What makes some children so resilient that they are able to smile after horrendous childhoods? I have several such survivors here within our family. One 12 year old, sunny and happy, described by her caseworker as such a good kid, excuse my cynicism but I’ve heard that before and those same children were later hell-bent on their own destruction, hoping to take down as many bystanders as possible.

But my 12 year old really is a good kid. Deprived for years of her siblings, bounced around like Flubber,... more

I had a runaway daughter this past week. The middle child, now almost 17, in an original sibling group of 7 tough, strong-willed children, tore out of our house after the beautiful afternoon high school graduation of her older birth sister.

I’d pointed out that she seemed to be harboring a raging case of PMS. Often she’s referred to as our favorite Viper Girl due to a particularly strong mean streak. Conversely she’s very attached to me, needs my constant reassurance and she’s affectionate as well, helpful... more

There’s a local high school soccer coach who set up a ‘Cleats for Feets’ program here in our community that has benefited my children in immeasurable ways.

There’s a $50.00 registration fee in order to play rec league soccer per child. I have 14 children playing twice a year. This same coach initially bought cleats, shin guards, soccer socks and soccer balls for my children as well.

Since then I’ve met many parents on the field who donated their children’s out-grown... more

Eleven years ago tonight, around midnight, my one sister died. In her thirties, happily married and the mother of a seven years old daughter, she’d battled breast cancer for years. She’d looked into international adoption at one time, but then had to spend all her energy on maintaining her health.

She was both my biggest supporter and my biggest critic; I suppose everyone needs one of them in their life. I’ve missed her ever since,... more

"Nothing is too small to know, and nothing is too big to attempt. The biggest things are always the easiest to do because there is no competition." (William Van Horne)

I’ve received several emails lately from adoptive parents who are frustrated with their social workers, mainly because these young, childless professionals do not understand the desire to have a large family.

First off I’d like to say that my large family grew over a very long period of time. I’ve been parenting for almost 34 years.... more

I’d like to stress something important in the adoption world. Parenting does not end at age 18. I am finding that parenting begins at age 18. For some reason, maybe because they’d all once been in foster care, where kids are put out, unprepared, at age 18 into the cold, cruel world, that they alternately cling and push me away during their early young adult years. Lanette blogged about the issues, the insecurity and the near impossibility of foster... more

I’ve had the same caseworker for nearly 20 years, although in the last few adoptions she assigned our family to a different caseworker, she owns the adoption agency, and has kept tabs on us for a very long time. She’s become a friend, someone whose opinion I trust more than just about anyone else’s on earth, and now that she is an adoptive mother of challenging children, she really understands.

I was telling her today about how we have four soccer teams and two different church league softball teams underway, I am spending all my time bopping between... more

Let's get creative and make our own scrapbook.

Materials Needed:

1 binder (2 or 3 inch basic notebook binder) 2 yards of your choice of theme material 3 yards of lace or edged trimming. 1 hot glue gun 10 hot glue sticks Some notebook size page protector sleeves. Some Pictures and decorations for the front of your book. 2 yards of ribbon. 1 yard of batting.

................................... Heat the glue gun Cut the batting to the exact size of the note book as it is laid flat on the table.

Hot... more

These two precious little people are my adopted grandson Kristian and his great niece Lilly Anna. They are just a few days apart. My sister in law Lynn and I enjoyed showing them off to the camera.

Had I not told you that adoption had anything to do with these two being family member, no one would have known. That is the glory of real family. I highly doubt that they will ever even care that the word adoption has anything to do with their growing friendship as family in the future.

Kids are so forgiving and... more

This little toothless wonder is my baby girl. She is the light of my life. The source of most of my humor. The reason I give such good back rubs.

She has taught me to make up songs about any subject you can give me. She has taught me how to cry because I am so overwhelmed with how adoption has blessed my life. She has taught me to laugh because I never knew that such a tiny baby could poop out the top of her outfit and get it in her hair.

Her tender heart and soft smiles have brightened even my darkest days.

This... more