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5 Helpful Things to Say to an Anxious Child
As parents, if we're feeling fearful or unsure, then we can rightly assume our kids are feeling it, too. Children who have experienced trauma are especially prone to anxious feelings in uncertain times. According to Karyn Purvis and the Institute of Child Development, "A major detrimental outcome of…
“The Moment We Knew We Were Called to Adopt.”
Just three years after grieving the loss of their daughter, Jon and Kristen felt called to adopt. The following post written by Jon details their journey from calling to homecoming. In January 2013, we mourned the loss of our daughter Kate. She was stillborn at seven months. We…
Are There Still Orphanages in America?
You ask... Are there still orphanages in America? Good question. Let's start from the beginning. The first orphanage was established in the United States in 1729. By 1850, 56 orphanages in America were up and running, responding to health epidemics and the rapid increase of poor immigrants. That…
A Word to the Weary Mom
International Women's Day is this week. But I don't expect you to know that since you spend your mornings rushing around feeding your kids and getting them ready for school. (Whoever invented the phrase "herding cats" never herded children.) Who has time for International Women's Day? After a drive across…
Is This A Bad Reason to Adopt?
The road to adoption is messy. There's a reason why only 5% of practicing Christians adopt, even though 38% have considered it. To consider adoption is to embark on an introspective journey where we see ourselves in our most vulnerable light. But take heart! Ahna is a mom…
Why Help Kids Around the World When Kids Here Need Help?
Get close enough to the world of adoption and orphan care, and chances are ... you'll run into a common dilemma: If kids in our backyard are suffering, why help kids around the world? Without a doubt, there are immense needs in the United States. A brief glimpse…
Finn’s Gift: Becoming a Mission-Minded Family
Generosity is often generational. Time and time again, we see former orphans becoming orphan advocates and adoptees becoming adoption advocates and even adoptive parents. It echos John's words in 1 John: "We love because He first loved us." At the end of 2019, we were reminded of this…
How to Strengthen Your Marriage while Fostering or Adopting
Dennis and Barbara Rainey know a thing or two about how to strengthen a marriage They've strengthened their marriage even while caring for the world's most vulnerable. They've been married over 40 years and have 6 grown children, one of whom they adopted. Additionally, they lead Family Life, a…
5 Things to Pray for Your Child’s Birth Parents
It happens every time I kiss my son's silky black hair or hold his little hand— I am reminded that somewhere in the world, a set of parents is missing out onthe sameopportunity. Idon't know anything about my son's birth parents—what prompted them to abandon their baby just…
7 Comments Adoptive Parents Often Hear (+ Their Grace-filled Responses)
As an adoptive parent, you know ... that adoption invites all kinds of comments. As an adoptee and an adoptive mom, I understand. Some comments or questions are kind and supportive, while others leave us scratching our head and wondering what—if anything—to say in response. Here are 7…