Do you think that those who pray are more likely then others to seek out special needs children to adopt? Do parents who do not pray, later seek out a higher authority for strength and perseverance after parenting a special needs child? Do those without the power of prayer to help them through the tough times end up choosing not to parent traumatized children?

I have had conversations with hundreds of foster and adoptive families of special needs children over the 14 years that we have been licensed foster parents.... 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

Without disclosing confidential aspects of our daughter’s history, it has become increasingly clear that her frequent tantrums and rages are more than simply a by-product of her transition to post-adoptive life.

Making such a huge life changes such as adoption and moving surely have challenges and there are definite issues that can be attributed it. However, how do you know when it’s something more?

Become educated: You never want to diagnose any behavioral or mental health issue on your own. However, do learn as much as you can about typical and atypical behavior, so that should you suspect a deeper issue than just the transitional, you can alert your... 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

At roughly 9:45 CDT this morning, a judge signed the adoption decree, officially making what was a family of three a family of five! On hand, in addition to those necessary for the matter to be heard, were my mother’s sister and brother, and their spouses.

Afterward, we celebrated with our attorney, social worker and the kids’ foster mother. We went straight from that celebration to another given in our honor by the Christian adoption agency that handled the adoption. Though the spellings are a little wonky, I had to share this picture... more

As I have often stated, Satan is really getting a run for his money! He’s trying to do every little thing he can to disrupt this adoption and claim a victory. So, tonight, after a wonderful, wonderful day filled with family that have traveled to be here with us for our adoption proceedings tomorrow morning, we came home to a thunderstorm!

My daughter had a full-blown meltdown. Just everything you have heard about in children who rage – the oppositional behavior, throwing things, whining, insistent, disrespectful (of property and people), and saying all the “button-pushing phrases.” I heard what a... more

As discussed previously, the church family here had “doin’s” for us after services yesterday. Most of the congregations stayed, and I cannot count the number of people who came up to us to say how much they will truly miss the children. It was heartwarming to know how much love they have been lavished with these past two years!

During services yesterday, before the “doin’s,” my soon-to-be youngest son turned to my oldest son and said, “You’re my best friend” and it melted my heart!

After services and the potluck, we went to the kids’ former home to pick up the last of their things. ... more

Our children’s foster parents asked that they have Saturday (our arrival day) as a day of private family celebration time with the kids. Thus, after landing, when our social worker called, I knew something big was up.

The kids’ foster parents run two of the biggest businesses in this small Southern town of about 2,500 – a flower shop and a funeral home. They were called upon to do a large funeral, so the family had their celebration on Friday,... more

My last blog chronicled our tasks in preparation to leave.

Though our flights were uneventful, the time spent at one very large and very famous airport, was not. Maybe not everyone is crazy like me and travels in the middle of the night, however, they were woefully understaffed, and there was no clear signage. So everyone went around asking everyone else, “Is this the line for…?” “Is this where I…?” “Where is…?”

Thankfully, because I had checked in online and printed our boarding passes, we were able to speed right through, once people began getting clearer directions as to... more