• Adoption

    Short History of World Adoption Day

      Happy World Adoption Day everyone! As you know, adoption is something very near and dear to my heart.  It is through adoption that Jeron and I were able to have children.  And they are the best two boys ever!  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about adoption and the blessing and miracle it has been in my life. So today we celebrate with everyone else in the world who has been touched by adoption.  We adopted our first son in August 2014 and have celebrated World Adoption Day every year since then.  So, I have always assumed that it was a well-known, well established, celebration that…

  • Personal Experience

    Alexander’s Story – Part 2 – Adoption Finalization

    Oh, Happy Day! On September 18, 2018 we went to court to finalize the adoption of Alexander! For reasons I can’t even explain, I was extremely nervous to appear in court and speak to the judge. I am pretty shy by nature, but I don’t remember being so nervous when we went for Jonathan’s finalization. But nervous or not, it was a beautiful experience and a beautiful day! We had so much support from family and friends. I am so grateful to each and every person who came with us. The judge even commented that he loved seeing so many family members present. That warmed my heart soooooo much! I…

  • Adoption

    The Best Ideas for Celebrating Gotcha Day

    I recently wrote a post titled, “Everything You Need to Know about Gotcha Day.”  If you’ve read it, you know that after researching everything about Gotcha Day, I am still uncertain about whether or not I wanted to start celebrating it with our boys. To be totally honest, I really do love any reason to have a party.  But especially since having kids join the family!  It is just amazing + wonderful + heartwarming to see their faces light up for special occasions and festive events.  I’m not above making up “holidays” to do something special and fun for/with my boys! You have all heard of “National go with your…

  • Adoption

    Everything You Need to Know About “Gotcha Day”

    “Gotcha” is a word I have never liked for a few simple reasons – I don’t like the way it sounds coming out of my mouth AND I don’t like the way my mouth has to move in order to say it! The more I hear it or say it, the worse it gets.  Have any of you ever had a word like that?  I used to have a similar reaction to the word “scrumptious.”  My Grandma always used the word “scrumptious” to describe every meal.. and it drove me crazy!  Now that she has passed on, I don’t mind hearing it, because it makes me think of her.  But…

  • Adoption

    Pros and Cons of Open Adoption

    If you are considering adoption, one of the first things that you will need to start thinking about is if you would like an open or a closed adoption.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of an open vs. closed adoption, let me explain. In an open adoption, the adoptive parents and the birth parents have traded personal information and have the option of contacting one another.  There are various degrees of openness.  Emails, pictures, social media, texting, calling, and visits can all be factors that are included in openness.  The birth and adoptive parents usually meet before the birth/placement of the baby. In a closed…