“So, they’re like sea monkeys?” was the question I asked in my 10th-grade human physiology class when first learning about frozen embryos via IVF. Sea monkeys, a type of brine shrimp popular with children, “come to life” through cryptobiosis—a suspended animation state that animals enter in harsh conditions and exit when the environment improves. Although …
Adoption
As a mom to many, I often hear the phrase, “I just don’t know how you do it all!” My immediate response to those comments typically falls along the lines of, “Oh, believe me, I don’t. It takes teamwork as a family, and it takes a village!” For my husband and I, teamwork is essential. …
Navigating an unplanned pregnancy certainly comes with its challenges. Understanding all of the options can help when making the right choice for your child.
Nothing spreads holiday cheer like drinking hot chocolate, cozying up by the fireplace, and turning on a classic Christmas movie. Depending on what movie you choose, you may find that you end up celebrating more than just the holiday season, but the gift of life as well. Some of my fondest childhood memories include laughing …
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life …
I wasn’t fully on board with my wife’s dreams to adopt. But we finally found ourselves on the same page. We have some suggestions for aligning your dreams so that you’re headed toward the same goal.
Parenting is hard, and so is learning to self-regulate as a parent. It would be difficult to find a parent who disagrees with that statement. However, good news is embedded in that statement, too. Parenting is hard because you’re trying to be a good parent. You’re not just meeting your children’s physical needs; you’re meeting …
I remember working with an 8-year-old boy named Brandon in counseling. Brandon had spent about two years in foster care before he was adopted by his foster family. For his adoptive parents, the adoption was a joyous occasion. They loved Brandon dearly and were so excited to have him join their family permanently. They posted …
When we think of a precious child, we should first start with a definition of the word. Precious translates from a Hebrew word that can mean dear, expensive, costly, heavy, or grievous. We were all created in the image of God, which on its own makes us precious. The reality is that sometimes children with …
When I think of how to support adoptive and foster kids, I remember working with a 9-year-old boy named Nathan in counseling. Nathan was in foster care. He had bounced around a few different foster care homes over the years but had been in a mostly stable and supportive situation for the past year. His …
