I hope that all of you had a very Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful holiday, and the only thing missing was some good news from Ethiopia.

It is very common for holidays to be an emotional and challenging time for children who were adopted, as it is normal to think about the people you love and miss during the holidays, and all of the "going ons" and excitement can put kids into emotional overdrive.

The first Christmas that Mercy and Des were home with us, Mercy had a big breakdown. Their birth mom had promised a lot of things to the girls when she placed them with us a few months earlier, and at that point the letters, calls, etc. were not coming. She had promised several... more

As challenging as it can be to survive the holidays with a new child, it can be equally challenging to survive the holidays when you are still waiting for your child to come home.

The holidays are a time when more than ever, we crave to be with our families. The holidays and holiday celebrations often focus on children, and the joy and excitement they experience during the holiday season.

The holidays are also a very emotional time for most people.

When you consider all of those things, and then add in the challenges of being on the adoption... more

Everyone knows that the holidays are a time of much excitement, activity and celebration. It is also a very busy and emotional time of year.

At the same time, having a newly adopted child in your home is a time of great transition for your family. It can be a very challenging time because a new child may be having issues with eating, sleeping and attachment. Other children in the home may be bent out of sorts because of the new addition. Parents may be feeling overwhelmed and mentally and physically... more

Excitement is the word around here this week. In case you have somehow lost count, there is no less than FIVE days until Christmas as of today (four if you count like Nathan, who figures that today is basically over already).

Even though our kids have school through tomorrow, the teachers have all but given up on getting any work done, and tomorrow is a designated "fun day" at school for all. The kids are looking forward to decorating gingerbread houses, Christmas concerts, snow sculpting competitions, games, treats, parties and for Mercy (the junior high student), a dance. This weekend we also have a church Christmas party, a Christmas movie at the theater, a Christmas street fair... more

In my last post I wrote about some of the things my kids "miss out on" because we are a large, transracial adoptive family.

Josh and I try very hard to minimize what our kids have to give up or miss out on and yet it would be naive to think that they were not missing out on anything because of our family size and make up. And yet, I think even more important than what our kids are missing out on, is what they have gained.

Our kids have each other. While they of course bicker at times like any siblings, my kids love each other and are each other's best friends. They are together... more

Life is about choices, and every choice we make has positives and negatives. My husband and I have decided to have a large, transracial family, built mostly through the miracle of adoption.

We could have had our three biological sons and called it good. We could have been just another "normal, three-child family" that could blend into a crowd. But that was not what we wanted and it was not what we felt was right for us and for our family. We have no regrets, and life has turned out so much better than we ever could have even imagined.

That being said, we are aware that because we have a large, transracial family, that there are sacrifices that have been made, and some things... more

People are funny.

While the overwhelmingly most common reaction to our family size and the fact that we are adopting again is an accusation of Josh and I suffering from a lack of stable mental health, there has also been a completely opposite and surprising reaction popping up quite often.

We have now heard more than a few times, "Well of course after this you have to go for the even dozen!" and, "Cheaper by the dozen you know! 12 is perfect!" and even, "Well you can't stop at 11, you have to go for 12."

It is true that "Cheaper by the Dozen" has... more

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. While that may not seem like it has a whole lot to do with transracial adoption, it actually has much to do with transracial adoption.

The AIDS crisis in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world is one of the biggest "creators" of orphans out there. It is one of the biggest tragedies of our times. AIDS is killing moms, dads, aunts, uncles, teachers, doctors, nurses and others in big numbers.

Countless children are being left behind as orphans, sometimes in good health, sometimes HIV+ themselves.

While HIV/AIDS... more

One of my favorite pieces of advice for having quality time (and quality bonding and attachment opportunities) for adoptive families is to get out side. When you get out of the house and in to the fresh air and do something fun together as a family, the results can be almost magical.

Our kids have been back in school for almost two months now (how did that happen??) and we have gotten into a good school-year groove. However with the kids getting home, doing homework, eating an early dinner, getting bathed and getting into bed nice and early, and with the sun going down earlier and earlier each day, there is not much time during the week to get outside and play as a family, especially... more

Shane was the third child to join our family, but is now in the middle of the pack, with four older siblings and five younger siblings. Shane is turning eight years old next week, and the kid is a hoot.

Everybody loves Shane. He is loving, sweet, outgoing, funny and thoughtful. He rarely gets in trouble with Mom or Dad. The big kids think he is hilarious. The little kids think he walks on water. His teachers think he is a genius and the "nicest boy ever". All of the boys at school want to be his friend, and all of the girls at school pay him way too much attention for... more