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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
We have the incredible privilege to bring home our 3 kids from Africa a week from today!! The journey has had it’s ups and downs, as all adoptions do. But God’s hand has been evident throughout it all. And we are reassured that He will be with us as we enter this new phase in our life. What joy in the knowing! We’ve been asked and offered by wonderful people…”How can we help?” as we prepare to...
For some it’s gotcha day! Others celebrate forever family day. These days will not soon fade from our memories. As parents we awaited with great anticipation the day we would hold our children. The moment we embraced our twins was as magnificent as the births of our children. Receiving our children was one of the most incredibly humbling yet exhilarating experiences of our lives. God’s greatness poured over us. Our fears and worries melted.
I wrote and rewrote this post’s opening paragraph half a dozen times, growing increasingly dissatisfied with the introduction portion of my thoughts. So I’ll just say it like this: Being stretched is good for me. My life has been immersed in international adoption since my parents began the process to bring home my sisters from Peru in 1988. I was twelve when we traveled to Lima, Peru, where...
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