Many of you know that my son has Type 1 diabetes. So, every night we check his blood sugar at various hours of the night (which he sleeps right through!). Lately, during the time that I am up, I’ve been watching the television show, Adoption Stories. Hubby seems to sense when it’s on and joins me in watching it (maybe I wake him up with my sniffling and crying? :) ).

I am addicted. Each night, I look at the different stories that profile people from all walks of life, various ethnicities, contrasting backgrounds … yet with stories so much like my own. One in particular hit... more

Abram (later Abraham) was told by God that he would be the "father of many nations", yet it was many, many years before that promise came to fruition. During that time, Sarai, his wife, became frustrated and took matters into her own hands by giving Abram to her maid, Hagar, to conceive a child with. That wasn’t God’s plan, however. His plan was that Sarai (later Sarah) would give birth to a child. She found this notion ridiculous, as did her husband, and they laughed. (Gen. 17:17; Gen. 18:12). However, as most of us know, Sarah and Abraham became parents at 90 and 100 respectively.

Though most of us would say we would not have resorted to the methods Sarah used, nor would we have... more

Just as you build a relationship with a natural child in utero, by talking to your child and other things, you can build a relationship with your child(ren) before they reach your home through adoption. Depending on the type of adoption and where you are adopting from, doing a few or all of the following may help to build a relationship and ease transition issues:

• Make a scrapbook: You can scrapbook your daily life; pictures of your home; the child(ren)’s room; where you worship; and friends/family that you interact with on a regular basis - anything that can help give them an idea of what life will be like with you. • Write: We’ve... more

Generally speaking, with the "traditional" arrival of a child, you know you have 9-1/2 months, give or take. Thus, you have an approximate due date that you can fix you attention upon and plan toward.

With adoption, there are no due dates – you don’t know if there will even be a date.

Thus it is at Casa Stro today. We went shopping for the last few items needed to complete the children’s rooms. We wanted to finish up the rooms so we could photograph them for the scrapbook suggested by our social worker to acclimate the kids to life with us.

We’re working steadily toward something nebulous and somewhat surreal; all the while keeping in the back of... more

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (NASB).

Both of these verses are my continual companions these days. As I write this, we are in our third month of waiting for signing of the consent that will allow our adoption of two precious siblings to proceed.

Since the beginning of November, we have called our new son and daughter each week. Until the paperwork is signed, the kids only know us as “friends” of their foster parents. We have formed such a tremendous bond with them and love them so very much already. ... more

In her book Carried Safely Home, Kristin Swick Wong reflects:

“Some people feel that adoptive families are fragile, not quite real. Adoptive families retort that we are not different. Our joys and trials are as authentic as those of any family that is genetically linked. Perhaps we do not want to be different because we do not want adoption to disrupt the flow of our... more

My husband and I went on a date this weekend. Before we left, I instructed our 14-year-old to make something kid-friendly for him and his younger brother to eat – mac and cheese, hot dogs, burritos, or something equally “nutritious.”

When we arrived home later that evening, I asked my 10-year-old what they had for dinner. “Brownies and chocolate milk,” he said.

Then he assured me they were homemade brownies, which of course, makes all the difference in the world because homemade brownies are naturally more nutritious... more

I received a request from a high school student in Australia who's researching the following questions:

At what age should you tell your child he or she was adopted?

What are the pros and cons of telling your child at a young age versus an older age?

Let's help her out, readers. Please express your opinions in the Comments area so this student can learn from you!

In the previous two posts, I reviewed the video, “Bonding Through Touch: Infant Massage for Adoptive Families,” and introduced you to the video’s producer, Joni Rubinstein. Today, my interview with Joni continues.

Laura Christianson: Why did you decide to produce videos about infant massage?

Joni Rubinstein: When my life changed due to divorce, I was not able to volunteer as much, so I decided to make the videos. "Healthy Touch: Infant Massage for... more

In the previous post, I reviewed the video, “Bonding Through Touch: Infant Massage for Adoptive Families,” produced by Joni Rubinstein.

Laura Christianson: What’s your background in massage therapy?

Joni Rubinstein: I have been a Certified Licensed Massage Therapist since 1978 and was certified in Infant Massage (IM) in 1987. I have three children, now 25, 23, and 19, who have been massaged since birth.... more