Almost 20 years ago I was 32 years old, excitedly heading down to Honduras to adopt my first sibling group of daughters. I had no idea they’d be the first of many brothers and sisters to join our family, I just knew that I was very certain, in my heart, that this was exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

I’d Xeroxed an article, July 1988, from Success magazine entitled, “The Myth of the Balanced Life: Happiness is a Hotly Pursued Obsession,” written in response to a New York Times writer who’d interviewed... more

I’m going to agree with Julia’s post regarding teens who work and I disagree with the study. Like Julia, we've found it to be a plus.

Adopted older children come out of socio-economic area in which they did not see a very good work ethic. Usually their parents did not work or worked in illegal ventures such as drug dealing; yet another factor that led them into foster care.

I have never regretted allowing a teenager to work. If anything I think... more

I just read where The Hiccup Girl has run away apparently in a dispute with her stepfather who just discovered her My Space account. The parents took away her cell phone so she took off.

We had a similar situation where my 16 year old ran away for a week. She’d tried to sneak out one night, her consequence was losing her cell phone and a week later, with full blown PMS coursing through her veins, turning her into an unrecognizable teenage mutant drama queen, she slugged a younger sister... more

To say that I garden is an understatement. I have huge gardens and a houseful of hundreds of houseplants. I find this endeavor to be both soothing as well as therapeutic. Last night after playing lifeguard at the pool for several hours, something I do everyday with my children, I headed out back, clippers in one hand, seeds in another, searching for bare patches in which to squeeze in more cantaloupes or zucchini, my choice of this day.

This is my passion and I’m obsessed with it, I love scrambling in the dirt, hauling wood chips or manure, turning... more

I often fight cynicism, trying to replace it with optimism. After 20 years in the adoption world, particularly on the treacherous path I’ve chosen, that of the adoption of older children where the pains seem deeper but the rewards even greater, sometimes I encounter a story that knocks my socks right off my big feet.

There’s a couple, John and Libby Moritz, who lost their three young children in a car accident. They were coming home from school and instantly killed.

There... more

The horrible murder of a beautiful young lady in Kansas, just two weeks after her high school graduation, is sad and shocking. She’d simply gone to Target in daylight hours.

My heart sank when I learned that she was not missing, but murdered.

Now I read that the accused murderer was adopted.

Carol Hall told The Emporia Gazette for Friday's editions that the couple adopted Edwin Hall when he was 7 and knew he had problems associated... more

I hope this picture can be viewed simply for what it is, not as offensive, but as a clear example of life with traumatized children. The other words that were written are worse.

I’d received an email yesterday from a lady I know, a mother of a large family; she’d faced a terrible ordeal years ago, threatened by the child protection system that should have been helping her. Her family overcame the obstacles and has continued on successfully.

Usually we don’t have any clue as to what we’re capable... more

It’d be nice if I could brag that I started each day with physical exercise but I’d be lying. I get physical exercise all day chasing after 39 kids and 14 grandchildren, cooking around here is aerobic.

I do seek out mental pump-it-ups each morning. I receive John Maxwell’s emails on leadership regularly and I soak them up eagerly.

I’m asked if I ever get discouraged since I seem to put on such a happy face. Sometimes I think the world is determined to slap that silly smile off my face... more

If anyone ever asked me what I believed the most important thing needed in the adoption of older children, I wouldn’t even hesitate to spout off one word.

Attitude.

Attitude is everything.

It’s crushingly hard to maintain a positive attitude at times when one wants to rail at God for even thinking anyone could handle such oppositional, challenging children. But then I always step back with an admonition for myself, “Cindy, what are you thinking? You think God made a mistake?”

And I get back on that horse and... more

Being almost 53 years old, still a country woman, my roosters, two of them, wake me up each morning bright and early. 4:55 a.m. my eyes flew open and thoughts of the day rushed through my brain, pumping me up and propelling me out of bed. The other 25 kids still are snoring, two attic fans whirling and bringing in the night air redolent of honeysuckle and gardenias, both blooming right now. I inhaled deeply, gratified to be a gardener.

People don’t much have attic fans anymore, preferring the rarified air of air conditioners. I can’t tolerate the closed... more