adoption

Willow the Toddler | Personal

Willow the Toddler | Personal

When I was thinking about what I could blog, I looked back on my schedule and realized I haven’t posted an update about Willow in forever! I’ve never been one to stick to a regular schedule with this, but she has grown immensely since the last time I talked about her - in fact, she was just a baby in my eyes when she was last featured on my blog! Today she is a full-fledged toddler, and only a few months away from turning 2, which seems absolutely impossible as I think back on the 5lb 14oz baby I held just moments ago…

There were flashes of Willow’s personality that we saw from the beginning. She has never been a snuggler, and she has always been happy being held or played with by (almost) anyone. Even when she was tiny she had never met a stranger, and all this continues to be true…

Finishing Our Home Study (Foster Care News) | Personal

Finishing Our Home Study (Foster Care News) | Personal

A few weeks ago I made the nervous announcement that we are getting certified as foster parents! The reason I am nervous is not because we are unsure of our decision, but because it’s a big one - and it will, I think, change our family forever. On top of that, I don’t know how it will turn out. This could be a lifelong adventure, or it could be something we do a handful of times before closing this chapter of our journey. It’s so unknown, and I hate feeling out of control, yet I wanted to share what’s next for our little threesome.

The whole process began in July. I contacted a few different DSS localities, but had trouble getting in touch with the right people. Then one day I saw a flyer for a foster agency called Braley and Thompson - and lo and behold, they answered my email immediately…

A Weekend about Adoption: Entrusted Conference | Personal

A Weekend about Adoption: Entrusted Conference | Personal

This weekend I had the absolute privilege of attending the Entrusted Network Conference, an annual weekend for foster and adoptive parents in the Hampton Roads area. I heard about it from two different people, and when I looked up the premise I was hooked. I know a few friends who have adopted, but I know nobody personally who is fostering children…more on that later. I immediately thought of another friend who we actually met at our adoption training and she came with me - it’s always better to bring a friend along to these things! I had pretty high expectations for the weekend, so I didn’t know how it would turn out.

Honestly, the conference far exceeded my expectations. The main speaker, Kyle Raney, has an incredible story involving 6 biological kids and 3 internationally adopted children…a story that is still unfolding and through which he is still processing. We had a few main sessions, three breakout sessions, and other events throughout, like a panel of adoptees (people who were adopted at some point in their childhood) to answer questions and talk about what their experiences were like. It’s different for everyone, but there were some common themes that tracked throughout…