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Preparing for Primary and Secondary Adoptive Trauma
This month, we're featuring some different voices from the world of adoption. The following post is written Renaut van der Riet, an adoptive father and pastor. He shared his adoption story on the Lifesong blog a few months ago (take a look at that blog here). And now,…
Considering Adoption? 5 Questions to Ask
We are deeply grateful for trusted adoption ministry partners like Loving Shepherd Ministries who share their experience and expertise so freely with families in process. This post is from Amber Steffen and Loving Shepherd Ministries. The adoption journey is filled with twists and turns. Delays, laws changing,…
The “Why” of Down Syndrome Adoption
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. So this month especially, we're thankful to be partners with the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network (NDSAN). Its mission is simple: to ensure every child born with Down syndrome has the opportunity to grow up in a loving family.NDSAN's director, Stephanie Thompson,…
Life Lessons from Adoption: Love Is Costly
Guest post from pastor, adoptive dad, and Lifesong matching grant recipient Brad Raby. My wife and I had the unique experience, joy, and challenge of entering the world of international adoption. At the time of writing this, we have been home for a month with two of our three…
My Daughter’s Birthmother Is My Real-Life Superhero
Guest Post from Francina Kahl, Founder of Be Still Tea Our adoption journey began in the middle of 2012. I was pregnant, and we had just found out that we were going to have a third son. My only daughter at the time looked at me and said,…
The Power of a Seed: My Journey in Foster Care
My name is Crystal Williams, and I am a former foster youth. I aged out of the foster care system at the age of 18, and I was so blessed to be able to be in a family that decided to adopt me when I turned 25 years…
We Never Adopted… But Our Children Did
Guest post by Marla Ringger, Co-Founder of Lifesong for Orphans Gary and I became grandparents in our youth. He was 48 and I was 47. Two and a half years later, we had a full house: 3 granddaughters and twin grandsons! Living within a half-hour drive of their…
Why Adoptive Families Need Community (AKA You)
Guest post by Renaut van der Riet (pictured above) The Gospel compelled my wife Brooke and I to get involved in reaching children from hard places, in bringing children who didn't belong into belonging spaces. We were inspired, we were ready, we were gonna go do it, we had…
This Adoption Story Isn’t What You Think
Guest post by Donna Nicholson, LPC, from Bethany Christian Services Emily* was a 36-year-old mother of two and facing an untimely pregnancy when we met. Her story was long, complicated and, to me, a pregnancy counselor for Bethany Christian Services, very familiar. She came to me contemplating an…
Why Adopting Interracially Is One of the Best Decisions I’ve Made
Guest post by Keia Jones-Baldwinon her family's experience with interracial adoption. Years had gone by and countless dollars had been spent. But my husband, Richardo, and I still hadn’t been able to have any biological children. I'm blessed to have one biological daughter, Zariyah (16). But I deeply…