Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 ...
19
Apr
18
Apr
Our life experiences have so much influence on our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Because of God’s plan for our family, adoption is "normal" for our biological daughter. All of her siblings joined our family by adoption, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at her unquestioning acceptance. However, occasionally, an incident arises that reminds me again, just how "ordinary" adoption is in her mind. Let me share an example . Recently, family members (I’ll call them Bob and Sue) announced that...
16
Apr
I struggle with the term "color blind." I’m not talking about the inability to distinguish between certain colors, but rather, about the assertion that if everyone would just ignore the color of people’s skin, racism would come to an end. I know that this concept has good intentions, but I see a fundamental flaw. By intentionally ignoring part of who a person is, are we sending a negative message? If we decided to be gender blind, what message does that send me about...
12
Apr
I admit that I am a selfish individual. At the end of a long day at work, I sometimes do not want to read to my kids. I want to plop down in my chair in front of the television and just pause for a while. But by doing so, I am missing out. Even though they want me to read the exact same story that we have read every night for the past month, even though they are able to...
09
Apr
After 3 children and a few disappointing miscarriages we started seriously talking about adoption. The specialists were clear – we could likely have more biological children. Our hearts were leaning elsewhere. We dreamed of growing our family in another way. The definite feeling – the time is right feeling– hit my husband first. It was September. He patiently waited for me to jump on board. While we contemplated when and how to start the process, we attended Katelyn’s Fund Support meetings. Surrounded in the...
06
Apr
My husband and I are blessed with children through birth and through adoption. Our older three (ages 9, 6, and 3) love to hear the tales of their births (sans gory details), particularly when their birthdays roll around. When our youngest (now 2) came home from Guatemala, it seemed appropriate to continue this tradition as best we could. Unsure of how or where to start, I hit the books. Not thick parenting texts or adoptive family literature, though...
04
Apr
After months (or years) of endless paperwork and eager anticipation, adoptive families finally reach their goal—meeting their son or daughter for the first time. With our first adoption, we had a 6 month wait between accepting our referral and meeting our daughter. During the wait, I memorized her picture and her health information. I read up on attachment and how we could best help her bond with us. I gathered all the toddler sized...
02
Apr
In December 2004 my husband and I traveled to Ethiopia to meet our first child, a daughter, and bring her home. For me the trip was full of anxiety-producing circumstances. I had a fear of flying, I’m a poor traveler even within the U.S., I have motion sickness . . . oh, and did I mention that I’m the biggest chicken that ever lived?! That trip was filled with memories that will never fade, but I want to share just one with...
31
Mar
When a family makes a decision to adopt a child, they are usually filled with excitement and anticipation. Typically when we are excited about an impending event, we can’t wait to share it with family and friends. This isn’t always the case with an announcement of an adoption decision, however. Prospective adoptive parents often question whether they will receive the support and affirmation that they need from their friends and families. Typically, these parents have thought long and hard about their...
31
Mar
The Northwestern College Ethnic Fair 2009 Saturday, April 4 — 5:00 – 7:30pm Rowenhorst Student Center Gymnasium Admission (including meal of international foods): $10 adults, $5 children up to age 12. Admission (not including a meal): $1 per person Northwestern’s international students will wear traditional clothes and perform songs and dances from their native countries. The “Chopstick...
