We've been talking a bit about moving. The kids are pretty excited about it and talk about it, even though we've clearly stressed it's all conjecture at this point. Even though we've looked at a few places, we still have let the kids know we're not sure about taking any steps toward any of the dwellings we've seen.

Even though it appears the kids all view this positively, I am still concerned about uprooting the kids. I take transitions pretty seriously, because I know all three of our kids are pretty sensitive and get attached to things very easily. I also... more

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you (Philippians 1:3)

In an interesting display of “harmonic convergence”, cable television played both versions of The Parent Trap on two different channels during the same time slot. As I flipped back and forth between them, I noticed both versions had the scene wherein one of the twins meets the grandfather for the first time and begins sniffing him. The grandfather asks what she's doing and the twin replies, “I'm making a memory. Years from now when I'm a grown up, I want to remember that... more

Romans 8:22-24

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?(NIV)

As I read this verse, it reminded me of our recent adoption of our 10-year-old foster... more

Occasionally, several things of note will happen in a week. Not big enough to merit an entire post, but I mish-mosh them together like our traditional Pancake Saturday. Here is this week's round-up:

Pee Problem Past-Tense!: We’ve been using the kitchen timer suggestion for almost a month now, and the pee problem appears to be a thing of the past. Even though we didn’t... more

I’ve been playing around with an idea for awhile, and thought this would be a good weekend to roll it out. Here at Casa Stro, every Saturday is Pancake Saturday. It’s a tradition that began when I was a child growing up, and one that I have carried over, now, with my children.

In a pancake recipe, as you know, you put in a little of this, a little of that, and that is what I will do in this new... more

The anguished words of a grieving mother, “I would have done things differently had I known that I would only have him for 15 years.” I heard her mournful cries and it tore at my heartstrings and caused my own tears to burst forth. She and I have been friends for nearly five years. She is a good mother who always knows where her children are and what they are doing. She keeps them involved in sports and other extracurricular activities to keep them out of trouble. She speaks to them honestly about life because as a teen she stole to feed her younger siblings. They were... more

I know I’ve been scarce around these parts. Like many of my colleagues here at AdoptionBlogs, I’ve had that pesky bug that’s been going around. In our family, four of the five of us got some form or another of it. For me, however, due to my asthma, anything I get goes straight to my chest and I have a tough time breathing.

So, for roughly a week, I was wheezing up a storm. Not an easy task when you are homeschooling three and shuttling same to six outside classes a week! Thankfully, hubby, who has a somewhat flexible schedule, was able to do the heavy lifting for the first few days, at least. He took my daughter to her therapist appointment, and did all the cooking, bathing... more

My dad, who’s been widowed nearly four years, is getting re-married in a couple of weeks. His fiancée is moving her stuff into his house, which means that Dad had to find a new home for some of his stuff. So my brother and I took a bedroom set, piano, dining room set and assorted furniture, knick-knacks, and dishes off his hands this weekend.

My dad and mom had been married 48 years when my mom passed away from colon cancer. My hubby and I are going on 25 years of marriage. And my brother and his wife have been married over 15 years. So this is the first time that anyone on my side of the family has ever remarried.

People keep asking me, “How are you doing? Is it weird? What... more

It's been a bad-news-good-news week. I learned that some friendly acquaintances (adoptive parents) are getting divorced.

I grieved over the news that an author friend's house burned down and his son-in-law died in the fire.

And my dad announced that he is getting married (that's good news). He's been a widow for nearly four years since my mom died of colon cancer, and he unexpectedly found new love. He's getting married March 24.

Things are cooking right along with the publication of both... more

Eleven years ago, my husband and I experienced a spate of four adoptions that failed to materialize. At the time of our fourth failed attempt, we were living near Vancouver, Washington.

One of the people involved in our case was the pregnancy counselor for the young woman who was considering placing her infant with us. The pregnancy counselor, Rita, was a kind-hearted Christian woman who did as much to comfort my husband and me as she did to counsel the pregnant woman.

Immediately after that failed adoption, my husband and I moved to Snohomish,... more