Attachment Q & A: Eye Contact and Attachment
August 31, 2017
attachment activities, attachment challenges, August 2017 Feature - Attachment Q & A, congenital blindness, Katie, Sensory System, vision issues, vision loss
Attachment. Not much more could not be packed into one single word, especially in the adoption world. We spent all of July focusing on this most-important topic and decided to continue into August – but with a bit of a twist. This month, we’re answering your attachment questions. Because we all have them – we …Read More
Daniela Waits
August 30, 2017
Children Who Wait
This beautiful little girl is known as Daniela and she is waiting for her family to find her and be her YES. Could it be you? She will be 5 years old in October, she has Down syndrome and has had a heart surgery. She is currently living at Maria’s Big House of Hope so …Read More
A Life Donated: Part 9
August 28, 2017
A Life Donated, advanced heart failure, Andrea O., complex heart defect, end stage cardiac disease, heart transplant, single ventricle heart disease, terminal diagnosis
Rini, our youngest of six children, was adopted in August of 2013 at end stage heart failure stemming from complex, single ventricle congenital heart disease. She was admitted to the hospital immediately upon arrival home and within two weeks it was determined that she was inoperable, her only hope would come through cardiac transplant. She …Read More
BinBin Waits
August 28, 2017
Children Who Wait
Check out adorable BinBin! He is 5 and has a diagnosis of progressive muscular dystrophy. Bin Bin was seen by Gladney’s Superkids volunteers in September, 2016 to provide update information on his file which was prepared in 2014. Bin Bin is such a cutie! He loves to explore and play with new toys. He was …Read More
How To Regain Margin for Your Marriage
August 27, 2017
a father's perspective, adoption community, books, Dads, marriage, Randall
Randall and Kelley Nichols live in Coastal Virginia with their five kids. They’ve been in ministry for over twenty years serving couples and families. Recently they celebrated the release of their first book, Prayers of a Village, a 30-day devotional for adoptive parents. Learn more here. ….. Look… There are countless marriage resources out there. …Read More
Attachment Q & A: What can I do to try to attach myself?
August 26, 2017
Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, August 2017 Feature - Attachment Q & A, Kelly, parent-to-child attachment
Attachment. Not much more could not be packed into one single word, especially in the adoption world. We spent all of July focusing on this most-important topic and decided to continue into August – but with a bit of a twist. This month, we’re answering your attachment questions. Because we all have them – we …Read More
Waiting for You: Asher
August 26, 2017
Children Who Wait
Asher was hosted during our December 2016 hosting program at CCAI. His host mom is sharing about Asher with us today: Asher is a loving little boy who gives hugs and kisses very freely and often! He also loves to receive affection as well and would come up to each of us numerous times a …Read More
A Life We Never Expected
August 25, 2017
Hillary, Lifelong needs, undiagnosed SN
We can’t help but be subject to it. Our past experiences shape our current perspectives. Our current perspectives shape our expectations for this day and for the future. We see through our own lenses and we tend to measure what we see against our expectations. Sometimes we look up and the horizon seems to be …Read More
Attachment Q & A: Reaching for Strangers
August 24, 2017
Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, August 2017 Feature - Attachment Q & A, baby-wearing, cocooning, first year home, indiscriminate affection, Newly Home, Nicole
Attachment. Not much more could not be packed into one single word, especially in the adoption world. We spent all of July focusing on this most-important topic and decided to continue into August – but with a bit of a twist. This month, we’re answering your attachment questions. Because we all have them – we …Read More
Choose Me: Wyatt
August 24, 2017
Children Who Wait
Meet sweet little Wyatt! Wyatt is a special little guy who recently turned one and who has albinism. He is visually tracking objects if they are close to him, is able to sit on his own, and he loves toys and to play! A recent video received by his agency shows Wyatt crawling after a …Read More
Living with HIV: From Medical Professionals
August 22, 2017
August 2017 Feature - Infectious, HIV, HIV Q and A, Infectious
As we see more and more HIV+ children become available for international adoption, we thought that it would be beneficial to hear first hand experience on parenting this need. So we asked prospective adoptive parents what they really wanted to know about having a child with HIV; then posed those questions to both adoptive parents …Read More
Gotcha Day: A Teenage Sibling’s Observation
August 21, 2017
China trip, Gotcha Day, siblings
Recently I came across a very simple, yet thought-provoking question online… “What is the saddest thing you’ve ever seen?” I paused and thought for a moment. A few things came to mind that I had seen on the news, but one of the saddest things that I have seen first hand was a Gotcha Day …Read More
A Life Donated: Part 8
August 20, 2017
A Life Donated, advanced heart failure, Andrea O., complex heart defect, end stage cardiac disease, heart transplant, hospital stays, single ventricle heart disease, terminal diagnosis
Rini, our youngest of six children, was adopted in August of 2013 at end stage heart failure stemming from complex, single ventricle congenital heart disease. She was admitted to the hospital immediately upon arrival home and within two weeks it was determined that she was inoperable, her only hope would come through cardiac transplant. She …Read More
Contributor Q and A: Megan
August 19, 2017
Contributor Q and A, Meet the Contributors, Megan
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
Advocating for Children With HIV
August 18, 2017
Children Who Wait
The Lily Project became an HIV advocacy and education blog in October 2015, after its admin visited a group home for kids with HIV in China. She met several children who were waiting to be adopted, and several more who did not have files yet prepared for adoption. In China, as well as in America, …Read More
Attachment Q & A: Still Not Attached
August 18, 2017
Attachment, attachment challenges, Attachment Disorder, August 2017 Feature - Attachment Q & A, Jean, parent-to-child attachment, RAD, reactive attachment disorder, Trust Based Parenting
