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How to parent a 15 (almost 16) year old adopted boy, while trying to also...
How to parent a 15 (almost 16) year old adopted boy, while trying to also raise a 5 (going on 15) year old girl and 2 old (juggernaut) boy.First, accept the fact that at any given time at least one...
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Freedom, Regression, and Attempts at Obedience
Freedom. This is the word that encompasses all that the 4th of July stands for. And for the first time in my 30 years I truly have understood and experienced what this freedom means. This was Vlad’s...
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Forever Changed
This week last year changed my life forever. This was the week when I met a tough on the outside but sweet on the inside Ukrainian orphan, who we would host for 5 weeks during the summer. Â We had...
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Let Hope Rise
I have been trying to find a way to fully explain what it is like to adopt an older child with a broken past. And this week at church the sermon completely encompassed everything that I feel and think...
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Help Save A Life
I received a message this morning that one of our boys at the orphanage had gotten paperwork for the draft. I automatically went into freak out, find out as much as I could, fight mode. I was messaging...
View ArticleGrieving For My Adopted Child
Adoption is a traumatic experience for everyone that is involved. Not only is everything changing for the child but also for the family adopting. All that was "normal" and familiar is lost, and you...
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The Most Amazing News Ever!!!!
So I have amazing news!!!! I have been praying for this day to come and it has! The amazing family that hosted the brother and sister pair from Vlad's orphanage are pursuing adoption! Can I get an...
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Project Hearts
It is estimated that there are over 143 million orphans in the world. When you look at this number you think that there is no way that anything you do can help to make a lasting impact at changing this...
View ArticleUnder Attack
God calls on us as human beings to help those in need, the less fortunate, the orphans and the widows. This is our duty as Christians, as believers in Jesus Christ. It is not always easy, it is not...
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Happy Super Hero Birthday Gavin!
I can't believe that my baby is going to be 3!! I know it is a cliche but it feels like it was just recently when we were driving to the hospital, stuck in completely stopped traffic at 4 in the...
View ArticleSo Much Courage
"Can you think of any situations in your life when someone else's courage to do what God was calling them to do encouraged you to do the same?"Â This was a question we were asked in growth group this...
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Pumpkins and Growth
"Is Halloween at our house?" I hear this question from my youngest at least 3 times a day lately. He sees the neighbors decorations outside their houses (ours have yet to be taken down from the...
View ArticleSerenity Now
Okay, so I am not the cool super hip organic only mom that I once aspired to be. I wanted to make all homemade organic baby food, make my own wipes, only use natural remedies before medicine, you get...
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Casino Night Fundraiser
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!! Although I did not hear this being said the other night the atmosphere was filled with energy just the same. This past Saturday night I helped with a Costume Casino...
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"Did you find me family?"
"Did you find me family". These are the hardest and saddest 5 words I have heard way to many times in the last year. Words that no child should ever have to think or speak. But I get these messages...
View ArticleRainbow farting unicorns
I am a member of many different adoption groups online. Many to just share common experiences, milestones our children achieve, what has worked best etc. However a lot of them focus only on the...
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Starting the New Year
The last 2 months have completely flown by (while at times they felt like they were crawling at a snails pace). I have been slacking greatly in the blogging department. There have been a lot of ups...
View ArticleBecoming A Teen Mom... When You Are 30
Walking alone with Vlad anywhere is a guarantee that I will receive strange looks from people. I can tell by the their confused faces they are trying to figure out what our relationship is. To make...
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Lots of announcements
So many things are happening in our lives right now I can't even wrap my head around it. The last two months have been very intense, and life changing in many ways. And my faith in God has never been...
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Greetings from Ukraine Part 1
Where to even begin. So from the start of our trip pretty much everything that could go wrong did. While waiting forOur flight Kim spilled her coffee literally four times before the cup got knocked...
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The Journey Continues...Ukraine Part 2
The story continues... We are severely jet lagged and on the wrong time zone. So of course we decide it is a great idea to stay up until 2am watching Netflix (Kim is up till 4) and sleep in the next...
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Adoption- One Year Home
One year can change everything. Depending on the situation things can be changed both for better or for worse, but for us things have only gotten better. Vlad has been home a little over a year now....
View ArticleDaily Struggles Being an Adoptive Mother
How can you take the place of a child's first mother? I struggle with this daily as an adoptive parent and mom. No matter what the circumstances leading up to a child, either losing a mother or being...
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Love Crosses Oceans Foundation
It's about time! I have been slacking in the blogging department this last year, like seriously. After our first year home and all the crazy that came with it, we have been brave in taking on more this...
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2 Years Home
Wow! I can't believe it has been two years already that Vlad has been home, even though at times it feels like he has been here forever. A memory on Facebook popped up the other day of us waiting at...
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