“How many different ways can you describe our new life in Christ?” my friend asked me during a casual discussion. “Normally, we think of three different analogies to help describe our new relationship with our Heavenly Father,” I answered. “The first one that most of...
Putting the Pieces Together
Have you ever stared at the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and wondered what two pieces go together? You could look at the overall picture on the cover of the box, but what if you don’t have this to look at? Only later you when the puzzle is assembled do you see the magic...
Hope in the Midst of Difficulties
There are many ups and downs in adopting children. We went through times of total frustration and disappointment when our sons rebelled and willfully disobeyed. Many times, we felt as though we had no hope, and we poured out our emotions to God in prayer and tears....
The Best Part of Adoption
There are many high points in adoption, including the day that we are told that our adoption has been finalized. We still recall our emotions when, as we sat in the courtroom in another country, we were told we had crested that mountain top! However, I was to learn...
Adoption is a Two-Way Street
Many of us think of adoption as a one-sided transaction. The parents choose to adopt their children in order to make them part of their family. This is the case with infants and small children. On the other hand, there are many adoptions (especially of children who...
Climbing Trees
Shortly after we adopted our sons, we discovered they were avid tree climbers. We could hardly let them outdoors without finding them up in the trees. It was their way of getting a perspective that they would not get any other way. Thankfully, they never fell or...
Too Old to Blush
One of the challenges in adoption is knowing how to respond to our children when they act out. This is more of a challenge as they grow older and have been in our family for a longer period of time. In fact, just when you think you know the rules, the rules seem to...
The Givens of Adoption
As parents, we enter adoption with a lot of unknowns. We question whether our new child(ren) will possess giftedness or special ability. We question the reasons for the events that led to their availability for adoption. We wonder about their future and if and whom...