Six months ago today – right around right now, in fact! – we were sitting in a courtroom five states away, joy barely contained! As we sat in chambers with the judge who signed our interlocutory decree of adoption, she talked to us about the enormity of the undertaking we were seeking her to grant.

After talking to us, and to the children, she signed the interlocutory decree. An interlocutory decree is:

A decree of adoption granted by the Court,... more

My oldest, for as long as I can remember, spontaneously bursts into prayer when he sees an ambulance or police car. He will invoke God and ask Him to watch over the person in the ambulance or ask that the person pulled over by the police car will make better and wiser choices.

Now, with our two newest children in tow, they will do whatever their “Big Bubbie” does, and now they break out in prayer whenever they see an ambulance or police car!

It’s uncanny how alike the children are. There is no way they could know that when my oldest was younger (around... more

Today, for whatever reason (maybe the "stir crazy-itis" I mentioned in my last blog), my daughter decided to open the door to a complete and utter stranger. She says she thought it was her dad (who had been outside taking care of the trash earlier). Nonetheless, a hard and fast rule here at Casa Stro is that you Never.Ever.Open.The.Door.To.Strangers. In fact, we're so hardline, even if someone the kids do know comes to the door, they need to come and get one of us to answer the door!

Thankfully... more

While watching a re-run of Law and Order today (as filtered through my TV Guardian), as the kids were napping, Briscoe and Curtis interviewed a woman who had clearly met the end of her rope. She was less than helpful and obviously frazzled. As the detectives were leaving, she said, "Look, I've been with three sick kids with the flu all week." Rey said, "I know how you feel." She replied, "No you don't! You get to go leave for work!" Well, here at Casa Stro, it's been a bit like that!

Two... more

Growing up, I struggled with depression and poor self-image. I had chronically low self-esteem. Yet, I was in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program at just about every school I attended,. I was called a beauty. I was a cheerleader; captain of my debate team as well as president of the French Club. But, I hated myself. Self-loathing that I cannot adequately put into words.

True, I had mental health conditions such as depression and ADD (though at the time, undiagnosed). But it wasn’t until I became a Christian, that I could see my worth. And, even now, I still struggle with self-esteem, but I know I can read God’s Word and know that He felt I was worth sending His Son to... more

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:14-17).

Though I do not currently have teens living in my home, I have had them in the past. Maybe because of our affinity for this age group, they seek us out - I don’t know. Whatever the case may be, I had an opportunity tonight to help a foster child attend a Bible study at a neighboring congregation.

The topic dealt with raising... more

In my initial post on parental love and pride, I mentioned my daughter’s choral recital. That recital was a charitable recital, held in the atrium of the Famous Hospital to the North of Us. Saturday night was the full on evening recital for family, friends and the public.

Though her younger brother has had a cold, my daughter valiantly held off on getting it, up until the last song or two of the concert Saturday night. You could see her eyes were a little glassy and she was really tired,... more

After my post on Parental Love and Pride, a reader wrote to me and, though not the main point of her note, expressed a sentiment I think many parents can relate to – and really the flip side of Parental Love and Pride – Parental Guilt!

Oh man, do I relate! There are days when I feel like the most terrible mom ever! Days where the kids are restless; or I’ve not slept well. Days where it seems the chores are endless and we’ve still got homeschool to do, or somewhere to go, or something else that needs attention!

We've... more

Many adopted children arrive to your family without previous church or religious experience. Because your family embraces Christianity, you would naturally want your newly adopted child to embrace Christianity. Unfortunately, as parents we cannot make our newly adopted child embrace faith. Certainly, we are able to take a young child to our church. We are able to instruct our newly adopted child in Christian principles. We can pray daily for our child’s salvation. Ultimately, the child must make the decision.

In the new testament of the Bible, Jesus used parables... more

I woke up this morning to find that my oldest son had straightened up and swept the front entryway. Not to be outdone, Sissy wanted in, and they both set to work making my breakfast and their dad’s lunch for work.

For the rest of the day, all I had to do was mention something or ask, and it was done! Before you all besiege me with requests to open up a school or offer parenting seminars, let me say, I have no idea what spurred this on! If I had a pill or formula, I would bottle it, but I certainly have appreciated it while it’s lasted!

I had a migraine this... more