Journey to Global Community
Oh, I remember the days when everyone and their mother was writing articles about this blog without actually reading it. A total lack of understanding for the term “attachment parenting” caused very odd outbursts from journalists against my blog’s name. It was very creepy how they described it as some sort of weird mantra we “attachment parents” *must* have because *all* AP mothers "must stay home" and "refuse childcare"... Except, the name behind my blog is meant to be a … [Read more...]
Because February is Black History Month, Kendall and I were discussing this whole idea of having one month to celebrate a certain type of history. Since that conversation, I have read various opinion pieces on the idea of dedicating a month to a specific group of people, especially in regards to American history. There are both positive and negative opinions out there. Morgan Freeman, for example, has indicated that he doesn't like Black History Month because black history is just American … [Read more...]
“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” -Martin Luther King Jr. This is a day to reflect on how much progress we’ve made since the days of segregation and how much farther we have to go to fight racism. This past week, I’ve … [Read more...]
Thanks to everyone reading, this is the message I am able to deliver to you: By the end of this week, Argisa, Ethiopia will have clean water! Most of you know that you all raised, over the course of one week, the money we needed for our first phase of the Ethiopia project. That, in and of itself, was a miracle. Jack, from Waves for Water, boarded a plan on December 12, and I have just been informed he has landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jack will be bringing 80 Sawyer filters to the … [Read more...]
Did you know? $1 can give clean water to one person for over a decade. Why is water life-altering? Unsterile water is the number two killer amongst children. Around the world, fetching water is a woman’s task. Thus, one of the most crucial health issues for women in Africa is the clean water shortage. 1 in 5 children worldwide dies of a water-related disease. Water is a women’s issue. In order to get access to clean water, women and girls must carry up to 50lbs of water every day … [Read more...]
Did you know? $1 can give clean water to one person for over a decade. During the holiday season, there’s a lot of tradition in exchanging presents. We want to embrace our traditions and also be able to give back. Here’s our idea: instead of stocking stuffers, let’s put every dollar that would go towards those small gifts towards clean water for our friends in Africa. $10 that would have been spent on stocking stuffers could give life-altering water to ten people. Why is water … [Read more...]
Earlier this year I attended an adoption-centered Christian women's retreat. One evening at dinner, some of my table-mates asked me my thoughts about ethics in Ethiopian adoptions. I gave a guarded response, knowing that many of these women were in process to adopt. Ultimately, I shared that I personally would not adopt a young, healthy child from Ethiopia at this time because of my concerns over the pervasive corruption in the system. I also shared some guidelines that I felt could help insure … [Read more...]
Conversation about adoption can be tricky. A seemingly benign comment can cause an adoptive parent to lash out in protection of their family. I've received many emails from people quite upset. They are experiencing negativity from friends or acquaintances when asking about adoption. The questions themselves are harmless. However, the terms used are offensive. I find this whole situation frustrating, and I get a bit disappointed in my fellow adoptive parents. We have all … [Read more...]
During the past year, I have been slightly obsessed with reading any helpful adoption material. Every time I go to Barnes and Noble I'll come home with another book that doctors or adult adoptees have written specifically for adoptive parents. The consensus is always the same. Even if you love your adoptive family more than words can express, every human wants to know from where they came. One of my best friends in college was an adoptee. He had no information on his birth family. When he … [Read more...]
Our hope is that people will get a chance to see a family that may look a little different, but is as close and loving as a family that meets the stereotypical ideal. It is time to break barriers, stop making assumptions, and realize that families come in all different shapes and sizes and can still define the term. Find Out More ››
