Biological siblings have the benefit of the same gene pool, genetic wiring, yada, yada, yada. Even adopted sibs can create a bond through artificial twinning in the sense that they are, generally speaking, going through the same developmental and cognitive milestones at the same time. But how do you explain a brother and sister who are not related biologically, and are not close in age, but yet can read each so well that they know each other better than they know themselves?

Let... more

As often happens with children, there has been an outbreak of lice amongst our children’s circle of acquaintances. While, thankfully, we have not experienced an outbreak, we’re prepared.

In the nine years I have parented our son, we’ve never had a case of lice. I’ve homeschooled him the whole time, and though he has several outside classes with lots of other kids, we’ve never had the exposure.

Right before we went to pick up my son and daughter for the finalization, there was an outbreak of lice at the after care program the kids attended in their native... more

During this hectic holiday season, when our Western culture focuses so much on “getting loot,” it’s important to take the time to teach our children about giving.

Though the date of December 25th was one chosen arbitrarily to celebrate the birth of Christ, we do know that Christ was real, that He did live, and that He was the greatest gift mankind has ever received from a kind and benevolent Father.

So, during a time when children are revved up and often thinking about “what’s... more

My dear friends Ron and Lisa both broke their backs two weeks ago in a vehicular accident with eight of their children. We have so much in common that we naturally became friends after meeting ten years ago. They have adopted 10 children, they homeschool, they regularly attend church, and their older children attended AWANA. I asked you to pray for them two weeks ago when I didn’t have much information about their injuries. They are both currently wearing their molded plastic torso casts, which are not very comfortable. (I speak from experience because I wore one for... more

In past blogs I’ve discussed some of the issues we’ve faced regarding hygiene. I really thought we were making some good headway. I believe that I have used appropriate consequences. We have checked for a medical origin, and went through a course of antibiotics. But still the issue persists.

Though there have always been discussions about sexual abuse, nothing has ever been proven or stated as fact. However, I have a background in both Early... more

Chalk this one up the Bizarro Hall of Fame, but what are the odds that two of my children would lose a tooth ten minutes apart?

Both have been saying for days that they have wiggly teeth. Both have worked with their loose teeth, given status reports, and have generally been very aware of all things dental. At first, I thought maybe my daughter was trying to copy her older brother. As of late, “copying” has been a huge topic here at Casa Stro. When eating out, she will... more

Up to now, I’ve only had to deal with one child being sick at a time. But this weekend, all three children got that head cold that’s been making the rounds. It’s always been hard for me to contain my oldest son whenever he’s been ill, because he doesn’t realize he needs to rest, and his brother and sister are no different. Maybe all children are like this, but previously I only had one child, so this is all new to me!

For the last three days, it’s been like wrestling a slippery octopus to get the three of them to lie down! Further, they love playing with this one toy that records your voice and they love screaming into it at the top of their lungs to make silly sounds. This toy tops... more

Last Saturday I sent out an urgent plea for prayer partners for a special adoptive family. The entire family, other than adult children, was involved in an accident resulting in both parents having broken backs. The nine children, riding in the 15-passenger van, only suffered minor cuts and bruises. Many of you joined me in special prayer for them and some of you even took the request to your fellow prayer warriors so I wanted to give you an update.

The parents, Lisa and Ron, were released from the hospital in Pennsylvania on Monday. Their relatives brought them back... more

My boys love each other. They are absolutely crazy about each other. From the moment they met until right this very second, they have a bond that is incredibly strong and can only grow stronger with time.

This afternoon, after my youngest had just woken up from his nap, the boys snuggled up with each other. While his younger brother was shaking off his slumber, my oldest son regaled him with tales of how much we wanted to adopt him. He told him how much we loved him. He told him best of all, that even when we die, they will still be brothers (in Christ)!

They cuddle together, they play together; they say silly things to each other…Things I don’t quite understand, being an... more

Friends in adoption, I am writing urgently to you, coveting your prayers for a fellow adoptive family. Previously, I have written blogs about a special adoptive family whom I love. They adopted two boys as newborns with Down syndrome through private paid adoptions. The boys are now five and six years old. Prior to those adoptions, they had adopted a sibling group of five children through the foster care system in our county. Last year they adopted four-year-old autistic twins from Oregon, whom I begged them to adopt. The twins have been in their home for just over a year.... more