Dinner time conversations are often lively and humorous in our home, and one of my children recently shared over a meal that he was thankful for two things: love and bacon. We laughed at his candor, and his 7-year-old way of expressing gratitude, but when...
Growing up, God graciously allowed me to be in a family that was whole, loving, and selfless. I was able to see my parents care for us in ways that sometimes seemed so counterintuitive that I couldn’t help but see God through it. ...
Caring for orphans through foster care and adoption can be difficult and draining. When we've been in our most difficult days we have been blessed by the volunteers who are willing to serve our family by playing with our children one night a month so...
My heart is broken, I am full of anger and loneliness and just pure anguish over losing a child. I am working through the stages of grief and I’m not to the end yet. But for this reason I still have hope: because of the...
Speak Up: Voices for Foster Care Reform® provides a microphone for children in foster care to be heard. Last year, thousands of people across South Carolina joined together as one voice to encourage the legislature to hear and respond to the needs of children in foster...
Adoption is a beautiful, messy, scary thing, sometimes unpredictable, but always worth it. ...
For as long as I have understood what adoption was, I have known it to be a beautiful thing. I had a family friend who was adopted and her parents always talked about it openly, about how they waited for her and felt so grateful...
I hear the same question all the time: Why did you adopt internationally? There are so many kids here in the U.S. that need a home. Wouldn’t that have been easier? My stomach drops to the floor and back into my throat within a moment. Because...
Many Christians in the church mistakenly believe that one must be married in order to serve as a foster parent. But Carol Ann Denyer is shattering that misconception. As a single, young woman Carol Ann felt God prompting her to become a foster parent. "A...
It makes me a little (a-lot-a) nervous to be writing on a blog that will just be dangling out there in cyber world for anyone to read. Actually, this is less comfortable for me than thinking about a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old in my care...
One of the things I love most about my work with Mill Village Farms is the diversity of students that we serve. Most of our students come from the “inner city” neighborhoods in which we are located, but we intentionally recruit teenagers from outside those...
A recent conversation with a caseworker confirmed a burden I’ve carried for several months. For the foster care system to be whole, it requires that the fractured relationships between caseworkers and foster parents to be functional. What is the status of foster parent and DSS...
Currently, when there are not foster parents available to host a child, that child will be moved to a group home. However, in an effort to ensure the best care for young children, children six years and younger will now require a foster family placement....
I didn’t always love him. Pulling into the DSS parking lot that day, I knew that my life was about to change forever. I walked into the office and saw a little boy in grungy clothes that were too many sizes too big to even...
There are some moments in life that no amount of training or fancy degrees can prepare you for; especially as a mom. There are plenty of sweet moments that melt your heart -- like the first time your baby gives you a kiss or says...
I recently sat in a meeting with a group of adults who are all part of the newly-launched mentoring program at my children’s school. The last 3 months have served as the first continual exposure that some of these people have had with children that...
In 2005, I distinctly remember praying about going on a missions trip. I know I was interested in missions before then, but this is the first time I specifically remember praying about going....
“Mom, we can always slide our chairs in to create another space.” Those words recently uttered by our 6 year old over breakfast, served as a reminder that children can be on mission and sometime lead us with their uncluttered perspective....
They say that it takes a village to raise a child, and in our family, we have understood that to be true. Our children have formal and informal mentors – grandparents, teachers, coaches, church members, and family friends....
“Nobody wants me. Look at me, Nobody wants a kid like me. I’ll stay here one more year, and start my life…I guess.” As those words fell off the lips of a 17 year old I had known for a while, the direction of my...
Foster care and adoption are quickly becoming a part of who we are at Grace Church. As we grow in our understanding of the church's biblical responsibility to care for orphans, we are seeing more and more of our families begin the process to become a part...
January 1st of 2010 was a good day. It was going to be “our year.” The previous two years had been difficult for a host of reasons, but the most emotionally wrenching parts were a desire to have a second child and the grieving of...
For at least a month, store aisles have been stocked with yellow boxes of crayons, rulers and scissors in every color, and backpacks in every shape and size. Family calendars are becoming more structured; the unavoidable is happening. Once again, it's time for school. ...
Recently my husband and I were asked a question by someone we had just met. We paused for a minute and looked at each other as we pondered whether we should give the neatly-packaged answer or the honest answer. We chose the honest answer, even...
Orphans and vulnerable children are a devastating product of the broken world in which we live .Because of sin and the fall of man, children throughout the world experience abuse and corruption everyday. People recognize this issue and realize a practical way to help is through...