Several years ago, we crafted a family mission statement. Generally, when you hear the term “mission statement” you think of large, impersonal corporations or small, struggling non-profits. Wikipedia defines it thusly, “the intention of a genuine mission statement is to keep members and users aware of the organization's purpose.”

How can you translate this to the family?

Families are comprised of individual members, not unlike a company or an organization. As each member is unique, there will be diversity... more

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Today was not pretty. It started with the mad dash to get ready for trip two of three this week to the Big Hospital to the North. My daughter began to complain about her new shoes and her new clothes. Maybe it is because I have not been sleeping (due to my oldest son’s medical condition, or because hubby has had a cold), and because I have driven the Big Red Bus this week a bazillionty miles (and it’s only Tuesday, mind you!), but most likely... more

You have adopted an older child into your Christian family from the foster care system or an orphanage abroad. The child has never been to church, which has been our experience with most of our foster children. You would like your new child to learn the stories and verses that you may have grown up hearing, a foundation for faith. You would also like your child to get excited about doing it. You want your child to meet other Christian children and make new friends with similar thinking families.

Your new children may be lonely. They are probably missing their friends... more

Have you thought about your daughter’s purity? Don’t wait until it is time to begin dating to discuss the subject, as uncomfortable as it may be. Don’t just assume your daughter will know what to do in a pressure situation, if you haven’t helped her to plan her actions. This can be especially important if your daughter was exposed to questionable activities prior to her adoption.

My sisters-in-the-Lord threw a book shower for Amigrace when we brought her home. One of the books we received was The Princess and the Kiss, by Jennie Bishop. My friend said that she and her... more

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded... more

I really hope I make it to Heaven, because in my head, I live in a Utopian society – everyone does the right thing, rules are fair, and atrocities don’t exist.

If you’ve read my road trip series, you know my family loves the superstore circuit. Tonight, upon exiting our local superstore, we went to our car, only to find a really big ding to the back of it. No note, no nothing. I just couldn’t fathom why someone wouldn’t go into the store, or at least stick their card or a note under the windshield.

But, then again, I can’t fathom the tragedy... more

Most of us know him as Abraham, but before God dubbed him the “father of all nations”, he was plain old Abram, and his life story provides a parallel for adoption:

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; (Genesis 12:1)

"The Lord said, 'Go forth'": I know in my own case, I wasn’t actively looking to adopt when... more

I’ve been online for about 12 years now. I’ve participated in chats, e-mail discussion groups, community boards and forums. The topics have been diverse – some seemingly innocuous like homeschooling – some rife with debate like attachment parenting (with sub components like the vaccination debate and whether to circumcise or not). And, in all of these cases, whether “innocuous” or not – you get debate – some healthy – much of it not. And so it is with adoption.

As Jan Baker over at First/Birth Parents eloquently states it:

That... more

I’ve written about the seemingly interminable wait, handling setbacks, and the role of faith and hope, but I think now is a good time to talk about discouragement, the enemy of time.

We know that Satan wants us to be discouraged, but God calls us to something different:

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do... more

The old adage says, “The devil is in the details” and it is so with adoption. Give me a big problem or hurdle, and shockingly, I do just fine (while holding onto God’s hand, that is!). But I do “sweat the small stuff.” Ask me to chase around little details, and then have something go wrong? That’s a recipe for disaster, and the area Satan knows is best if he wants to trip me up … and you know that’s exactly what he wants!

Be of sober spirit, be on... more