We are preparing for a Birthday Party for our daughter Paige. She will be turning 8 on May 30. Over the past month she has been coming to us and telling us things that she might like to have for her birthday.

She is such a good child that we want to give her the world. Even in the most stressful times she holds up so well.

This year she asked for a kitten. We decided that a kitten would be a very nice idea for her at this age. It can be a close companion and it can help her learn to nurture. It will also teach her responsibility.

We decided not to wait till her birthday to make her the new owner of a kitten. So we surprised her after school one day and took her... more

I met Don about 27 years ago. He worked as a committee man for General Motors. He had a drinking problem and he smoked a lot. He had been married and divorced. His kids did not like him much because he was never home. He was always working or in the bar talking about some ones grievance with GM.

I remember him giving some wonderful sermons when he was flat out drunk. So I knew God was dealing with him. Don loved to sing. He was funny and he was a pretty good man despite the drinking.

My sister worked for General Motors too. Don met her and he fell in love with her. They were married. It was not long after that. They both gave their hearts and lives to Jesus.

Don... more

This article will be discussing what we call, "The Rebounding Child and Our Rotating Door." We have successfully raised two of our four children to young adulthood and one of their siblings we had not adopted also.

Our biggest problem is they keep coming back and wanting to move back in. The first few times it happened, we thought life is rough out there and they need our help. So we let them live here free and save all their money. Which of course broke us.

Then after six or eight months of them living here and eating here and doing laundry here, we asked how much they had saved towards their own apartment. Much to our surprise, the answer was nothing.

At that... more

The traffic was backed up for almost a mile. It was unreal to think that in this little town anything could back up traffic like this.

We sat in the car talking and listening to music. It was so nice to feel the sunshine through the windows and know that spring has sprung. We are all looking forward to summer.

As we neared the area where the police held traffic. I don't think any of us really throught of a car accident. The closer we got the more horrified it looked. Then we realized we knew the car. We knew the people that had been inside.

I had this sinking feeling in my heart and my daughter and her friend began crying. The police of course had... more

In the softness of the night. I feel myself awaken. My mind is filled with thoughts. I walk slowly through the house and check on all my kids. I find them safe and sleeping.

The quiet is a splendor I seldom get to experience. As I sit here sipping a glass of cold ice water. Feeling the freshness touch my lips.

Life at 45. It is not so bad. I feel pretty good. My children are as normal as "their normal can be." My health issues are not as prominent and overwhelming as they once were.

When the eye doctor told me I would be blind with in one year, through prayer, we showed him not to be so negative. It has been almost 4 years now and I can still manage to see... more

Well, life has been going pretty good for our family lately. We go by days and weeks and count minutes sometimes due to living with April and her Bipolar Disorder.

At the moment she is doing ok. However last week I think she could have been a poster child for "Why Child Abuse Should Be Legal." Can you believe this statement comes from my mouth. I have never supported hitting inside a family of any kind.

I guess what got to me most is how she turned on her 7 year old sister and with angry, loud words she told her "They are not your parents and never will be." Then she proceeded to say several other hurtful things to our 7 year old daughter.

My daughters know they... more

I have been doing some on the spot interviews with older children who were adopted or have been in foster care for a series of reasons.

I wanted to ask a few questions and sit back and listen to how they answered the questions. If you ask any teenager today most of them say, "Nobody listens to me." or "My parents don't have a clue."

I have heard my daughter say that over and over, so I wanted to make sure if I asked the questions, I had the time to listen.

The questions I asked are:

1). Tell me about your family? 2). What are your best memories of your childhood? 3). What is the one thing you would change if you could about your childhood?... more

Sometimes I wonder where the reasoning or fairness apply when schools expel or give detentions.

I don't know if it is just the schools we have been exposed too. It just seems that if you have a problem child no matter what happens they always seem to blame your child. Even if you child is not the one who instigates the situation.

Kids can be so cruel, with words and actions. They do not understand other children with emotional and or mental disabilities. So when incidents happen the school usually sends the normal kid back to class and the parents of the emotionally challenged child get a phone call.

I cannot tell you how many times my daughter has taken the complete... more

This is the day of intelligence. The children begin to use computers in kindergarten and proceed on to learn the new world of Internet.

It is an exciting time. It is also an unmanageable time. No matter what you try as a parent you can not keep them safe from predators on the Internet. Furthermore they themselves are becoming so intelligent that it is getting them into big trouble.

Recently my friend had a mess on her hands. Her son who is about to graduate this year with high honors was caught with a complete list of everyone's name and address who attended the school or worked there.

In his attempt to make it easier to write out invitations for his graduation... more

Out of the door and into the yard. She runs off excited to play. I look out the window, then glance at my card. The one that she made me today.

Drawn with crayons, the rainbow, the sky. As she sits down and begins to swing. I watch her with love and tears in my eye. Oh how she makes my heart sing.

Her hair in the wind and her feet in the air. Higher and Higher she'll soar. Back and forth to the heavens, look up as I stare. She glances and smiles at me more.

There out on her swing set, no worry or fear. She takes off into the sky. She is precious and tender, no burden or tear. Look Mommy, Look Daddy,... more