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Faithfulness: A String of Yeses
Guest post by Kondo Simfukwe My wife and I recently brought home three biological sisters from Haiti. Those three joined our two biological kids at home, so needless to say, our lives have been a seven-truck pileup for the last few years. Though we may be weak and…
4 Tickets on the Last Flight Out
Both international travel and adoption come with unpredictable elements. But add a pandemic to the mix and the word "unpredictable" takes on a whole new meaning. Hear how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted one Lifesong family—Kelly, Laura, and Sloane, who was adopted from Ethiopia two years ago—as they traveled…
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…
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…
This Is the Solution to Orphans’ Needs
The solution to orphans' needs: The Church. Over and over in Scripture, God commands His followers to serve the marginalized and neglected, hurt and abused. And He demonstrates this in the person and work of Jesus Christ, from His interactions with the lowest of society to His ultimate…
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…