How carefully did you look at the name you chose for your newborn when you decided to adopt? Did you dissect the name to see what possible combinations people could come up with from it? Apparently, we didn’t look close enough. Now what should we do? Is an emergency name change or spelling change in order?

We spent months coming up with our daughter’s name. We wanted a name that had real meaning behind it. We chose a special name for our daughter that reflected our joy to an answer to years of prayer. The name we chose also reflected our family heritage. How... more

We all like to think about the warm fuzzy part of parenting while we are waiting to be chosen to adopt. If your chosen child is an infant, there will be lots of snuggle time before you need to think about discipline. If your chosen child is older, then you will need to think about discipline immediately, and how to do it.

Is discipline really necessary, and if it is, Why? The Bible is full of parenting advice for us to consider.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not... more

We’ve been home for a week and a half now. Though there have been some very dicey moments with regard to my daughter’s emotional health and its disruption to the family dynamic at times, I have to say that overall, this Love Thursday finds us with harmony in the home!

We’ve gone to homeschool park day, and the kids spent a great deal of time together with minimal “fussing” at each other. Ditto for a few other family outings - in fact, a few of these outings have been downright pleasant! The kids have exhibited “fancy manners” (our code phrase for remember to be polite), and have really been... more

Thanks to all for their many words of congratulations on our finalization! It’s been a whirlwind, and I’d love to say that today, a full week after arriving home, we’ve settled into a routine. I say, ‘I’d like to say that’, but I can’t!

Things are still somewhat chaotic in transitioning from one child to three overnight. All three are in very different and distinct developmental stages, so each has his or her own needs in adapting. This is not to say they aren’t adapting well. For the most part... more

Her children rise up and bless her; (Proverbs 31:28a)

Lord willing, a week from now it will be official – I will be a mother again! Upon hearing me say this, my son said, “You’re already a mom. How can you be a mom ‘again’? You’ll just be more of a mother!”

I can’t argue with that kind of logic! I honestly view motherhood as my personal ministry. All of my children, whether by birth or placement, are blessings from above. Having two more children is a tremendous responsibility and undertaking. It blows... more

With a mere nine days before we board the plane for the trip that will change our lives forever, much remains to be done. Today alone I’ve spoken to our social worker and lawyer (both more than once!); my daughter’s pediatric staff, and I still have to coordinate a few more adoption-related things before the end of business today.

If you’ve read this blog with any regularity, you know I’m not so good with “the small stuff”. Big stuff, no problem – just don’t drown me in... more

I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop. (Psalm 102:7)

Here it is – almost 3 in the morning – and what am I doing? Blogging about adoption. If I’m not up thinking about the kids, I’m writing about them … or talking about them to my husband, who coincidentally, also is having trouble sleeping (and not because I’m talking to him!)

Yes, we’re a scant ten days away from departure to pick up the kids. I have a “countdown” plug-in on my internet homepage. Each morning my son comes into my room, and we count off another... more

In our Making Time series, we’ve established the need for personal time, how to make time for yourself, how to make Couple Time, and now, we’re going to round it out with how to make “One-On-One ‘Kid Time’”.

My background is in Early Childhood Education, and all... more

Now that we know why you need to make time for yourself, let’s talk about ways to incorporate this time seamlessly, painlessly, and guilt-free into your day!

Use existing blocks of time to your advantage: Do the kids still nap? If so, you nap too! As tempting as it is, do not use this time to play “catch-up!” If you can’t nap, read, knit, listen to music, or do something you find soothing. Avoid television, newspapers or... more

When you bring your adopted child home, the previous months beforehand are much like a traditional birth - a flurry of activity, with little time for rest or sleep. Now that you are home with your child, sleep almost seems like an out-of-reach possibility!

With the demands of new parenthood upon you (whether this is your first, last or in-between child), thoughts of caring for yourself seem selfish. After all, isn’t this what you signed on for when you decided to have children?

Adoptive parents are especially cursed with this type... more