Luke 24:2-6a (NIV)

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them… “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

Why do my husband and I continue to provide a foster home for older children? We serve a risen savior who asks us to provide for orphans and widows in their distress. (James 1:27) Yes, we could... more

Chapter one covers an adoptee’s fantasies and curiosity about their birth family. Throughout the book, Danea reinforces the normalcy of a teenager’s feelings, emotions, and curiosity. She makes it very plain that everyone experiences these feelings, fantasies, and emotions at some time in their lives. She validates a teenager’s rights to feelings, whatever those feelings might be, and rights to information. She encourages journaling to help teenagers work through their feelings and track their progress.

Danea states in the book that it is natural for... more

Today we went to go visit Sammy at his new residential placement. In the past I have checked out the placement ahead of time, or very shortly after his placement. I did not do that this time since the facility is well known statewide, I had several good referrals from people I trust, and quite frankly, it doesn’t much matter.

I don’t hold much hope that Sammy is going to be “cured” at whatever facility he is in, but I do check for obvious safety issues, both for Sammy and for the other children.

This facility is ranking high on my “I like this place”... more

World Water Day is March 22 of each year as designated by the United Nations. Drawing attention to the conservation and development of water resources is the overall objective. Advocacy, publication, and organization of conferences with the year’s chosen theme is how they hope to increase public awareness. This year’s theme is “Sanitation.” The U.N. hopes to attract international attention to conservation and development of water resources through this yearly ritual.

The safe disposal of human waste and the ability to maintain hygienic conditions, through... more

Is it 2008? Because this article just transported me back fifty-or-so years. It also further proves a point that many of today's birth mothers are saying: stigmas against single mothers are still alive and well.

Mothers who have relinquished in the past twenty years are often told that they don't know what it was like "back in the day." And I agree, to a point. While very few young mothers are now shipped off to homes and hidden from the public to relinquish their children in secret and silence, the... more

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9; NASB)

I’ve been MIA for a couple of weeks and I apologize. The last you heard from me, my son had a couple of seizures that we attributed to the temperature spikes associated with the ear infection he had. After an EEG and a consultation... more

Easter is Sunday! Can you believe it? It really doesn’t feel like it; or at least to me it doesn’t! Partially on my part it could be because I have been so sick and under the weather from what they thought was the flu and now have decided is a stomach ulcer. But, it could also be in part because Easter is coming early this year.

It’s good in a way that Easter is early and I just haven’t had much of a chance to think about it yet this year as I haven’t started the bittersweet dread I have with some holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I love holidays. I typically (when I’m feeling... more

The recent edition of Fostering Families magazine has several articles devoted to self-care for foster parents. I am glad to see a national magazine that is recognizing the importance of this.

A book I have been reading, “100 Days of Weight Loss” by Linda Spangle had a section that resonated with me on a personal level rather than a weight loss level. The section is on emotional safety and how to keep yourself “grounded” during... more

As you know, Sunday is Easter. Sammy will not be home for Easter. With his new placement he has a restriction of at least 30 days before he is allowed to leave the grounds of where he is at. We may not even pick him up and go to lunch.

Instead we are traveling to visit him tomorrow after Hannah does an Easter egg hunt. His placement is over 90 minutes away, so it is not a quick or easy trip for a visit.

Sammy has spent a couple of holidays away from home, but they have not really been “major” holidays. There were a couple of Thanksgivings where he... more

Illinois is trying to pass a bill that would make it easier for adult adoptees to get their original birth certificates, very similar to the bill in New Jersey. Republican Sara Feigenholtz is sponsoring the bill that would give many adoptees twenty one years old or older access to their original birth certificates. Birth Certificates have been sealed in Illinois since the 1940’s.

Feigenholtz herself is an adoptee. In the article out of the Chicago Tribune she talked about how... more