Love Liberates, Birth Mother Quotes and Inspiration

January 31, 2013 | 5 Comments
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We are framing this photo for Samuel, taken by Kyle LaMere in Ethiopia, September 2012.  Under the photo will be Maya Angelou's "Love Liberates" quote. How beautifully she sums up the importance and love of the birth mother and family. How true love frees; it does not enslave. Someone once said, "Children need two things: One is roots and the other is wings." I know Samuel's birth mother was strong enough to provide our son with wings. Now our prayer is that together we can provide him with … [Read more...]

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Letter to Samuel’s Birth Mother

October 21, 2012 | 10 Comments
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I want to encourage all adoptive parents to consider journaling to their child(ren)'s birth mother/father. Even if you don't believe the parent will ever be able to see your letters, it may one day be a comfort to your child when he or she is older. Also, it is nice to get down in writing some of your thoughts and struggles regarding the absence of the biological family. Plus, you may never know. One day that journal may very well fall in the hands of the birth parent. Here is an entry from … [Read more...]

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Completing a family – the adoption story

August 30, 2012 | 4 Comments

Who doesn't love a good birth or adoption story? This one is the Grumet family's, in links that were compiled here by Kendall. This post (January 28, 2010), written in the midst of other posts regarding social worker visits ("Please God, let my house be clean!"), endless notarizing, and multiple sets of fingerprints, details the reasons for choosing to adopt from Ethiopia specifically. Samuel had turned 3 a little over a month before this post was written. This post (February 20, … [Read more...]

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Almost Wordless Wednesday- Smooth Operator

July 11, 2012 | 3 Comments
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My friend Shannon Colleary's response to Samuel in this photo: This is his suave ladies man face. Don't introduce him to George Hamilton, they'll paint the town. -Shannon (The Woman Formerly Known As Beautiful) … [Read more...]

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Is It Okay To Touch Someone Else’s Child?

June 21, 2012 |
He's so cute I get why people want to hold him.

When Samuel first arrived home it was very important for him to get a sense of our roles as a family. This is another way to build attachment and help him grasp that he is part of a new family. This was initially difficult for us to do, because when Samuel first arrived home he showed signs of indiscriminate friendliness. I.F. is a common issue among  adoptees (especially in orphanage or multiple caregiver settings). We haven’t completely worked through this challenge with him, but we have … [Read more...]

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Samuel, the Repressed Star

March 5, 2012 | 10 Comments
4-up on 3-4-12 at 12.19 PM (compiled)

Samuel was messing around with Photo Booth (he likes taking pictures of himself.) He found the option that lets you take four pictures in a row. Seriously, we were doing this for hours. We started getting creative and trying to make mini story lines, but I don't think it worked very well. but after looking at the pictures it did pose this question: Where did my boobs go? … [Read more...]

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BJM Ultimate Training Academy

February 15, 2012 | 20 Comments
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Big John McCarthy's Gym The boys are now in a "Little Warriors" class If you are in the LA area it is unquestionably one of the top places for adults who want to train in MMA. Without a doubt it is the best in mixed martial arts classes for children. The coach of the littlest children has the reputation of child whisperer: It takes a special kind of person to work with kids this age (I personally would rather have a lobotomy). Yet, he seems to enjoy it and makes it look easy! The kids … [Read more...]

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What A Year

January 15, 2012 | 6 Comments
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Came across Samuel's Ethiopian Passport and Visa today. What a difference one year makes: … [Read more...]

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Samuel’s Birthday!

December 28, 2011 | 10 Comments
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December 17th Samuel turned FIVE! I can't believe it! We had a party at my parents' house! My grandma came because she never misses a hot party. My niece came because Samuel LOVES her (She's 5'11" and looks like a supermodel, I can't really blame him) and all of his boy cousins showed up. Even my cousin Whitney and her husband Bryan showed up with their adorable daughter Declyn! Whitney knitted him an adorable hat for his birthday in his favorite colors (gold and pink, he's not … [Read more...]

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Kids MMA

December 13, 2011 | 6 Comments
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Kids MMA  is so much fun! Samuel and Aram got some fancy new clothes for their Little Warriors class at BJMUTA. Can you guess who picked out Samuel's shirt? (if you guessed Samuel, you're right!) Unfortunately for him, the MMA shorts did not come in pink. … [Read more...]

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