On this day that our final decree is granted, I’m wondering: What do you call the day you adopted your children? I have mixed feelings about many of the choices I’ve seen. I don’t mean to hurt or put down any of the fine families I’ve seen use these terms, but here’s a summary of the issues I have:

Family Day: Were you not a family before you adopted? Thus, this really isn’t the day you became a family. “Bigger Family Day” maybe...but that just doesn’t have a catchy ring to it, does it?

Gotcha Day: True, it’s the day we “got” our, but I “get” things every... more

Six months ago today – right around right now, in fact! – we were sitting in a courtroom five states away, joy barely contained! As we sat in chambers with the judge who signed our interlocutory decree of adoption, she talked to us about the enormity of the undertaking we were seeking her to grant.

After talking to us, and to the children, she signed the interlocutory decree. An interlocutory decree is:

A decree of adoption granted by the Court,... more

Today, for whatever reason (maybe the "stir crazy-itis" I mentioned in my last blog), my daughter decided to open the door to a complete and utter stranger. She says she thought it was her dad (who had been outside taking care of the trash earlier). Nonetheless, a hard and fast rule here at Casa Stro is that you Never.Ever.Open.The.Door.To.Strangers. In fact, we're so hardline, even if someone the kids do know comes to the door, they need to come and get one of us to answer the door!

Thankfully... more

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:14-17).

Though I do not currently have teens living in my home, I have had them in the past. Maybe because of our affinity for this age group, they seek us out - I don’t know. Whatever the case may be, I had an opportunity tonight to help a foster child attend a Bible study at a neighboring congregation.

The topic dealt with raising... more

In my initial post on parental love and pride, I mentioned my daughter’s choral recital. That recital was a charitable recital, held in the atrium of the Famous Hospital to the North of Us. Saturday night was the full on evening recital for family, friends and the public.

Though her younger brother has had a cold, my daughter valiantly held off on getting it, up until the last song or two of the concert Saturday night. You could see her eyes were a little glassy and she was really tired,... more

After my post on Parental Love and Pride, a reader wrote to me and, though not the main point of her note, expressed a sentiment I think many parents can relate to – and really the flip side of Parental Love and Pride – Parental Guilt!

Oh man, do I relate! There are days when I feel like the most terrible mom ever! Days where the kids are restless; or I’ve not slept well. Days where it seems the chores are endless and we’ve still got homeschool to do, or somewhere to go, or something else that needs attention!

We've... more

Many adopted children arrive to your family without previous church or religious experience. Because your family embraces Christianity, you would naturally want your newly adopted child to embrace Christianity. Unfortunately, as parents we cannot make our newly adopted child embrace faith. Certainly, we are able to take a young child to our church. We are able to instruct our newly adopted child in Christian principles. We can pray daily for our child’s salvation. Ultimately, the child must make the decision.

In the new testament of the Bible, Jesus used parables... more

I woke up this morning to find that my oldest son had straightened up and swept the front entryway. Not to be outdone, Sissy wanted in, and they both set to work making my breakfast and their dad’s lunch for work.

For the rest of the day, all I had to do was mention something or ask, and it was done! Before you all besiege me with requests to open up a school or offer parenting seminars, let me say, I have no idea what spurred this on! If I had a pill or formula, I would bottle it, but I certainly have appreciated it while it’s lasted!

I had a migraine this... more

I’ve long been proud of every utterance, doodle, what have you, that my oldest son has ever produced. It’s just a natural motherly pride that swells within your breast every time you look at your precious child.

Some often wonder how you can ever love an adopted child “like your own.” Let me tell you ... not only is it possible, it actually happens! And it’s so natural that sometimes the force of your feelings rushes over you at times, and you wonder at the miracle of emotions that God creates within us!

I had such a moment today. My six-year-old daughter... more

Julia recently posed a dilemma she is facing with her daughter in this article. It’s a difficult issue, since as Christian parents our duty is to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We began by addressing the role of belief and repentance, in Part One of our series. In Part... more