The question always comes up: Where should I start?

And the answer is always the same: Research, research, research!

I researched adoption for two years. My husband and I were married in 2002. We told each other that we wanted to be married for a year before we talked kids. I told him that I'd be researching adoption agencies the day after our first wedding anniversary. It wasn't quite that marked, but I did start reading in the Summer of 2003. We signed with our agency in May 2005. So, yes, I researched adoption for two years. (And I still didn't know everything... more

Cost is a huge factor in adoption. Many people do not even look into the adoption process because of the common belief that only the wealthy can adopt. The Adoption Tax Credit the U.S. Government offers is an amazing resource that can really make adoption a reality for many families. Personally, I don't think we could have adopted our two girls without knowing that we would get a lot of the money back. As much as we wanted to adopt, we didn't want to morgage the next ten years of our lives either.

For those of you new to the adoption scene. The Adoption Tax Credit... more

I was recently contacted by Tribute Books with a great opportunity - to interview Andrea Nepa, adoptive mom and author of Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children's Story about Interracial Adoption. I read the book and asked Andrea a few questions.

Andrea Nepa and her husband adopted their daughter Leah from Vietnam in 2001. Although she is a dietician, she took on the challenge of writing and illustrating a children's book for her daughter.... more

So, yes, I'm on another Wicked kick. It comes and goes in my life, having attached itself to my adoption journey a few years ago. You see, Wicked debuted on Broadway in October of 2003. At that point, I was on bed rest with the Munchkin during my very complicated pregnancy. As such, I tend to associate it with that time frame.

The lyrics of another song, however, specifically make me think about the relationship between birth and adoptive mother as well as, in another section, birth mother and relinquished child. I'll share the part that makes me think... more

A few updates in the world of International Adoption:

Madonna's petetion for adoption of a little girl is granted the second time around from the courts of Malawi. Malawi's adoption laws normally require adoptive parents to live in country for a long period of time and Madonna's lack of residence has caused quite the stir in the International Community. To learn more about Malawi adoptions you can check out Adoption.com or the U.S. State Department. I have voiced my... more

Early in our adoption process I found a book named, There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene. While we had already chosen Ethiopia to be where we were adopting from, this book really helped us feel Ethiopia's need for help with AIDS orphans. I immediately bought it to keep forever and to re-read again someday.

Greene is an adoptive mother herself, from Ethiopia and other countries, as well as a writer by profession. She did an amazing job researching, interviewing and then sharing what she had learned. The book is full of facts and theories,... more

I'm in love with the musical Wicked. Well, to be fair, I'm in love with a lot of musicals. I always have been a musical theater dork. I tried to deny it for awhile but, truth be told, I now shamelessly embrace my inner dork. In fact, I celebrate her by letting myself to listen to musical soundtracks all day long while I work. But, back to Wicked: I'm infatuated. Inspired. Impressed. And, yes, In Love with the musical.

And since I can turn anything into a discussion on adoption, I have to share a certain selection of lyrics from the song "Defying Gravity"... more

In my early morning reading of emails, I noticed the following article from the BBC: UN 'runs out of aid for Ethiopia'. The article mentions several reasons why this is happening and also points out how things could be made easier. I will not go into the details since the article is an easy read, and I do recommend that you read it.

After seeing this email I jumped over to the World Food Programme page and found some really educating (but not boring) information... more

Heather at Production, Not Reproduction, has started an Open Adoption Blog Roundtable. The first topic was posted last week. As I already had my financing posts planned, I'm a little late on this one.

What one thing about open adoption would you tell your past self, if you could?

I know exactly what I would tell myself, I just can't put it into words. Perhaps some background would help.

My... more

I've been asked to spearhead a new group in our church for mothers. While I know that this will be good not only for myself but for local mothers, I am wary of walking this path. Knowing how other groups have worked, I have no doubt that people with whom I am not particularly close will show up in my house. With Munchkin's picture displayed prominently on our living room wall of family pictures, the question will come up.

Who is that? Why is she on your wall with you?

While some have said that I don't have to answer the... more