adoption

November 14, 2012

what you can do.

If you've spent any amount of time around here, you know me. And my heart. I mean, I'm quite transparent here and share what's on my heart regularly, like it or not. And well, it is National Adoption Month. So you kinda-sorta had to know this was coming... A big part of my heart belongs to orphans. There is no denying that God has rocked our once-ordinary-little-family right into full-blown-craziness through adoption... and we couldn't feel more blessed. And I believe that caring for the orphan is something we all can do, whether we adopt or not. As mom to 7 … [Read more...]

17 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, love others

November 5, 2012

on my heart

November is National Adoption Month. And yesterday was Orphan Sunday. So the subject of adoption has been occupying a lot of my brain matter lately. As a momma to seven beloved children that were once considered orphans, adoption is often on my mind. But I've been reminded that I want my passion for adoption to be more than something that is on my heart and in my head... I want my life to be affected as well. I want to be changed. I want my life to look different because of all that God has revealed to me about His heart for the orphan. I had hoped to write … [Read more...]

19 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, Isabelle, Jude, Poppy, Shepherd, Sophie, Tallula, Vivienne

November 2, 2012

205 days

Six months, three weeks and one day after meeting Tallula in Wuhan China, she uttered these words for the first time, unsolicited. "I luh yooo, mama." she exhaled as she wrapped her arms around my leg. Adoption confounds that thing that comes so naturally between mothers and children: love. Love takes time. And patience. And lots and lots of grace. From both ends. Daily. And love isn't always guaranteed. So when love descends, it is especially sweet. Happy day. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It … [Read more...]

20 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, Tallula

October 18, 2012

adopting? fundraising?

Well, come here! In honor of Orphan Awareness Month next month, I am excited to offer ad space here on Ni Hao Y'all for orphan ministries, adopting families and fundraising families at a discount now through the end of November. The Regular Joe ads are 50% off for orphan ministries, adoptive families and fundraising families. Just use the promo code "november" at checkout to get 1/2 off. If you do not have a button, but want to purchase a Regular Joe spot, I'll be glad to help create one for you. Just contact me using the link in the right sidebar. And the … [Read more...]

2 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, love others

September 13, 2012

together for adoption

Heading out soon for Atlanta to the Together For Adoption conference going on tomorrow and Saturday. Can't wait to see what God is going to do through this event. If you're going, please come by and say, "hi!". You can find me at the Wild Olive table and I would love if you came by and let me squeeze your neck. Or just say, "hi!" back. Whichever you prefer. … [Read more...]

5 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, wild olive

July 28, 2012

friends

I have been blessed with many new friendships since God pricked our hearts and sent us on this journey of adoption. Some have been for a season. And some have been enduring. It's amazing how God connects us, through our passion for adoption and our love for Him, and blesses us through it. So grateful for one very special friendship. That has come to include not only us, but our husbands. And our kids. And how this friendship has blessed our family so very, very much over the years. So, today I thought I'd post these goofy pictures of Lisa … [Read more...]

9 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, friends, love others

July 16, 2012

husbands and wives

disclaimer: I am a Christ-following, stay-at-home mama. So, it would naturally follow that this post is written from the perspective of a Christ-following, stay-at-home mama. My goal here is to encourage, and to help others who are struggling. This is simply my opinion, from lessons I've learned on this journey called life. I am not a professional, nor do I play one on TV. If you don't want to hear my thoughts on adoption, marriage and sex, stop reading now. Otherwise, let's do this thing. A question I hear frequently is, "How can I get my husband to agree to … [Read more...]

44 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, big o' family, marriage, my faith, Q and A

June 5, 2012

a moment

On Sunday afternoon, I was doing what I love to do. Taking pictures of my kids. They were playing in their new playhouse - aka cardboard basketball hoop box - and to bring in more light, I opened the front door. After snapping a few pictures, just inside the entryway, I turned around. And this is what I saw. A moment. An I-can't-belive-I-actually-have-my-camera-to-capture-this moment between my kiddos. Who may not siblings by birth, but they are, most definitely, family. … [Read more...]

25 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, big o' family

May 22, 2012

progress. beautiful progress.

Bringing Tallula home has, in a lot of ways, been difficult for Poppy. Although it didn't show up all the time, every day, she just hasn't been her usual smiley, happy-go-lucky self. She's been occasionally broody. And serious. And kinda-sorta ticked off. And she let me know, sister or not, that she wasn't very happy with me for bringing this new person into our home. Of course, this was completely understandable. She's been usurped. Displaced. No longer the baby of the family. And Tallula is no shrinking violet. She hasn't made it … [Read more...]

13 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, Poppy, real life

May 3, 2012

co-sleeping. and why we do it despite my preferences otherwise.

I've alluded to the fact that we co-sleep with our kiddos, specifically our newly adopted children. But I haven't expounded much beyond that. Until now. In the past I've had a number of folks ask me how we manage so many little ones, especially at night. And with Tallula's arrival, 8 months after Poppy's arrival, we're sandwiched between two kiddos. Literally. So, seems like now is the perfect time to talk about co-sleeping. Because boy, are we co-sleeping. First a little background. I'm a information-seeker by nature. So, years ago, when I was a new momma, … [Read more...]

58 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, what works for us