I feel very raw tonight.

I visited an internet friend's blog this evening. She is a mom who should be getting a referral any time now through my agency This evening she shared some links that talk about problems the Ethiopian people are facing right now. I hope you'll go visit and read.

Anyway, I opened the links to read, and was nearly doubled over with sadness when I saw a picture at the top of one of the pages: that of a gaunt mother holding a starving child who is nuzzling up at her face, obviously desperately seeking sustenance that the mother... more

Does this sound familiar?

Finding yourself at the end of a purposeful stride from one room of your house to the other, you're well aware that you're now in the back bedroom, but can't for the life of you remember what you were coming to the back bedroom for.

How about this?

Working away on your computer, you suddenly realize that your senses are being assaulted by an acrid smell that stings your eyes, but starts you salivating at the same time. Like a bolt of lightening arcing through your brain, the realization blazes... more

A couple of happenings today had me chuckling and I thought you might enjoy hearing about them. First of all, we found a purchase from Ethiopia that we'd bought last summer for the baby and then had forgotten about. It was this adorable pair of sandals.

We bought them from a street vendor near the AAI guesthouse. We'd found them just in time. They fit her perfectly. But they are no ordinary sandals. They have super powers. If you look at the picture below very closely, you will notice the hole in the back of the heel Look familiar? Yup, these are SQUEAKER sandals.

... more

Why are Ukrainian adoption experiences are all unique? And why does a translator's job seem to be more then translation?

I read a very heavy and scholarly book called "State and Institution Building in Ukraine". This is edited by Taras Kuzio, Robert S. Kravchuk, Paul D'Anieri and published in 1999. It was food for thought.

I believe that institutional uncertainty plays a major role in why everyone has a different experience.

Ukraine is not the only country with this issue. For an US example see the BCIS.... more

Humm, This just came up into my radar. A black child was removed from his white foster family's care. The white family had this child for two years and wanted to adopt. The child was removed and sent to live with a black family who wanted to adopt.

MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press reports:

PHILADELPHIA - County adoption officials did not discriminate against a white family in removing the black foster child who had lived with them for nearly two years and whom the couple was seeking to adopt, a federal judge ruled Tuesday night.

The ruling means... more

I just emailed the news anchor/reporter at News 4 in Denver Colorado about a possible follow-up story to the one he did just over a year ago on our daughter. The segment that was filmed for the local Wednesday’s Child was that of Jessica at a Build a Bear Workshop. The thing that we most remember is how we knew as soon as we saw the video that she was our daughter. Her mannerisms and the way she played to the audience were amazing.

The fact that she was making a black and white dog, similar to the way our Sarah looks, was another clue. And the famous, or infamous quote "I like shopping, like every girl", when responding to the question of what she likes to do was priceless. It would... more

The school system in our area is excellent at our elementary level. They have very creative teaching methods and they offer the children chances to grow in all areas of learning by touch and on hand experience.

Today was our daughter Angela's "Special Person Day." Each year the kids practice three songs and each song includes some type of dance moves or sign language.

All the parents and guests gather in the school gym room and we listen to our children and the other classes with them perform. Then we got to our child's classroom and we see the work they have done all year.

There is also a book fair that they have open for parents and children to attend. It helps... more

The longer Ben is home with us, the more “firsts” that he has. It is so much fun to watch him try new things and experience new things. These last few days have been big ones for him.

On Saturday, Josh’s parents came up for Marcus’ birthday, and along with Marcus’ presents, they brought up a bicycle for Ben. We are a big bike-riding family, and my kids will ride for hours on any given day, and Josh’s parents are both bike-riding enthusiasts (they do crazy things, like ride for five days over mountains and things) so having a bike was a must for Ben, now that he is a... more

We'll be going to another matching party in early May.

This one, I kind of dread.

See, last time, we got our hopes up for a group of 4 children we had met, and everything seemed great, and then someone else got selected, so Tony and I were CRUSHED.

But, now we've just found out that the kids were actually at the first meeting of their new adoptive parents...so now I kind of feel bad that the oldest, R, and I stayed together pretty much most of the day.

Everywhere I turned, there he was. haha

The 2 we had went to see had shown up late,... more

There are some books that just should be ready by every one whether they have no intention of search, or are searching, or had a reunion a long time ago. These books will help all triad members understand what has happened to us as a group of people. I also think that adoption professionals, social workers, counselors, lawyers, judges, doctors, and nurses should read these books so that they can discover what their policies and practices are doing to those affected by adoption.

The first book is Lost and Found: The Adoption Experience by Betty Jean Lifton. Many in the... more