Attachment. Not much more could not be packed into one single word, especially in the adoption world. We spent all of July focusing on this most-important topic and decided to continue into August – but with a bit of a twist. This month, we’re answering your attachment questions. Because we all have them – we …Read More
Living with HIV: From the Kids
August 17, 2017
August 2017 Feature - Infectious, HIV, HIV Q and A, Infectious
As we see more and more HIV+ children become available for international adoption, we thought that it would be beneficial to hear first hand experience on parenting this need. So we asked prospective adoptive parents what they really wanted to know about having a child with HIV; then posed those questions to both adoptive parents …Read More
A Life Donated: Part 7
August 15, 2017
A Life Donated, advanced heart failure, Andrea O., complex heart defect, end stage cardiac disease, heart transplant, single ventricle heart disease, terminal diagnosis
Rini, our youngest of six children, was adopted in August of 2013 at end stage heart failure stemming from complex, single ventricle congenital heart disease. She was admitted to the hospital immediately upon arrival home and within two weeks it was determined that she was inoperable, her only hope would come through cardiac transplant. She …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Milla
August 14, 2017
Children Who Wait
Meet Milla, one of the newest kids at Bethel! Milla came from Maria’s Big House of Hope, but she was transferred to New Hope for foster care but attends Bethel’s preschool during the day. Milla is a very engaged and happy little girl. She is still nervous in her new environment, but she calms down …Read More
Organized Chaos: Managing Adoption Paperwork
August 13, 2017
Courtney, paperchase, referral, waiting for referral, waiting to travel
Call me weird but there is something about adoption paperwork that I actually enjoy. My personality thrives on checklists and deadlines. I love completing a task and knowing that the work is bringing me one step closer to my son. Paperwork is a tangible way to show that I am making progress in our adoption. …Read More
Waiting to be Chosen: Landon
August 12, 2017
Children Who Wait
Landon moved to Bethel China in December of 2016, and what a great Christmas present he was! He was born in July of 2013 and his special need is vision loss. Landon is 3 years old and he loves to play and loves to receive attention from adults. He likes to jump on the trampoline, …Read More
Urgently Waiting: Victor
August 11, 2017
Children Who Wait
Victor is a nine year old boy who came to Bethel in the fall of 2016. It was clear upon arrival that Victor had difficult start to life and that he would have many obstacles to overcome. His transition was very hard on him and our staff, but with a lot of love, patience, and …Read More
Past Contributor Throwback: Kelley
August 10, 2017
Kelley, older child adoption, Past Contributors, Throwback series
Since our inception in 2008, No Hands But Ours has relied on the shared stories of regular moms and dads as our foundational way to encourage, inform and support those in the adoption world – in any phase of the adoption process. And since our first post, the list of regular contributors has changed, well… …Read More
Attachment Q & A: Connecting With The Child Who’d Rather Not
August 9, 2017
Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, August 2017 Feature - Attachment Q & A, baby-wearing, Brandie, parent-to-child attachment, rejects mom, sign language, Theraplay
Attachment. Not much more could not be packed into one single word, especially in the adoption world. We spent all of July focusing on this most-important topic and decided to continue into August – but with a bit of a twist. This month, we’re answering your attachment questions. Because we all have them – we …Read More
On Attachment…
August 8, 2017
Attachment, attachment challenges, Jennifer, parent-to-child attachment
Dear child, When I watch you react, reject, rage, hoard, lie, shut down, numb, and scream – I will remember. I will remember that this is not what separates us, but I will recall that this is common ground. This broken response to unconditional love. And I will not expect you to rebuild a scaffolding …Read More
Living with HIV: From the Parents
August 7, 2017
August 2017 Feature - Infectious, HIV, HIV Q and A, Infectious
As we see more and more HIV+ children become available for international adoption, we thought that it would be beneficial to hear first hand experience on parenting this need. So we asked prospective adoptive parents what they really wanted to know about having a child with HIV; then posed those questions to both adoptive parents …Read More
Attachment Q & A: Freefall
August 5, 2017
Attachment, attachment activities, attachment challenges, August 2017 Feature - Attachment Q & A, Contributor Q and A, parent-to-child attachment, Trust Based Parenting, Whitney
Attachment. Not much more could not be packed into one single word, especially in the adoption world. We spent all of July focusing on this most-important topic and decided to continue into August – but with a bit of a twist. This month, we’re answering your attachment questions. Because we all have them – we …Read More
August Special Needs Focus (and Favorite Family Stories): Infectious
August 4, 2017
August 2017 Feature - Infectious, Favorite Family Stories
The term special needs can sound scary. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Our goal at NHBO is to equip and inform parents – replacing fear with knowledge – as they navigate the beginning stages of special needs adoption. And then encourage and support those home with their special needs kiddos. We do …Read More
A Life Donated: Part 6
August 3, 2017
A Life Donated, Andrea O., complex heart defect, end stage cardiac disease, heart transplant, single ventricle heart disease, terminal diagnosis
Rini, our youngest of six children, was adopted in August of 2013 at end stage heart failure stemming from complex, single ventricle congenital heart disease. She was admitted to the hospital immediately upon arrival home and within two weeks it was determined that she was inoperable, her only hope would come through cardiac transplant. She …Read More
Affording Adoption: Demystifying the Adoption Loan
August 1, 2017
adoption loan, affording adoption, fundraising for adoption
Affording adoption can seem like a scary thing. I know of so many people that would love to consider adoption, but quickly respond that it costs too much money. I agree that it would be wonderful if adoption were free or much cheaper. However, agencies (both adoption and governmental) have to hire people to handle …Read More