Last night, I decided to reread “a shepherd looks at PSALM 23,” by Phillip Keller from an adoptive parent of traumatized children perspective. Funny, how each time we read a story we pick up something new, depending on where we are in life. I’d like to share an excerpt with you that reminded me of the dynamics in my family, particularly of my adopted children who were previously traumatized.

In chapter three, the shepherd is explaining the strange behavior of his flock. This chapter is based on part of verse two, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…”... more

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23; NASB)

The Pharisees were a legalistic sect bent on "being right" rather than "doing right". Because of this, they were soundly condemned by the Lord.

We have been at a plateau for a little over three months. The mother of the children we hope to adopt has yet to return the consent that will allow the adoption to go forward. Without going into a lot of confidential detail, we have three... more

Everyone who considers adopting a child wrestles with the question: What are my motives for adopting?

In her book, Carried Safely Home, Kristin Swick Wong explains that she read books, hoping they would shed some light on the subject:

Some authors cautioned that adoption should not be pursued as a means to care for the poor. They told us not to adopt with the motivation of helping others but rather for ourselves, because we really wanted a child. One author advised,... more

Check out the in-depth article in The New York Times, "A Taste of U.S. Family Life, but Adoption in Limbo," By Jane Gross (Jan. 13, 2007).

The article details the ever-changing face of adoption and chronicles a family who hosted a Ukrainian child this Christmas in hopes of adopting her.

Gross writes:

Conditions in [Russia and Ukraine] have grown so unsettled, some [adoption] agencies have suspended hosting programs, and the debate is growing about the ratio of risk to reward. Do the many success tories for older orphans... more

For the first time in 15 years, the number of intercountry adoptions to the United States has decreased, according to an Associated Press article by David Crary.

International adoptions by Americans dropped 9 percent, from 22,728 in 2005 to 20,679 in 2006, according to new figures released by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.

The State Department’s Web site notes that adoptions from mainland China decreased from 7,906 in Fiscal Year 2005 to 6,493 in 2006 (an 18 percent drop).

Adoptions from Russia decreased from 4,639 to 3,706,... more

Here are some sites that sell adoption-related gifts (thanks to my readers and to Adoptive Families magazine for passing along the information):

Scrolls from China

Owned by adoptive dad Robert Tadjiki, Scrolls From China sells unique, handmade Asian wall scrolls designed and painted by Chinese orphans. Proceeds from sales support the artists as well as orphanages in China.

You can read an extensive... more

My long-time e-mail friend, Jody Moreen, has joined the team of adoption bloggers at Families.com.

Here's the info she sent:

I am one of three adoption bloggers currently working on the blogs. I am an adoptee and the other two are adoptive parents.

Ed is the adoptive father of many children in domestic adoption and Pam has adopted two children internationally.

There are also a couple guest bloggers on the website who are both adoptive parents... more

The December 2006 issue of Adoptive Families magazine includes some news tidbits of interest to parents adopting internationally:

USCIS Provides Contact Info for Adopting Parents

Each field office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as INS (Immigration and Naturalization Services) now has an e-mail address devoted solely to international adoptions.

The URL in Adoptive Families is outdated... more

Christian Homes And Special Kids (CHASK) is a non-profit organization that serves as a contact point for those pregnant with a child with medical challenges, for (birth) mothers with special needs, or for families whose baby is born with a challenge that prevents the birth family from parenting the child.

A friend of a friend alerted me that the CHASK process works as follows:

Someone contacts CHASK and asks for help. CHASK broadcasts the need in the geographical area first in hopes... more

I'm recovering from Turkey Day and a busy weekend of visiting relatives, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

Today on my Exploring Adoption blog, I introduce readers to four Christian resources for parenting children with Down syndrome.

I'll be reviewing these books at a later date, but wanted to point you to them now.