoming in April with this great compilation of blog posts, news articles, and links to traveling families. So much good stuff has been happening the last few months. So get a comfy spot, and get to clicking. As always, we are grateful for your contributions for future posts. Simply fill out the forms …Read More
Unknown to Us; Known to Him
April 3, 2016
agenesis of the corpus callosum, April 2016 Feature - CNS, Central Nervous System, Family Stories, nasal dermoid sinus tract
Our family’s story of adopting a child with neurological and facial birth defects and God’s sovereign grace When we first viewed our daughter’s medical file, it was brief at best. It had a normal physical exam, and she was meeting all her developmental milestones. Her videos were priceless! They showed a chunky little girl wobbling …Read More
Encouragement for the Weary Fund-Raiser
April 2, 2016
fundraising for adoption, Kelley B.
Sometimes even when we try our hardest, things don’t work out like we think they are going to. This is so very true for adoption fundraising. I have been around the adoption community for a while now and have seen so many wonderful fundraisers bring in tons of money for a family, and then I …Read More
Egg Drop Soup Success
April 1, 2016
Chinese Culture, Chinese food, Nicole, recipes
I’ve had a few Egg Drop Soup failures in the past, but this recipe has redeemed my attempts. I love it because it’s simple, easy to make, and still adds Chinese cuisine to our menu. Plus, I almost always have the ingredients on hand. This version is a little Americanized I think, but the additions …Read More